District 10, representing most of Lake Highlands, will get a new park soon as part of the Dallas Greening Initiative, a collaborative city-nonprofit effort.
Rendering provided by The Trust for Public Land.
The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit focused on park-creation and land conservation, recently released renderings of five DGI pilot sites, including one at 10600 Black Walnut Drive near the intersection of Plano Road and Forest Lane. The site has been tentatively identified as the Bushmills Road site, as the planned park will be accessed through the road.
The Dallas Greening Initiative is a collaborative effort between the City of Dallas and The Trust For Public Land. With a $10.25 million overall budget, the total cost for each site is expected to come out to less than $750,000. After completion, TPL expects maintenance costs to be low going forward, as 10% of the total project budget has been allocated towards ongoing maintenance.
Renderings for the site show picnic areas, a play area, lawns, benches and walking trails, reflecting input gathered in previous community meetings, where neighbors expressed their desire to not have “a big flashy Klyde Warren in their backyard.” Renderings also show plans for a pollinator garden, a wildlife viewing station and space for natural grass and wildflowers, as well as a bridge to be completed at a later date.
DGI was started in response to a push by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson to increase the amount of walkable greenspace in Dallas, with an end goal of eliminating “park deserts” in the city.
“Dallas continues to lead as the greenest major city in Texas,” reads a statement by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson in a Trust for Public Land release. “Growing up in West Dallas and Oak Cliff, parks played a big role in my childhood and shaped the priorities I hold today. As Mayor, I championed the Dallas Greening Initiative as a bold, innovative plan to ensure every Dallas resident lives within a 10-minute walk of a park or trail. With these first five park designs now unveiled, Dallas takes another major step as a national leader in urban park development.”
Construction on the first five sites, including the Bushmills Road location, will begin this summer. With 15 parks planned, construction has been divided into three 18-month cohorts over a span of five years.
