There’s no shortage of drama surrounding one of our neighborhood’s most distinct features — the Forest Lane mural. W.T. White art students originally painted the wall back in the 1970s as way to deter graffiti and leave their mark, so to speak.
As we reported here, Glen Meadow neighbor Brent Herling recently launched a full restoration of the mural, which had faded over the years. The past several Saturdays, he has mobilized 20 or so volunteers to come out and help paint. Herling told me on Wednesday that the project is about 90 percent complete.
But, there’s just one problem. Not everyone loves it. In fact, Herling says he caught a neighbor painting over his section of the wall — the best part of the mural, Herling says, and it could take about 10 hours to recreate.
Neighbors behind the wall have exchanged some strong opinions on Next Door, an online social network for homeowners. One resident, Danny Scott, says, “We have been VERY emphatic that we DO NOT WANT THE WALL ON OUR PROPERTY repainted with this HIDEOUS EYE SORE!!!!!”
So, who owns the wall? That’s not a question with an easy answer. Herling says he has had permission from the city all along, and he posted documents on the group’s Facebook page that show that part of the land was donated to the county back in 1967. As far as he knows, the homeowners don’t own the wall.
But they are responsible for maintaining it, Councilwoman Jennifer Staubach Gates told neighbors. The Dallas Mornings News reports that she said in a statement to homeowners, “I understand this response does not clarify what actions can be taken regarding the wall. My office and City staff are clarifying the question of ownership … After speaking with neighborhood leadership, it is my understanding that it is the will of the neighborhood to maintain a painted mural. It is my hope that neighbors can treat each other respectfully even if their opinions differ and we can all come to a mutually agreeable outcome.”
It may not be high art, but the Forest Lane mural has been a fixture of Preston Hollow. As far as we know, no one has publicly complained about it until now. In fact, many neighbors are quite protective of it (it was hard enough for Herling to receive their blessing for the restoration).
What do you think? Has this whimsical high school art project run its course? Or should it live on as a neighborhood landmark?
