Marking a transformative step for Dallas, the long-anticipated 20-year plan to develop an urban green park along the Trinity River is now underway. The 250-acre huge Harold Simmons Park is set to be built in the heart of Dallas between Kirk Bridge and Margaret McDermott Bridge.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 8, featuring food trucks and flamenco dancers that captivated attendees.
Highlights
- Harold Simmons Park is a ‘green’ real estate project that will be built along the Trinity River.
- The groundbreaking ceremony for this Dallas project took place on April 8.
- The urban green park will offer Dallas residents and visitors over 20 attractions, including a nature preserve.
New Urban Green Space for Dallas
Located along the Trinity River, Dallas’ Harold Simmons Park is an ‘urban green space’ that will include five scenic viewpoints and a nature preserve – West Overlook, Ronald Kirk Bridge, East Overlook, Felix Lozada Jr. Gateway, and Continental Gateway. Construction will first begin with the West Overlook.
The huge 250-acre green park will feature more than 20 attractions for the Dallas crowd. Features include a 40,000-square-foot event lawn, a six-tower playground, an event center, a unique cable ferry, a skate and bike park, and picnic groves.
Incorporating feedback from local community members, this new urban green space has been designed by Lake|Flato Architects and Michael Van Valkenburgh. The Dallas park has been named after businessman Harold Simmons, whose wife donated $50 million to the real estate project.
Harold Simmons Project To Boost Dallas’ Finance
The large-scale urban green park of Dallas is expected to see about 4 to 6 million visitors per year. Additionally, city leaders are hopeful that Harold Simmons Park will create 600 new jobs.
The Dallas-based park is projected to emerge as a financial booster by generating $2.1 billion in the city’s tourism, health savings, and recreation. Project developers are estimating that Harold Simmons Park will create $1.3 billion in new public revenues and $2.7 billion in new real estate on vacant sites.
Environmental Impacts of the ‘Green’ Project
Harold Simmons Park is being projected as a ‘green’ project due to its inclination towards environmental conservation. The project will introduce over 1,600 new trees, 4,000 bushes and shrubs, and 200,000 groundcover perennials.
With a blend of urban development and environmental conservation, the Harold Simmons Park emerges as a pathbreaking Dallas project. Its 250-acre length will not only beautify the city’s landscape but also boost its ecological and economic aspects.
