I have lived in Coppell, Texas longer than any other place in my entire life. I moved here in 1996 so that means last year I celebrated my silver anniversary here! Residents are called Coppellians and we're a pretty proud bunch of our quaint little city. We're located in the far northwest corner of Dallas county and are solidly in the "burbs". We have one of the top-rated school districts in the entire state of Texas, making it a popular choice for the constant influx of new residents to the area.
Coppell is a city of families. Of our almost 16,000 households in the city, about 45% of them have children under the age of 18 living in them. If you then consider that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) that almost 50% of households have at least one dog, that means there are a lot of dogs and a lot of kids in Coppell. Our pets are members of the family too so that's why they're always welcome in my family portrait sessions and I never charge extra to include them.
Our close proximity to the Dallas - Fort Worth airport makes the area a popular one for the corporate headquarters of such companies as The Container Store, Zale Corporation and most recently the North American headquarters of the British sports car manufacturer, McLaren. We are also the home of a number of massive Amazon fulfillment centers which means that sometimes I buy something and it literally arrives later that same day.
So even though we are a bedroom community in the suburbs of Dallas, our excellent school system, convenient location in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and local employment opportunities make it a very desirable city to live in which explains our skyrocketing growth from a population of just over 16,000 in 1990 to more than double that at 36,000 in 2000. Now that the city's land mass is pretty much fully developed, our current population has settled in at just over 41,000 people.
Coppell Is Very Dog Friendly
For a city less than 15 square miles in size, we have a lot to offer dog lovers. Coppell boats many great parks, the two biggest parks being Andy Brown East and Andy Brown West, which have meandering paths great for on-leash dog walking. The city is also developing the extension of our current trail system so they all connect and will measure over 7 miles in total length.
Of course, we have the Waggin' Tails Dog Park, something I know quite a bit about since I led the charge in 2012 to have it built. This year will be the 10th anniversary of the park's opening and it remains one of the most popular amenities in the city today.
In addition to numerous outdoor activities that you can do with your dog, we also have a number of dog-friendly eateries in, and immediately around, the city that welcome your pooch with open arms - here's a list:
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Your pup is welcome on the patio of J. Macklin's Grill
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Lupe Tortilla says "bienvenido los perros" (welcome dogs) to their patio dining area
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Rodeo Goat at Cypress Waters also allows dogs for patio dining
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Dairy Queen's outdoor dining area is dog-friendly
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Got a hankering for a hamburger? Twisted Root in old town Coppell makes some great ones and you can sneak your pup a few bites in their outdoor dining area.
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Maybe you're in the mood for Mediterranean? Zoes
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Feeling the need for a little java with your pooch? Check out George Coffee + Provisions in old town, you can sip your coffee with your pup on their quaint porch dining area
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After dinner it's time for dessert so stop b Andy's Frozen Custard and share a sweet treat with your pup on their patio
If I've missed any other dog-friendly eateries, please comment below and I'll update the list!
Grapevine Springs and Wagon Wheel Parks In Coppell Are Two Of My Favorite Photo Session Locations
I always anticipate the arrival of fall at Grapevine Springs Park in Coppell (not to be confused with Grapevine, Texas which is directly to the west of Coppell and also contains a number of favorite photo session locations) because the pink muhly grass finally blooms and it's spectacular. It's full of texture, waves in the breeze and in the afternoons is beautifully backlit by the setting sun.
Another one of my favorite locations is Wagon Wheel Park in Coppell. It's actually not a park per-se, but rather a sports field complex in the city, it just happens to have a fantastic barn-looking cantina / restroom building along with desert plantings around it. No two sessions look alike depending on the direction you photograph and the time of year. If you time it perfectly, and the weather is on your side, you can get a gorgeous sunset behind your subjects. As an added bonus, there are huge rocks placed around the building that are perfect for posing dogs and families on.
The key to a great family photo with your dogs is to get everyone close together so that means you either need to lower the humans, or raise the pet. I'm always in search of locations with low walls like this one at Grapevine Springs Park in Coppell, or stairs, where I can seat adults comfortably and everyone's faces are close together without having to put anyone on the ground. It's a more natural, and appealing position for everyone and looks better in images.
Ginger Models All The Variety That Can Be Found On Photo Session Locations In Coppell
You might be surprised to see so much variety in a relatively small city, but Coppell has so much to offer. In addition to the parks mentioned above, we have some great murals, colorful and textured plantings as well as large rocks and fields of wildflowers sprinkled around the city. I head out often with my best girl Ginger in search of new session locations convenient for my Coppell family, high school senior and pet portrait clients. Below is just a smattering of what this great city has to offer.