Dean Highland Neighborhood Association

Tag: advocacy

  • An Update from our City Councilman, Darius Ewing

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    Wow, three neighborhood news updates in a row! How did we ever get so lucky? Councilman Ewing has heard us roar, and he sent us the following response on Monday (7/13):

    I want to apologize for my delayed response here. My wife and I welcomed our son two weeks ago and are still getting back into our normal lives and settling in as a family of four, albeit with much less sleep.

    I want to acknowledge that this process has taken longer than anyone would have expected. Not that any of you need an example of how long it’s been, but since we began this process we’ve had two city managers, two city attorneys, three mayors, and three separate presidents at Baylor Scott & White. Since discussions began in earnest in late 2020, there has been a lot of stop-and-go. Plenty of times it seemed like the path was clear and we had momentum, only to be stopped in our tracks by an unexpected roadblock.

    The process on paper is simple: Baylor Scott & White demolished their old hospital and has been looking to sell the acreage from the site ever since. Once the city engaged, there were no other serious conversations with other end-users. I sincerely wish it was as easy as the city fronting the money, acquiring the land, and soliciting plans for development. However, with the environmental concerns we uncovered last year, we’ve had to explore an alternative before the city can acquire the property. This looks like signing off on an MSD, or municipal settings designation, an official state designation certifying that groundwater beneath a specific urban property is not used for drinking and is legally prohibited from future use. To my knowledge, this won’t prohibit development of housing or a park, but it will allow us to acquire the land without prohibitively expensive remediation.

    As of June 12th, BSW was still working through their private contractor to complete the environmental process with TCEQ (the state environmental agency) in order to submit an MSD application.

    That is where we are now. We’re waiting on that application to be completed, submitted, and approved. Once approved, the city will continue our efforts to formally acquire the land and bring development and green space, including parkland, to the area. That is my commitment to you, both as your council representative and as a former neighbor.

    I wish I could put a definitive timeline on this, but with multiple large, regulated private entities and large governmental entities involved, I would only be giving you an estimate that would likely result in unmet expectations. I am committed to seeing this through, and if at any point you’re unsure where we are in the process, or feel it’s been too long since your last update, I’m happy to field any questions or concerns, or even meet for coffee.

    It’s not every day, or in every city, that you get such a swift, thoughtful response from a Councilman. You can still send him an email to let him know Hillcrest Park is on your mind: ccouncil4@wacotx.gov.

    Don’t forget to congratulate him on child #2…

  • An update on our Hillcrest Park email campaign

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    Melett Harrison, who runs the City of Waco’s wonderful, fantabulous Neighborhood Engagement team, sent us this email in response to our email campaign for Hillcrest Park:

    I wanted to let you know that this property is not being ignored.  I understand it’s taking MUCH longer that DHNA wants it to, but rest assured it’s not fallen off the city’s radar. (neither elected officials nor staff)

    Thanks for continuing to include us in your newsletters.  It’s great to be able to keep up with your efforts.

    It’s truly great that we have such a thoughtful City looking out for us.

    What do you think, Dean Highlanders? Is Hillcrest Park still on the City’s radar?

    I encourage you ask our district’s Councilman, Darius Ewing, yourself via email: ccouncil4@wacotx.gov. If you’re not confident in your writing prowess, just copy-and-paste this:

    Dear Mr. Ewing,

    The Dean Highland Neighborhood Association is committed to bringing a 14-acre, world-class park to the empty Hillcrest lot.

    We are here to collaborate and bargain, not grovel for slivers of green space. Please ensure, Mr. Councilman, that Dean Highlanders get the respect and dignity they deserve when it comes to this space. As of today, this has not happened. The lot is still empty. The garbage is still piling up. And the intent of the land’s donors — a vast space for the public good – has not been met and may even be considered to be actively ignored by City actors and Baylor, Scott, and White.

    You depend on me for my vote, and I am actively paying attention to how you treat my neighborhood and the ongoing Hillcrest Park debacle.

    Feel free to “cc” the Dean Highland Neighborhood Association to the email you send to our councilman, too (our email address is deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com). Please, your voice matters. Email Councilman Ewing today.

  • Email Campaign for Hillcrest Park

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    I trust your summer is going well. We on the DHNA board just wanted to remind you that the Dean Highland Neighborhood Association fought for a park at the Hillcrest location about 10 years ago. We were told by city council then that there were plenty of other green spaces nearby to enjoy.

    I recently received the same reply while trying to get a humble footpath installed over at Wenz Park, and it reminded me of just how precarious our park situation is. I spent 12 months making phone calls, writing emails, and researching history only to get a short, curt email stating that there are plenty of other nearby options for myself and my family to enjoy in Waco.

