University Park, a predominantly residential community of 23,000 residents, is located approximately five miles north of downtown Dallas. It is home to Southern Methodist University around which the town was built. The location of University Park in north-central Dallas provides easy access to a broad range of cultural recreational, shopping, and business activities. The major shopping area is Snider Plaza, but the historic Highland Park Village Shopping Center and NorthPark Mall are nearby.

The city has a small-town feeling with its own municipal government, its own public services (police and fire), and its own school district - the highly acclaimed Highland Park Independent School District, with seven schools and a total enrollment of more than 5,850 students. In state testing, HPISD students consistently rank among the highest in the state, with 97 percent of the graduating class typically continuing on to college. More than 70 percent of residents over 25 have college or advanced degrees, making University Park among the most highly-educated cities in the nation.

University Park residents appreciate the personal care they receive from the community-oriented city staff, especially in the area of police and fire protection. A primary goal of the City is to provide and maintain a secure residential atmosphere, and through a hometown policing approach, the City maintains crime rates among the lowest in the metropolitan area.