Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park is a 21,000 sq. m park that serves as a connection between the Arts District of Downtown Dallas and the multi-use neighborhoods of Uptown Dallas in the US State of Texas. Opened on October 27, 2012, the park was created to fill the gap made by the Woodall Rodgers Freeway between the two neighborhoods, and it now serves as a gathering place for the community in a variety of pedestrian-friendly areas, including a children's park, reading room, great lawn, restaurant, performance pavilion, fountain plaza, games area, and a dog park.

Location Of The Klyde Warren Park

The park is situated between Downtown and Uptown Dallas, on the edge of the Arts District. A three-block section of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway is occupied by the urban park, which is located between Pearl and St. Paul Streets. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, Parkside Condominiums, Nasher Sculpture Center, and several business offices are some of the adjacent facilities to the park. The 42-story residential building known as Museum Tower is situated next to the park as well.

Purpose Of The Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park was created with the goal of bringing in foot traffic, boosting the value of nearby businesses, and fostering community via the creation of a lively public area. Since streetcar, bicycle, and pedestrian accessibility were added to the park, the city center's walkability has grown dramatically. The park also increased local tax income and real estate development. Impact studies estimate that the economic gain was $312.7 million, including direct tax income of $12.7 million and a 32% increase in commercial rentals. Moreover, with its use of native plants, stormwater reclaiming, and use of solar and geothermal energy for park facilities, Klyde Warren Park serves as a paradigm for sustainable landscape design.

History Of The Klyde Warren Park

The concept to construct a deck park above the Woodall Rodgers Freeway had first come to the mayor of Dallas, J. Erik Jonsson, in the 1960s when he opted to reroute the freeway. The concept reappeared in the real estate industry in 2002, and John Zogg began gathering support for the project. A $1 million grant from The Real Estate Council was given in 2004 to support personnel throughout the initial phase of development and pay for feasibility studies. When Jody Grant, the founder of Texas Capital Bank, heard about the project, he donated $1 million both individually and on behalf of the bank. The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, the company that oversaw the project from creation to completion, was founded in 2004 by Jody Grant, John Zogg, and Linda Owen. The park was developed with help from several local and community leaders. In October 2009, the park's construction started, and in October 2012, it officially opened.

Design Of The Klyde Warren Park

 Award-winning landscape architect Jim Burnett, the owner of The Office of James Burnett, created Klyde Warren Park. His plan aims to foster a sense of exploration as you visit the many "rooms" scattered around the park's five acres. About 37 native plant types and 322 trees make up the ecological landscaping, which has turned the old freeway into a lovely urban sanctuary. The park is a marvel of architecture and engineering. It is level with the roadway while maintaining room for the motorway below. More than 300 concrete beams placed in groups with space between each group make up the deck. Concrete slabs form ditches and bridge the areas between the bottoms of the beams. The ditches function as planter boxes, allowing the trees to develop into the desired size. The deck's weight is moderated by a combination of Geofoam and dirt that has been precisely formulated.

Expansion Of The Klyde Warren Park

Plans for the Klyde Warren Park expansion, which include $40 million in previously approved public funding, were unanimously approved by the Dallas City Council in June 2021. A three-story enclosed special events pavilion with a café, rooftop deck, and special events ballroom will be part of the 1.5-acre expansion. The pavilion will serve as a city entrance and host a single ground-floor tenant. The pavilion will allow the park to host exclusive events, which is a crucial component in the ability to continue offering free programming for many years to come.

There are also plans for a 36,000-square-foot multi-use green area to accommodate the festivals and markets contributing to the city's identity. It will be turned into an outdoor ice-skating arena during the winter, and there are many unique plans for the rest of the year as well. The project will raise the value of the surrounding property, and the city and other organizations like hospitals and schools will profit from the taxes collected.