Things to Do in Highland Park, TX with Kids
Highland Park packs a remarkable amount of family life into two square miles: creekside parks, the country's first shopping center, and a walk-everywhere Park Cities lifestyle most DFW suburbs can't touch.
Part of the DFW Family Activities Hub covering all 67 DFW suburbs.
What Highland Park Families Actually Do Here
Highland Park is small on purpose. The whole town runs about two square miles, which means a family here lives within a few minutes of creekside parks, Highland Park Village, and the Moody Family YMCA, with the Katy Trail and downtown Dallas museums a short hop away. Days tend to look like a morning at Lakeside Park feeding the ducks, a YMCA practice in the afternoon, and dinner you can walk to. See the full Highland Park relocation guide →
Highland Park Village
Built in 1931 and widely called America's first shopping center, the Village is a walkable, stroller-friendly landmark with casual dining and year-round family events.
Creekside Parks
Eight town parks trace Turtle Creek and Hackberry Creek, with playgrounds, tennis courts, the town pool, and the famous 8,000-plus azaleas that bloom every spring.
Park Cities Lifestyle
Top-rated Highland Park ISD, the Moody Family YMCA, and Katy Trail access put schools, sports, and a 3.5-mile urban trail all within a few minutes of home.
Parks, Trails & Green Space
For a town of roughly two square miles, Highland Park is unusually green. Eight parks follow the bends of Turtle Creek and Hackberry Creek, connected by shaded walking paths and best known for the wave of azaleas that opens the last weeks of March into early April.
Lakeside Park
A 14-acre stretch along Turtle Creek with walking paths, benches, and the beloved Teddy Bear statues kids climb on. The duck-feeding spot is a classic first stop for new families. Shaded, stroller-friendly paths; best for all ages.
Davis Park
Winds along Hackberry Creek at 4500 Drexel and is home to the Highland Park town swimming pool, a children's playground, a tennis court, and creekside paths. Restrooms at the pool; best for under-10s in summer.
Fairfax Park
At 4524 Beverly, this is the town's most sports-ready park: three tennis courts, a playground, and an open playing field. Good crowd-friendly space for after-school games; little shade midday, so mornings are best.
Flippen Park
A small, picture-perfect park at 4421 N. Versailles with a gazebo overlooking a fountain and reflecting pool. More of a stroll-and-sit spot than a playground; lovely for photos and a quiet break with little ones.
Prather Park
At 4509 Drexel, Prather follows Hackberry Creek with walking paths, benches, and a tennis court. Its footbridge is a neighborhood favorite. Shaded and quiet; easy stroller loop close to Davis Park.
Abbott & Connor Parks
Two of the town's smaller neighborhood green spaces, with playground equipment and benches tucked into the residential streets. Handy when you just need a close-to-home swing set without a drive.
Douglas Park
A quiet pocket park with open lawn and shade trees, good for a picnic blanket or letting toddlers toddle. Low-key and rarely crowded, it rounds out the town's walkable park network.
Trail System Highlight
The Katy Trail, a 3.5-mile landscaped urban path, is reached at the Knox Street access point on Highland Park's southern edge. It runs past Turtle Creek, Reverchon Park, and SMU on a paved route with a separate soft-surface jogging lane. Great for stroller walks and family bike rides without traffic.
Relocation Tip
Start at Lakeside Park. It's the most kid-friendly introduction to the town: feed the ducks, let the kids climb the Teddy Bear statues, then walk the Turtle Creek path. If you visit in late March, you'll catch the azaleas at their peak. For the full neighborhood picture, see the Highland Park relocation guide.
Youth Sports Leagues & Facilities
Because Highland Park is so compact, most organized youth sports run through two anchors: the Moody Family YMCA on Preston Road, which serves all of the Park Cities, and Highland Park ISD athletics once kids reach school teams. Tennis is the local exception, with public courts in several town parks.
