The Claremont Addition – A Place We Are Proud to Call Home
The Claremont Addition area is comprised of tracts of land originally used for dairy and cotton farm production. The development of the Claremont Addition housing community occurred in the mid-1950’s and 1960’s. For many years original homeowners raised their families and prospered. Most sent their children to our local school, Bayles Elementary School. Bayles is the oldest DISD school in the city, having been established in 1856. Its current location at 2444 Telegraph Avenue is its third and final location in our community.
By the 1990’s crime began to escalate and the Claremont Addition Crime Watch organization was revitalized in 1992. To address rising crime and to instill a sense of community and civic pride, we incorporated into a neighborhood organization in 1994, forming the Claremont Addition Neighborhood Association/CrimeWatch 1199 or CANA. Our mission is: to improve the quality of life, promote the economic vitality of the neighborhood, reduce crime, beautify the area, and thereby foster a sense of community. CANA’s work in the 1990’s became a springboard for the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI) www.fergusonroad.org, a nonprofit umbrella organization whose vision is a “strong and vital Far East Dallas.” CANA is a supporting member of FRI.
Over the years CANA has worked to reduce crime and promote public safety, provided support for Bayles Elementary School, hosted community-wide events such as Litter Cleanups, Easter Egg Hunts, food drives, Health and Safety Fairs, and National Night Out.
We support the positive economic development we are experiencing in our community, with the building of the White Rock Hills Library (2012), new White Rock Hills Park (2020), Trinity Forest Spine and Ash Creek Trails (2022), reconstruction of Highland Road (2022), and future intersection improvements at Highland/Ferguson and Lakeland/Ferguson. A new recreation center is on the horizon, the future White Rock Hills Community Recreation Center will be located next to the White Rock Hills Park at 2229 Highland Road.
In addition to large-scale public amenities, we support the quality and diverse housing that is being built around our community. We invite all to invest with us by supporting the Claremont Neighborhood by becoming a member, supporting our events, fundraising drives, and to consider becoming a Board Member or Committee Chair.
CANA Board Members (L-R) Rob Brown, Secretary; Debbie Shaw, President; Dallas Fire & Rescue first responder; Christina Garcia, Events & Social Activities; Joyce Smith, past Treasurer; Dallas Fire & Rescue first responder; Vikki Martin, Community Liaison; Bryan Giron and Michael Laurion, Beautification. Not shown: Gary Garcia, Treasurer; Rel Cooper, Crime Watch Coordinator; Linda Downey, Welcome Committee.[/caption]
SOCIAL EVENTS
National Night Out / CANA Block Party
The National Night Out / CANA Block Party is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Traditionally most NNO celebrations have been held on the evening of the first Tuesday in August. Since it is so hot in Texas that time of the year, a few years ago, CANA (along with many other Texan communities) shifted the date to October when it is cooler. We hold our celebration on Saturday instead of Tuesday so that that our families can relax and enjoy the evening without worrying about school or work in the morning.
More than 100 of you showed up with kids and pets in tow for our second annual NNO/CANA block party last October. We’ve already started planning for bigger and better in 2024!
Wine Walks
Hosted wine walks are very popular. Christina hit another homerun in 2022 as CANA’s head honcho for our first-ever NNO CANA block party. We are adding FUN to the CANA agenda! Stay tuned for more cool events and family friendly get togethers in 2023.
NEIGHBORHOOD INSIGHTS
Neighborhood Beautification
The Yard of the Month program celebrates those who work hard to create standout properties.
Litter Cleanup
Each year, CANA members volunteer a Saturday morning pick up trash and litter in the Claremont Addition as part of the Ferguson Road Initiative’s Operation Beautification Litter Cleanup event in March. Working as team, CANA vounteers pick up trash and debris along Graycliff Drive, outside of the Bayles Elementary School campus, as well as at Lakeland Hills Park.
Claremont Marker
We’ve worked hard to keep our marker neatly maintained with year-round plantings. Watering is a challenge during the hot dry summer months. If you would like to help keep the flowerbed fresh and green, please go to the volunteer page and provide your contact info. Make sure you scroll down and click the Beautification check box.
Pet Waste Stations around Bayles Campus
CANA pays for the biodegradable pet waste bags at each station. This costs us about $600 annually. If you walk your dog, please consider a small donation to CANA to help keep the pet waste stations stocked.
We also periodically post signs as needed around Bayles School reminding dog walkers to comply with leash and curbing pet ordinances.
Bayles Elementary School Support
In partnership with Bayles, two new benches for school and community use were installed around the school.
Reading Partners at Bayles
CANA also actively recruits volunteers from our community to serve as tutors for Bayles’ reading enhancement program, Reading Partners. If you are interested in knowing more about Reading Partners and how you can help tutor/mentor a child at Bayles, go to: readingpartners.org/volunteer-north-texas/