Dallas is getting ready to super-size its signature deck park. City officials are set to give the public a fresh look Monday, June 29 at the "Klyde Warren 2.0" expansion, a westward push that adds about 1.7 acres, a new multi-level pavilion and a lot more room to play. Construction is expected to kick off later this year, with the project now carrying an estimated cost of about $121 million.
Project details
The new addition will stretch the existing deck park west over Woodall Rodgers between St. Paul and Akard streets, where a glass-and-steel pavilion will sit suspended above the freeway with roughly 24,000 square feet of climate-controlled event space across two levels and an 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, according to Klyde Warren Park.
West of Akard, the design opens onto Jacobs Lawn, a roughly 37,000-square-foot outdoor venue sized for festivals, markets and performances. Come winter, the lawn will be able to convert into an ice-skating rink, per the park's project description.
Cost, partners and timeline
The 1.7-acre expansion is currently pegged at about $121 million, nearly double an earlier $65 million projection, a jump local coverage has linked to higher decking and construction costs, as reported by D Magazine.
Money for the project is slated to come from a mix of private donations and public grants, including federal, state and local partners, according to GovMarketNews. Construction is anticipated to begin later this year, with completion targeted around 2029, per GovMarketNews.
City update and what to expect
The City of Dallas says residents will get more specifics at a public briefing Monday, according to a statement the city provided to local media that was reported by NBC DFW.
In addition to new event and lawn space, the expansion is expected to bring more play areas, dog space and shade for visitors, a detail earlier coverage highlighted when noting plans to boost play zones, dog runs and shaded hangouts. Neighbors should brace for construction staging, lane shifts and other traffic disruptions along the Woodall Rodgers corridor if the work moves ahead on the current schedule.
Park officials say the June 29 briefing is the first big public checkpoint before procurement, Park Board votes and contract awards push the expansion into full construction. Residents and downtown businesses are being urged to track the city briefing and the park's future updates for details on staging, construction timing and potential public programming opportunities, according to Klyde Warren Park.
