On Monday, Klyde Warren Park (KWP) and its Foundation announced a major construction milestone for the expansion of the popular public outdoor space downtown. Archer Western, the same firm that built the park’s original deck structure more than a 10 years ago, was selected from a competitive bidding process. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this year and take about two years to complete.
“Fourteen years ago, many people questioned whether building a deck park over a freeway was even possible,” Jody Grant, chairman of Klyde Warren Park said in today’s press release. “Today, Klyde Warren Park stands as proof of what can happen when a community believes in a bold vision. This expansion isn’t simply about adding acreage. It’s an investment in Dallas, an investment in the community and an investment in future generations.”
The 1.7-acre expansion will increase the park from 5.4 acres to 7.1 acres, extending west toward Field St. while covering the final recessed portion of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway and completing the park’s original vision.
The expansion will feature The Jacobs Lawn, a 37,000-square-foot multi-use green space designed for festivals, markets, performances and civic celebrations. During the winter months, The Jacobs Lawn will transform into an outdoor ice-skating rink, with additional seasonal programming planned throughout the year. Adjacent to the lawn, the Overlook will allow guests to view the city traffic from Woodall Rogers.
Along with these outdoor spaces will be a new glass-and-steel pavilion suspended above the freeway between St. Paul and Akard streets. The two-level structure will feature approximately 24,000 square feet of climate-controlled event and reception space, along with an 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace overlooking the Dallas skyline. The pavilion will be open to the public.
The expansion is the result of years of collaboration among public agencies, private donors and community leaders. Funding partners include the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Regional Transportation Council, Dallas County, the Klyde Warren Park/Dallas Arts District Public Improvement District and a number of philanthropic partners.
City officials emphasized the vital role local parks play in bringing people together:
“Klyde Warren Park embodies the bold steps forward that we can take with innovative vision. This is the type of project that has made Dallas one of the most successful and fast-rising cities in America,” Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson mentioned. “The expansion of this Park is exactly the kind of transformative investment we must continue to make throughout Dallas’ urban core. It will add new green space for residents to enjoy while driving continued economic growth, connecting our communities, and enhancing the quality of life that makes Dallas a destination for families, businesses, and visitors from around the world.”
Beyond its community impact, KWP also serves as a significant economic development engine for Dallas, contributing to an estimated $5.9 billion in increased surrounding property value. To date, that development has generated $957 million in incremental tax revenue benefiting the City of Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas ISD, Parkland and Dallas College. The expansion is projected to generate an additional $3.5 billion in property value over the next decade while further driving visitor spending, tourism and continued investment throughout downtown Dallas.
“Klyde Warren Park demonstrates what thoughtful private-public partnerships can accomplish,” Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert added. “Since opening, the Park has supported the generation of hundreds of millions in incremental tax revenue for the City of Dallas. But beyond the numbers, it has created a place where neighborhoods connect, businesses invest and communities come together. This expansion will continue to strengthen our urban core for generations to come.”
Transportation leaders also highlighted the project’s role in reconnecting communities while enhancing quality of life.
“Klyde Warren Park remains one of the finest examples of transportation infrastructure serving people in entirely new ways,” said Michael Morris, Director of Transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. “What was once a barrier through the heart of Dallas has become one of the city’s most celebrated destinations. This expansion continues that vision by strengthening connections, creating opportunities and supporting the growth of a world-class region.”
–From staff reports
