Resident Pursues Ground-Level Solutions Around Bachman Lake Park
Community stewardship often begins with one person paying close attention, documenting what they see and continuing to ask for solutions. At Bachman Lake Park, Waymond Young has been doing exactly that.
An email exchange following Dallas District 6’s 2026 Budget Town Hall shows how Waymond brought a detailed list of park concerns to city officials, supported those concerns with dates, locations, service information, photos and video, and helped prompt follow-up from the Friends of Bachman Lake and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.
May 2025: Documenting concerns in the park
Waymond’s record included video from May 2025 showing concerns around trail markers BLT 105 and BLT 124–125. This early documentation helped establish that the issues he was reporting were not isolated observations.
July 8, 2026: Recording current conditions
Waymond continued documenting conditions around Bachman Lake, including an encampment near BLT 106 and maintenance concerns at park facilities. His July video included the restroom near BLT 118, where he reported a damaged sink, broken fixtures and lights, and clogged drains.
August 18–20, 2026: Raising the issues at the Budget Town Hall
Waymond raised park maintenance concerns during the District 6 virtual Budget Town Hall. On August 20, Yesenia Valdez, Chief of Staff for Council Member Laura Cadena, followed up and asked him to restate the concerns so they could be directed to the appropriate city staff.
Waymond responded with a detailed account of the problems he had observed, including:
Encampments and the need for additional police or park patrols.
The skatepark gate and the need for more attention around closing time.
Multiple lights that were out or flickering around the lake and recreation center.
Damaged and unusable restroom fixtures near BLT 118.
Park lights turning off at 11 p.m., creating visibility and safety concerns.
A buried sidewalk near 3706 W. Northwest Highway and debris blocking an ADA-accessible sidewalk near BLT 120–121.
Additional lighting needs near the Rotary Club playground and picnic grounds.
People staying overnight in vehicles in the recreation center parking lot.
He also supplied links to videos, photographs and mapped locations. That level of detail makes it easier for officials to verify conditions, assign work and report back to the community.
August 26, 2026: Friends of Bachman Lake helps elevate the concerns
Friends of Bachman Lake board member Susanna Brown forwarded Waymond’s report to Dallas Park and Recreation staff and requested an update for the community. This is an important part of effective neighborhood advocacy: residents identify and document problems, while community organizations help connect those observations with the people responsible for solutions.
August 27–September 10, 2026: City teams inspect, clean and repair
On September 10, Miguel Rodriguez, District 5 Manager for the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, provided a point-by-point response describing recent work and the challenges still being addressed.
Maintenance teams visit Bachman Lake weekly to remove and clean up encampments. Dallas Police assisted with multiple cleanups on August 27, including at the skatepark, and the Park Ranger Team communicated the need for additional patrols.
The skatepark gate had been inspected, its electrical power checked and the gate was operational again by the morning of the response.
Electricians were working on reported lighting concerns around the park and recreation center.
The damaged men’s restroom sink had been repaired, though it was damaged again on August 20. A women’s restroom toilet remained out of service pending repairs.
The department confirmed that park lights were scheduled to turn off in accordance with park curfew hours.
The city also noted that addressing unsheltered residents in parks is complex. Cleanup work may be coordinated with outreach resources, crisis-response staff and law enforcement, with the goal of supporting people while protecting staff and park users.
Why persistent civic involvement matters
This exchange is a practical example of community advocacy in action. Waymond did more than identify problems: he kept records, named precise locations, provided visual evidence, spoke at a public meeting and followed up. Friends of Bachman Lake then helped carry those concerns to city staff, who responded with updates on cleanups, inspections and repairs.
Not every issue is resolved immediately, and some require continued coordination. But progress begins when residents stay engaged and public agencies receive clear, actionable information.
We thank Waymond Young for his persistence and care for Bachman Lake Park, and we appreciate the city staff and community partners working toward practical solutions. Residents who notice a park concern can help by documenting the location, date and condition, reporting it through the appropriate City of Dallas channel, and following up when needed.
Together, attentive residents and responsive public partners can make Bachman Lake Park safer, cleaner and more welcoming for everyone.
Thank you Waymond!
Waymond's Images: View photos 1 View photos 2
