Dallas has dreamed of a transformational park along the Trinity River for decades. Last night—in a festive event filled with flamenco dancers, food trucks, an outdoor stage and a massive indoor exhibit space—Harold Simmons Park got its groundbreaking.
Presented by the Trinity Park Conservancy, the event highlighted the promise of the $325 million, 250-acre park, which will offer “community-uniting nature” along with a 40,000-square-foot event lawn, an event center, a “six-tower” playground, a water play area, picnic groves, a skate and bike park, a unique cable ferry, and more.
Located along a stretch of the Trinity River close to downtown, 200 acres of the urban green space will encompass a nature preserve. The other 50 acres—and for now, the key destinations imagined for the park—will feature four scenic overlooks that crest the levees on either side. All that action will take place between the Margaret McDermott Bridge and Ronald Kirk Bridge.
Local talent, civic leaders, and lots of ceremonial diggers
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
At Tuesday evening’s event, performances by local talent represented the spirit of the Dallas community. City officials, civic leaders, community advocates, and project partners were on hand to commemorate the start of construction. They also offered insights into the park’s design and development, highlighting the lasting impact the park will have on the city’s future—including its proximity to a planned redesign of the convention center, and its goal of being “a significant game changer for Dallas.”
“We’re not just building a park,” Trinity Park Conservancy Board Chair Deedie Rose has said. “We’re transforming a city.”
Displays at the groundbreaking event showed the promise of Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A series of ceremonial groundbreakings were held during Tuesday’s event, with everyone from civic leaders to community groups to local kids getting their turn at the shovels—digging into a new vision of how Dallas will connect, play, and grow.
Designed by New York-based landscape design firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates with park buildings designed by San Antonio’s Lake|Flato Architects, the park is named in honor of Harold Simmons, whose widow Annette Simmons made a $50 million commitment to the park, marking the largest private donation to a city project in Dallas history.
For more about Harold Simmons Park, visit its website here.
More looks at the groundbreaking event
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A scene from the groundbreaking event for Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A glimpse of the future tree-hugging appeal of Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
Food trucks were on display to offer a taste of what’s to come at Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
A glimpse at the future of Harold Simmons Park. [Photo: Trinity Park Conservancy]
One of the many jaw-dropping renderings of Harold Simmons Park’s attractions. [Image: Trinity Park Conservancy]
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