Soccer
League: Moody Family YMCA Youth Soccer
Ages: Preschool through 6th grade
Season: Fall and spring
Basketball
League: Moody Family YMCA Youth Basketball
Ages: 3–5 (preschool) and K–6th grade
Season: Winter and summer
Flag Football
League: Moody Family YMCA Flag Football
Ages: Roughly 5–12
Season: Fall
Volleyball
League: Moody Family YMCA Youth Volleyball
Ages: Elementary through middle school
Season: Varies by year
Tennis
Where: Public courts at Fairfax (3 courts), Davis, and Prather parks
Ages: All ages
Season: Year-round
Swimming
Where: Moody Family YMCA (25-yard lap pool + warm teaching pool); Highland Park town pool at Davis Park
Ages: Lessons from toddler up
Season: Indoor year-round; town pool in summer
HPISD School Sports
Program: Highland Park ISD (the Scots) athletics
Ages: Middle and high school
Sports: Football, soccer, baseball, softball, track, swimming, lacrosse, golf, and more
Featured Facility
Moody Family YMCA, opened in 2016 at 6000 Preston Road, is the sports hub for both Park Cities. The 58,500-square-foot facility has a full gymnasium, a 25-yard lap pool, a warm-water teaching pool, group exercise studios, and sports fields, and it runs the soccer, basketball, flag football, and volleyball leagues most Highland Park kids play in.
Thinking About Highland Park for Highland Park ISD & Youth Sports?
Start with the full Highland Park relocation guide: schools, neighborhoods, market data, and what life here actually looks like for families.
Family Entertainment & Attractions
Living in Highland Park means the cultural heart of Dallas is essentially in your backyard. SMU, the arts district, and the city's best museums are all a short drive, and the town itself anchors a walkable strip of shops and patios.
Highland Park Village
Historic shopping center · A National Historic Landmark you can actually push a stroller through, with casual dining, a movie-night feel at the holidays, and seasonal family events.
SMU & Meadows Museum
University campus · Southern Methodist University sits right next door, with the Meadows Museum, Mustangs games, and open quads that make for an easy weekend wander. About 5 min from Highland Park.
George W. Bush Library
Presidential museum · On the SMU campus, with interactive exhibits and a replica Oval Office kids enjoy. A solid rainy-day outing about 5 min away.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Science museum · Five floors of dinosaurs, gems, and hands-on exhibits in downtown Dallas, about 10 min from Highland Park. One of the best all-ages stops in the metro.
Klyde Warren Park
Urban park · A deck park over the freeway downtown with a children's play area, food trucks, and free programming, roughly 10 min south. Pairs well with a museum morning.
NorthPark Center
Shopping & art · A world-class mall about 5 min north with a children's garden, rotating art, and indoor space to burn energy on a 100-degree day.
Day Trip from Highland Park
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (about 15 min via the lake), 66 acres on White Rock Lake with the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, a hands-on outdoor learning playground, plus the spring Dallas Blooms festival families return to year after year.
Family-Friendly Dining
Highland Park's everyday family dining clusters in two walkable nodes: Highland Park Village itself and the nearby Snider Plaza shops, with Knox Street a couple of minutes south for more.
Most of these sit in Highland Park Village and Snider Plaza, both walkable, with Knox Street a couple of minutes south.
Shopping & Retail Districts
Shopping here ranges from a globally famous luxury landmark to a homey neighborhood plaza that handles the everyday errands.
Highland Park Village
The 1931 landmark blends flagship luxury names with casual dining and a stroller-friendly open-air layout. Best for: a special-occasion stroll, dinner, and the holiday lights, all on foot.
Snider Plaza
A walkable neighborhood plaza near SMU with cafes, sandwich shops, a toy store, and local boutiques. Best for: a casual family lunch plus quick errands without a big-mall trek.
NorthPark Center
About 5 min north, one of the country's top malls, with a children's garden, museum-grade art, and cool indoor walking. Best for: a full rainy or 100-degree day with the kids.
Annual Events & Community Calendar
For a small town, Highland Park keeps a full calendar, much of it shared with neighboring University Park as the Park Cities.
Late March – April
Azalea Bloom Season
More than 8,000 azaleas burst into color across the town parks, peaking the last weeks of March into early April. A free, walkable spring tradition for families.
July
Park Cities 4th of July Parade
Held annually by the Rotary Club of Park Cities, the parade winds through Highland Park and ends at Centennial Park in University Park, followed by a free family festival with bounce houses, a petting zoo, crafts, and face painting.
Summer
Summer Movie Nights
Family movie nights pop up around the Park Cities on summer weekends, including dive-in films at the area pool. Check the town events page for this year's schedule.
November
Holiday Tree Lighting
The Park Cities gather for the annual tree lighting with live carols and dance performances, kicking off the holiday season for families across both towns.
Nov – Dec
Holidays at Highland Park Village
The 1931 center transforms with lights and decorations, drawing families to stroll, take photos, and dine. One of the most photographed holiday settings in Dallas.
Year-Round
Highland Park Library Programs
The town library runs story times and seasonal children's programming throughout the year, a free, walkable staple of family life here.
