By Michelle London-Bell – Contributor
On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Uptown Dallas Inc. and the Woodall Rodgers Foundation celebrate Earth Day by unveiling the new architectural model of Dallas’ new premier destination – “The Park”. The Park, as you already know, will be a 5.2-acre deck development of an urban green space over Woodall Rodgers Freeway between St. Paul and Pearl, bridging Uptown to downtown Dallas via the burgeoning Dallas Arts District.
The park is set to enhance the urban and cultural fabric of the downtown area, as a gathering area for citizens of Dallas to enjoy. The park will boast several recreational features and amenities — everything from botanical gardens, a dog park, jogging trails, an outdoor amphitheater with 3,000 plus capacity in seating, a cafe’ and play area for kids. “Great cities have great parks, and this fascinating park will become the ‘front lawn’ for downtown Dallas,” said Jim Burnett of the Office of James Burnett and landscape architect for Woodall Rodgers Park.
Mr. Burnett beams, “there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s strolling through the gardens, having a picnic on the lawn, eating at the café, taking the dog to the dog park, listening to a concert, or having children play in the discovery area. The park will be a vibrant and attractive addition to downtown.” Beyond its recreational features, the Park also has several sustainable design elements, outlined by the City of Dallas’ Assistant Parks Director Willis Winters on Tuesday. “The obvious is a deck over the freeway, which will reduce traffic noise for pedestrians and nearby workers on the surface level.” says Mr. Winters.
The Park has an extensive amount of “trees and plant material which make up the 5.2 acre park – with a high percentage of green surface that is basically a green roof, which will serve to reduce the urban heat island effect. The park incorporates the use of natural trees and plant species. To quantify the impact of the environmental initiatives, the Park [is expected] to sequester 7 tons of carbon emissions per year, generate $700,000 worth of oxygen over a 50-year period, provide $20 million worth of pollution control, recycle $12 million worth of water, and control $10 million worth of erosion.”
Other green features of The Park according to Mr. Winters “include water-efficient plumbing systems on buildings that incorporate a water reclamation system and double purification system, a biofilter that reduces stormwater runoff, a high efficiency irrigation system, LED high efficiency lighting to save an estimated 940,000 kw hours of electricity per year, and solar photovoltaic lighting.”
“In addition, the designers and the Foundation have worked together in pursuit of a LEED certification for the café and restaurant – which will include potential use of geothermal heating and cooling system, optimal windows for cross ventilation, extensive use of daylighting, an extended roof on the café and high performance glazing.” comments Mr. Winters.
Juliette Coulter of The Coulter Group reported in 2006, according to an economic impact report prepared by Insight Research Corporation that the “development and operation of Woodall Rodgers Park itself will create $312.7 million in economic benefit including 182 new jobs and $12.7 million in tax revenue benefits. Another $91.1 million in increased tax revenues for the city, county, school and hospital districts will be generated by increases in land values. The report also projects an increase in new office space construction and absorption within one half mile of the park, further enhancing Dallas’ tax base.”
The Park is funded through a public, private partnership via a portion of President Obama’s economic stimulus funds of approximately $16 million, which served as a foundation to underscore this important project for Dallas. In addition to public funds, private funding sources such as Chase Bank who donated $3 million to the Park, as well as other select private donors.
At the press conference and unveiling on Tuesday, Linda Owens, President of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation announced that the foundation continues to solicit private donations, including the naming rights for the park, to fund construction, operations and programming of the amenities offered at the Park. She further mentions the importance of entities such as ”the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the City of Dallas, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) coming together in order to support the efforts of the foundation and make [this development] a reality.”
The design team of The Park is an impressive slate of some the best and brightest design professionals across the country. The Office of James Burnett as Landscape Architect, Jacobs Engineering Group, Archer Western as the General Contractor, Bjerke Management Solution as Project Manager and Thomas Phifer & Associates as Restaurant Architect. Construction started October 2009, with staging well underway. A “ground-making” ceremony was held in September 2009, with a performance from students of the Booker T. Washington School of the Performing Arts, also in Dallas Arts District.
This is a phenomenal addition to an already fabulous city rich with diversity, culture, and artistic expression to add to the list of Dallas’ impressive features. As developments like this continue to spring forth, Dallas will continue to attract visitors and citizens and ensure that Dallas continues to thrive and maintains its essence and vitality.
Michelle London-Bell is a new contributor to Dallas South News with experience as a freelance writer. She has a passion for fashion, the arts, and community and cultural affairs and can be reached at dallasurbanmedia@gmail.com.
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