November Update from UCPID Director, Patrick Sanders

Greetings to the University Crossing community! October was a busy month in University Crossing, and as such, there are some updates I would like to share:

To begin, as many of you may have seen, construction of the University Crossing Bridge is nearing substantial completion. In October, the City of Dallas worked on the final stage of the Bridge, which included safety measures such as railings and lighting. To commemorate the Bridge's completion, the City and the University Crossing Public Improvement District  have finalized plans for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon cutting will occur on November 2nd, and this will mark the formal opening of the Bridge. The ribbon cutting will be followed by a community celebration on November 4th, which is open to the public. Details of these celebrations have been sent to the UCPID community contact list. If you would like an update on the Bridge construction prior to the ceremony, you can view the time lapse photos of the Bridge by visiting our website at: www.universitycrossingbridge.com.

Additionally, as noted last month, the UCPID Board of Directors approved capital improvements along Mockingbird Lane. The area of focus were the planters between Mockingbird Station and Matilda. I am pleased to report that this project has been completed and to that end, all six planters, between Mockingbird Station and Matilda, have been replanted.  Additionally, the planters were also repainted. The UCPID Board of Directors hopes you enjoy this beautification of our community!

The UCPID continues to partner with the Park & Recreation Department on the installation of pedestrian lighting along the portion of the Katy Trail extension that runs through our community. To that end, the UCPID has obtained bids related to the cost of this project. The UCPID and Park & Rec. will use these bids over the next few months to develop a funding program to install the light fixtures along this portion of the Kay Trail. The UCPID will provide updates as this program progresses.

Regarding programming opportunities, I want to encourage you to take part in some of the UCPID's ongoing programs. For example, with our Music on Mockingbird program, the UCPID sponsors live music every Friday at Mockingbird Station. We also encourage you to take advantage of our Lunch & Learn program where a Dallas Police officer can visit your place of business and offer "Best Practices" related to calling 911, motor vehicle safety and more. If you are interested in scheduling a Lunch & Learn at your property, please contact us at the email below.

Finally, as part of our ongoing effort to serve our community, the UCPID is considering some new programs to add to our list of offerings. Specifically, the UCPID is researching the possibility of a bike share program for our area, which would include bike stations located at strategic locations in our community. In an effort to promote the arts in our area, the UCPID is collaborating with the City of Dallas to identify public spaces that can be utilized for future art projects. We will update you as these programs develop.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to our continued partnership.