Full calendar: Highland Park official events page
Upcoming Events in Highland Park
What's happening in the next 60 days, updated weekly.
Of Virtue, Savage Hands, Set For Tomorrow, Sorry X
Event details →Daniel Caesar - Son Of Spergy Tour
Event details →Tomahawk w/ The Melvins
Event details →Not For Radio - A Summer In The Forest: North America Tour
Event details →Comedy Allstars
Event details →Not For Radio - A Summer In The Forest: North America Tour
Event details →Not for Radio
Event details →Comedy Allstars
Event details →The Black Keys (16 and Under with Parent or Legal Guardian)
Event details →Motionless In White: The Sweat and Blood Tour
Event details →FOX BD
Event details →Stone Buffalo, CroTex
Event details →Last updated: 2026-07-20 · Source: Eventbrite
Indoor Activities for Kids
When the Texas heat or a rainy stretch sends everyone inside, Highland Park families lean on the YMCA, the library, and the museum-rich city minutes away.
Moody Family YMCA
Type: Indoor pool & gym · Ages: All ages
Indoor lap and teaching pools, a full gym, and youth sports under one roof on Preston Road.
Highland Park Library
Type: Library · Ages: Babies through teens
Story times, seasonal kids' programs, and a quiet reading spot right at Town Hall.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Type: Science museum · Ages: Toddlers to teens
Dinosaurs, a kids' discovery floor, and hands-on labs about 10 min away downtown.
NorthPark Center
Type: Mall & play · Ages: All ages
Cool indoor walking, a children's garden, and rotating art about 5 min north.
Dallas Museum of Art
Type: Art museum · Ages: All ages
Free general admission and a hands-on Center for Creative Connections, about 10 min downtown.
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Type: Museum · Ages: Grade-school and up
Interactive exhibits and a replica Oval Office on the SMU campus, about 5 min away.
Summer Heat Pro Tip
When July hits triple digits, local families split the difference: mornings at the Highland Park town pool or the Moody YMCA's indoor pool, then afternoons in the air conditioning at NorthPark Center or the Perot Museum. The Katy Trail is best at dawn before the pavement heats up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from families considering Highland Park.
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Yes. Highland Park is one of the most established family enclaves in DFW, anchored by top-rated Highland Park ISD, very low crime, and a compact, walkable layout. Kids grow up between eight creekside parks, the Moody Family YMCA, and Highland Park Village, with downtown Dallas museums minutes away. The trade-off is cost: home prices here are among the highest in the metro.
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Most organized youth sports run through the Moody Family YMCA on Preston Road, which offers soccer, basketball, flag football, and volleyball from preschool age up. The YMCA also has indoor and teaching pools for swim lessons. Public tennis courts are in Fairfax, Davis, and Prather parks. Once kids reach middle and high school, Highland Park ISD (the Scots) fields a full slate of school teams.
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Plenty, mostly by leaning on the city next door. Inside town you have the Highland Park Library's children's programs and the Moody Family YMCA's indoor pool and gym. Within about 10 minutes you can reach the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Museum of Art, the George W. Bush Presidential Library at SMU, and NorthPark Center for indoor walking and a children's garden.
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Davis Park has a children's playground, a tennis court, and the Highland Park town swimming pool, open in summer. Fairfax Park has a playground, three tennis courts, and an open field. Lakeside Park is the favorite for younger kids, with Turtle Creek paths, the Teddy Bear statues, and duck feeding. Highland Park does not operate a municipal splash pad; the town pool at Davis Park is the main summer water spot.
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They are two halves of the same community, the Park Cities, and they share Highland Park ISD, the Moody Family YMCA, and the Park Cities 4th of July Parade. Highland Park leans on creekside parks and Highland Park Village; University Park adds Snider Plaza, the Holmes Aquatic Center, and larger community parks like Centennial Park. Families often tour both before deciding which side of the line fits.
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Highland Park is known for Highland Park Village, the 1931 shopping center considered the first of its kind in America, for its 8,000-plus spring azaleas along Turtle Creek, and for top-ranked Highland Park ISD. It is a small, walkable, affluent enclave inside Dallas where families trade square footage and price for location, schools, and a stroll-everywhere lifestyle.
Ready to Find Your Family's Home in Highland Park?
Kristen Carpentier is a DFW family relocation specialist and Highland Park ISD area expert, TREC #760457.
Kristen Carpentier · Kristen@whymovetodallas.com · (602) 405-4115 · eXp Realty · TREC #760457