Grassroots movement aims at concrete jungle
Study focuses on revitalizing and extending park facilities
Sandra Zaragoza
Staff writer
Relaxing oases of green could soon be dotting the downtown landscape.
The greening of the central core has long been part of the overall vision of
downtown backers, who believe the addition, expansion and restoration of parks
and recreation facilities will attract residents and visitors and make breaks
in the workday more pleasant for those who are employed there.
"It is the one element that downtown is missing," said Willis Winters, assistant director for planning, design and construction at the city's park and recreation department. "If successful, it will aid in its rejuvenation and spur economic development."
A study of existing parks and ideas for potential new downtown park locations currently is being led by Fort Worth-based engineering consultants Carter & Burgess Inc., whose report is due in late 2003. The study is part of the Renaissance Plan, a wider plan focusing on parks and recreation that was commissioned by the city of Dallas' park and recreation department and developed by Carter & Burgess.
The consulting team has been asked to assess "where public spaces are today and where we could see new sites or new spaces for public gatherings," said Philip S. Neeley, landscape architect at Carter & Burgess' Dallas office.
The city has put aside $5 million from the 2003 bond package toward park improvements in downtown, Winters said. Another likely source of financing is a public/private partnership.
Among the ideas being discussed are the development of one large urban park and a series of smaller urban spaces with recreation components such as trails and dog parks.
But finding open spaces will be a challenge. The larger park site likely will be on the periphery of downtown, where bigger tracts are still available. There are more possibilities for smaller green spaces within the downtown core. Parking lots, for example, are likely to be targeted as potential green areas.
Another priority of the downtown parks plan is to make walking from the West End to the Arts District more enjoyable, and the city also is interested in how the core will connect with Fair Park and the planned Trinity Park -- both of which need major overhauls, according to the Renaissance Plan.
Another focus of the study will be the parks' uses. The urban spaces could be used for anything from musical events and art shows to quiet spots for reading, Winters said. And a major factor will be the parks' potential for generating business development such as retail or mixed-use office.
Although the consultants are drawing from successful park projects in other major cities for ideas, "What we do will be unique to Dallas," Neeley said. "It will not be a copy. It will be distinctly Dallas.
"If it's done right, people will say downtown Dallas isn't just a place to do business or go to the convention center, it is a place where you can go and have a great time in a great space," he said.
"Right now, business travelers and visitors don't think about (downtown) as a great outdoor space where they are going to sit or eat."
The number of building elements in the downtown park system will likely be limited because of space. There may be small visitor centers and coffee and sandwich stands, Neeley said.
Contact DBJ writer Sandra Zaragoza at szaragoza@bizjournals.com or (214) 706-7113.