Chris Lyons has been appointed as chief operating officer of Dallas-based The Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, a role in which Lyons will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Halperin Park (formerly known as Southern Gateway Park), the landmark bridge park currently under construction over I-35E in Southern Dallas.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Chris to our leadership team. His wealth of experience and passion for community engagement will be instrumental in bringing our vision for Halperin Park to life,” April Allen, president and CEO of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, said in a statement. “As we prepare for our grand opening next year, Chris will play a key role in ensuring seamless operations, outstanding visitor experiences, and a commitment to sustainability and innovation. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead under his leadership.”

The foundation said that Lyons brings more than 30 years of leadership in operations and management, working with some of the world’s most renowned brands in hospitality, zoos, parks and attractions.

Rendering of the planned Halperin Park, formerly known as Southern Gateway Park. [Image: HKS]

Expertise in parks, zoos, and hospitality

Before joining the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, Lyons served as COO from 2021-2025 for Worldwide Zoo Consultants in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, where he helped lead the creation, development, and management of modern zoological parks, public aquariums, and living museums.

Prior to his role at Worldwide Zoo Consultants, Lyons was SVP of operations from 2019-2021 for the Gathering Place, a 66.5-acre park along the Arkansas River in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before that, he was COO for the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. from 2018-2019; chief operating officer for the Houston Zoo from 2013-2018; and SVP for AMG International Consulting from 2009-2013 with a focus on clients located primarily in Europe and the Caribbean.

In 2009, Lyons was director of operations for Hilton Hotels, overseeing the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Lyons began his career with Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks, working at SeaWorld Orlando from 1995 to 2009.

“Halperin Park is an incredible opportunity to create a vibrant and inclusive space, and I am eager to contribute to its success,” Lyons said. “I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team, valued partners and the local community to make Halperin Park a premier destination in North Texas—one that connects our community and enriches the lives of all who visit.”

Scheduled to open next year, the five-acre Halperin Park will be a catalyst for closing the opportunity gap that was created when the highway was originally built in the 1950s through the middle of Oak Cliff. The park is a public/private partnership with the City of Dallas and the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, as well as significant support at the regional, state and federal level.

Once open, the park will attract an estimated 2 million visitors annually and generate more than $1 billion in economic impact in its first five years, the foundation said.

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