Forest Meadow, Dallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forest Meadow
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 Forest Meadow, Dallas
Location in Lake Highlands
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Dallas |
| City | Dallas |
| Area | Lake Highlands |
| ZIP code |
75243
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| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 972 |
Forest Meadow is a suburban neighborhood located in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, Texas. It is a residential community, meaning it's mostly made up of homes where people live. Today, Forest Meadow is generally bordered by Greenville Avenue on the west, Whitehurst Drive on the south, Abrams Road on the east, and an alley near businesses and apartments on Forest Lane to the north.
Contents
History of Forest Meadow
Most of the land that makes up Forest Meadow today, along with nearby neighborhoods like Moss Farm and Town Creek, was once owned by early settlers.
Early Settlers and Land Grants
One of the first settlers was James M. Houx. He came to Dallas County, Texas, from Kentucky around 1846 or 1847. James bought a large piece of land, about 306 acres, in this area in 1849. Sadly, he passed away soon after. His young son, Nicholas T. Houx, was adopted by Judge John S. Thomas. Judge Thomas helped Nicholas get a much larger land grant of 640 acres from the State of Texas in 1855. This bigger piece of land included almost all of what is now Forest Meadow and Town Creek.
Nicholas Houx grew up and farmed these lands. He and his wife, Maggie Bell Norman, started selling parts of the property in 1883. Nicholas continued to live on the land until he died in 1890. Interestingly, one part of the land, including what is now Windy Crest Drive, stayed with the Houx family heirs until 1964.
The Sebastian Family and Farming
Later, a man named William Whitesides Sebastian bought a lot of land in the area. He was considered a pioneer in Dallas County, though he came after the Houx family. Sebastian had been a captain in the Civil War. He moved to Dallas County in 1872. He lived on this land and used it as a farm. He grew cotton and also raised animals like Hereford and Holstein cattle. This tradition of farming continued into the 20th century. For example, in 1940, Harry S. Moss bought land that is now Moss Farm and Harry S. Moss Park. He also used it as a stock farm for animals.
Growth and Development
Over time, the land was divided into smaller pieces. The Houston & Texas Central Railroad (now the DART Red Line) came through the area in 1873. This helped the land become more connected to the growing city of Dallas. In 1916, the road next to the neighborhood, now called North Greenville Avenue, became Texas State Highway 6. Later, it was named US Highway 75 until the North Central Expressway was built in the 1950s.
In the early 1900s, some smaller plots of land were used as suburban farms. People who worked in Dallas could still enjoy a bit of country life there. For example, William A. "Bill" Browne, an oil developer from Dallas, owned a 25-acre suburban farm in the 1940s. This land is now part of Forest Meadow and includes a street named Bill Browne Drive.
From 1967 to 1984, the Dallas Cowboys football team had their practice field on Forest Lane, right next to the neighborhood. This was during the time when Forest Meadow was being developed.
Neighborhood Growth Timeline
The different parts of Forest Meadow were officially planned and developed between 1967 and 1978. Here's a look at when some of these sections were added:
| Year: | Subdivision: | Plat Book and Pages: | Area (or Streets) Included: |
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| 1967 | Forest Meadows Addition 1 | 67193 p. 275 | East of Abrams Road: Heatherdale, Meadowknoll, Hunters Creek |
| 1969 | Forest Meadows Addition 2 | 69185 p. 1999 | East of Abrams Road |
| 1971 | Forest Meadows Addition 3 | 71076 p. 2070 | South of Whitehurst and west of Club Meadow: Locarno, Seagrove, Raeford, Loma Vista |
| 1973 | Forest Meadows Addition 4 | 73020 p. 895 | |
| 1974 | Forest Meadows Addition 5 | 74228 p. 678 | Bounded by Dove Meadow, 9200 block of Windy Crest, Abrams Road, and Forest Meadow Junior High |
| 1975 | Forest Meadows Addition 5 | 76038 p. 472 | (corrected plat?) |
| 1976 | Forest Meadows Addition 4, Phase 2 | Parts of Arborside Drive and Loma Vista Drive | |
| 1976 | Bill Browne’s Farm | 76209 p. 1348 | Bill Browne, 9100 block of Windy Crest, Webb Kay, Clayco, Dusti, Brady |
| 1976 | Topaz Estates | 79011 p. 1140 | 9000 block of Windy Crest and Windy Crest Circle |
In 1979, people living in Forest Meadow started a Neighborhood Crime Watch group. This group helps keep the community safe. In 1995, this group became an official organization called the Forest Meadow Crime Patrol.
Schools and Fun Things to Do
Even though Forest Meadow is part of Dallas, it is located within the Richardson Independent School District. This means that students living in the neighborhood go to schools in this district.
Local Schools
Children in Forest Meadow attend several local schools. These include Moss Haven Elementary School, Skyview Elementary School, Stults Road Elementary, and Merriman Park Elementary School. For middle school, students go to Forest Meadow Junior High School. High school students attend Lake Highlands High School.
Parks and Transportation
Residents of Forest Meadow have easy access to public transportation. The DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Rail has a station on Forest Lane, which is less than a mile west of the neighborhood. This makes it easy to travel around Dallas.
The neighborhood is also close to Harry S. Moss Park. This park is a great place to access the White Rock Creek Trail, which is perfect for walking, running, or biking. Another trail, the Cottonwood Trail, is being built and will also have an access point at the Forest Lane DART Station.
