Kirksey Architecture will be back at Exall Recreation Center next month, giving neighbors another shot to sound off on plans to replace the aging building. The second community input meeting is set for February 23, at 6:00 p.m., and city officials and park advocates are still pitching the project as one of the biggest public investments east Dallas has seen in years. The session will take place at the existing Exall Recreation Center on the park grounds.
Community Organizers And Architects Reconvene
As laid out in Rudy Karimi's Facebook post, Kirksey Architecture will lead the February 23 session, with Friends of Exall Park, City of Dallas District 14, and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department listed as co-hosts. The announcement bills this as round two of design outreach, following a first public meeting held last October.
Kirksey Hired, And The Project Funded By The Bond
Last August, the City Council signed off on a professional services contract with Kirksey Architecture and set aside roughly $1.6 million for schematic and design-phase work under the 2024 general obligation bond, according to the City of Dallas Legistar file. That record spells out how Kirksey was selected, how the contract is structured and the timeline designers are working against.
What Neighbors Told Designers In Round One
At the first public input session last October, neighbors pushed for a community gathering room, a full weight room, senior programming and teen-focused tech or A/V spaces, while repeatedly raising concerns about security, natural light and parking, as reported by the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate. That coverage described the workshop-style exercises designers used to draw out resident priorities and highlighted debate over adding parking to satisfy city code. First public session reporting noted similar points of emphasis from residents.
Timeline And Why This Meeting Matters
The city's project file pegs key schematic-design milestones around June 2026, with construction tentatively set to start in December 2026 and wrap up by March 2028, making the February 23 input session one of the last opportunities for neighbors to influence major layout and programming choices. The same Legistar record documents the procurement details and broad schedule for replacing the facility at 1355 Adair Street.
The meeting will be held at Exall Recreation Center, 1355 Adair Street, and organizers are steering residents to community channels for updates. Those interested can check with Friends of Exall Park and the City of Dallas Parks & Recreation facility page for information on access and current programming. Designers and city staff say they expect to continue outreach while schematic plans are finalized.
Organizers and advocates have been pitching the Exall replacement as one of the largest park investments in Council District 14 since Klyde Warren Park, a language echoed in the community announcement. With schematic design moving ahead, the February 23 session gives neighbors a concrete chance to push for the programs and public spaces they want in the finished center.