    We might get the same response from the City for our Hillcrest Park advocacy if we don’t continue to keep pressure on Baylor, Scott, and White and our City representatives.

    So, we are calling on all Dean Highland residents to send an email to our City Council representative, Darius Ewing, reminding him that he works for us and that we want a world-class park in the space that is currently occupied by an empty lot. If you’re not confident in your writing prowess, just copy-and-paste this:

    Dr Dear Mr. Ewing,

    The Dean Highland Neighborhood Association is committed to bringing a 14-acre, world-class park to the empty Hillcrest lot.

    We are here to collaborate and bargain, not grovel for slivers of green space. Please ensure, Mr. Councilman, that Dean Highlanders get the respect and dignity they deserve when it comes to this space. As of today, this has not happened. The lot is still empty. The garbage is still piling up. And the intent of the land’s donors — a vast space for the public good – has not been met and may even be considered to be actively ignored by City actors and Baylor, Scott, and White.

    You depend on me for my vote, and I am actively paying attention to how you treat my neighborhood and the ongoing Hillcrest Park debacle.

    Feel free to “cc” the Dean Highland Neighborhood Association to the email you send to our councilman, too. Mr. Ewing’s email address is ccouncil4@wacotx.gov, and our email address is deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com.

    This is our neighborhood Dean Highlanders, and sometimes we have to fight for what is ours.

    Our next Dean Highland Conservancy Initiative service project, by the way, is on August 8th. Mark your calendars!

  • Plan Commission – July 14, 2026

    Hello Dean Highlanders,

    I hope you are staying cool. Below is an email we received from the one and only Crystal Anthony, our beloved Program Coordinator from the City of Waco’s Neighborhood Engagement team:

    Hello Dean Highland Neighborhood Association,

    Note: This notice is in North Waco’s Neighborhood, but adjacent to Dean Highland.

    Please find attached a public hearing notice from the Plan Commission. The case will be presented before the Plan Commission at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, at the Waco Convention Center, Bosque Theatre, 100 Washington Ave. After the case is presented to the Plan Commission, a public hearing will then be held before the City Council at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Waco Convention Center, Bosque Theatre, 100 Washington.

    Z-26-25
    A request has been made by Cameron Philgreen and the City of Waco, to rezone from O-3 Office Limited Commercial District to R-3C Multiple Family Residence District of approximately 0.5680 acres described as Lot 1 Block 1 Holley Addition known as 1901 N 25th Street and to rezone from R-3E Multiple Family Residence District to R-2 Two-Family and Attached Single-Family Residence District for property described as Lots 4-5 and 11-14, Block 53 of the University Heights Addition, known as 2410 and 2418 Cumberland Avenue and 2401, 2405, 2409, and 2413 Maple Avenue.

    This attached notice was also mailed out on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to the residents who live within 200 feet, but we hope this electronic version will be easier to share with your neighbors. Any questions you have about a case should be directed to the Development Services staff at 254-750-5750. Mark Boyd is copied on this email and will be able to assist you. You may also email planning@wacotx.gov to submit a written comment.

    The Plan Commission meeting will be held in person. You may still watch the meeting live at MyWacoTV.com, but if someone wants to comment during the public hearing, they must do so in person.

    Mmkay, it’s me again. Here are two visuals — one and two – that Crystal sent along with this email update. They’re both pdf files and they’re both informative.

    If you have any other questions about this, such as the difference between a planning commission meeting and a city council meeting, shoot us an email (at deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com) and we’ll break it down for you. Now on to some housekeeping:

    Our “Voices from Dean Highland” neighborhood history project is proceeding apace. If you’d like to participate, or to nominate someone who should participate, give me a holler. We need all the voices we can get, so don’t be shy. Your story, and your stories about the Dean Highland neighborhood, are way more important than you think.

    Our Conservancy Initiative will pick back up on August 8th, so don’t forget to mark your calendars!

    I recently got some bad news from the City’s Parks & Rec Department, and it ties in to our Hillcrest Park advocacy. I’ll have more on this in a separate post, but we need to remember to remain vigilant when it comes to fighting for green space.

    I’ll also have some more “Voices from Dean Highland” spotlights, and a couple of cute kids from Wenz Ave were voluntold to participate in our new “DHNA State Historical Marker Challenge,” so please continue to tune in to our newsletter updates, if only for the random glimpses of cuteness we sometimes provide.

    We still have Dean Highland Neighborhood Association t-shirts left after our Father’s Day extravaganza sale:

    • 3 smalls
    • 8 mediums
    • and 2 larges

    So, while supplies last, we’ll throw in some DHNA t-shirts, for free, if you participate in our new “DHNA State Historical Marker Challenge.” Just snap some selfies or group photos of you or some neighbors next to our trolley stop historical marker and send it to us, and we’ll post the photos on here and hook you up with some free DHNA t-shirts. It doesn’t get much better than that…

  • Father’s Day Sale: Dean Highland Neighborhood T-Shirts!

