Dynamic Park Development Initiatives Transform Downtown Dallas from a Ghost Town into a Growing, Vibrant Urban Center

Boeing’s rejection of Dallas for its headquarters relocation spurred city leaders to develop a parks master plan, resulting in construction of seven new parks, the last of which will be completed in 2023. Stimulated by these initiatives, Dallas’s urban core population increased—from 500 in the mid-1990s to more than 13,000 today. Property values near these parks have skyrocketed. The first stop on this tour is the iconic Klyde Warren Park, which bridges the downtown and Uptown districts. The tour will then proceed on foot to West End Square, a neighborhood park whose operations and maintenance are supported by a variety of smart systems that offer public wi-fi and charging stations. En route to the central business district’s newest parks—Pacific Plaza, Carpenter Park, and Harwood Park—the tour will traverse a redeveloped Main Street corridor, anchored by Civic Gardens on the west and Main Street Gardens on the east, both of which are neighborhood gathering spots. The tour will conclude with lunch at the National Anthem restaurant in East Quarter.