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    As you are aware, we need to shed some Dean Highland inventory this summer, so we’re offering our world-famous t-shirts at an awesome price: $15/shirt. In honor of Juneteenth and Father’s Day, if you buy a medium t-shirt we’ll throw in a 2nd medium for free. We can give you the same offer for small sizes, too, while supplies last!

    Check out how amazing these t-shirts make you look:

    We have:

    • 3 smalls
    • 11 10 mediums
    • and 4 3 2 larges left

    Shoot us an email at deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com if you’d like to take advantage of this offer!

    Again, if you buy a medium t-shirt ($15) we’ll throw in a 2nd medium t-shirt for free…

  • Fire Sale: Dean Highland Neighborhood T-Shirts!

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    I hope your summer is off to a cool start. I know ours is.

    We need to shed some Dean Highland inventory this summer, so we’re offering our world-famous t-shirts at an awesome price: $15/shirt.

    Check out how amazing these t-shirts make you look:

    We have:

    • 3 smalls
    • 11 10 mediums
    • and 4 3 larges left

    As you can see, they’re selling like hotcakes. Get yours while you can! Shoot us an email at deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com if you’d like to take advantage of this offer!

  • Fire Sale: Dean Highland Neighborhood T-Shirts!

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    I hope your summer is off to a cool start. I know ours is.

    We need to shed some Dean Highland inventory this summer, so we’re offering our world-famous t-shirts at an awesome price: $15/shirt.

    Check out how amazing these t-shirts make you look:

    We have:

    • 3 smalls
    • 11 mediums
    • and 4 larges left

    Shoot us an email at deanhighlandwaco@gmail.com if you’d like to take advantage of this offer!

  • Our 6th Annual Gathering Recap

    Hey Dean Highlanders,

    Thanks to all who came out to our 6th (6th!) annual summer gathering at the police department parking lot. We even had a ninja attend:

    Check out the rest of the pictures!

    Don’t forget: there will be no conservancy initiative cleanups during June and July, so enjoy your respite! Our next cleanup will be August 8th. Keep your eyes on these pages for more details.

    If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the “Voices from Dean Highland” oral history project. You’d be leaving a legacy for those you love, and you’ll also be helping Dean Highland to establish itself as the premier neighborhood of not only Waco, but Central Texas too.

    Please be sure to renew your membership with us if you haven’t done so since January of 2026. We are trying to revamp and synchronize our data collection tools to better serve y’all, and in order to do that we need the most up-to-date information available.

    If you have any questions, give us a holler. Stay cool out there!

  • Our Conservancy Initiative recap for Saturday, May 23rd

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    Our last neighborhood cleanup before the summer break was a big hit. We didn’t find any guns (this time!), but we did do something different and tackled one of our streets directly instead of relying on the City to maintain the rubbish.

    Ten Dean Highlanders — that’s right, ten – showed up to pitch in this time: Austin from Pine, Tinker from Pine, and the Strietzels from Maple.

    Most of you will know Austin and Tinker thanks to their longtime service as board members of the Dean Highland Neighborhood Association, but the Strietzels are still relatively new so give them all a hearty greeting next time you see them (perhaps at our 6th annual summer meet-and-greet gathering!).

    We hit 27th Street with all we had, and did a good bit of work on it. I know many Dean Highlanders were, and are, grateful for our efforts.

    A conservancy for Dean Highland’s Hillcrest Memorial Park? Run by the neighborhood association? You better believe it, baby!

    Catch you all at Saturday’s (May 30th) sixth annual meet-and-greet gathering in the police station parking lot.

  • Our Conservancy Initiative cleanup (this Saturday, May 23rd) will be…27th Street!

    Hi Dean Highlanders,

    Our bimonthly Dean Highland Conservancy Initiative cleanup will take place along 27th Street this Saturday (May 23rd). We are going to meet on 27th and Cumberland and then go all the way down and all the way up 27th, like so:

    We will meet at 10am on 27th and Cumberland. Just walk there. Ride your bike. Bring the kids. Bring the dogs. Oh, we will also need a pickup truck since our erstwhile president will not be able to be there this Saturday. This will be our last cleanup before we take the long, hot months of June and July off.

    That’s right, Dean Highlanders, we won’t be doing any guerilla-style conservancy initiative cleanups in June or July due to the heat. So be sure to get on out and join us this Saturday for our last cleanup before the Fall!

    Check out our past cleanup efforts.

    If you have any questions, you know what to do!