Our Story
Building a 5.4-acre deck park over a recessed eight-lane freeway took an imaginative and hard-working team of Dallas leaders with a clear vision.
Klyde Warren Park created green space “out of thin air,” connecting Dallas’ vibrant Uptown neighborhood with its award-winning Arts District and downtown business center. Since opening in 2012, it has become the city’s beloved town square, welcoming more than 1.3 million visitors each year and earning national acclaim.
Klyde Warren Park has also served as a catalyst for the ongoing transformation of the region, not only through the significant economic impact it has had, but also by bringing increased quality of life and foot traffic to the area. Leaders envisioned a place where families from different neighborhoods could create new traditions, share experiences and enjoy each other in the center of Dallas. These are benefits that the community will enjoy for generations to come.
History
The concept of building a deck park over Woodall Rodgers Freeway may have originated in the 1960s when Dallas Mayor J. Erik Jonsson decided to recess the freeway. In 2002, when the idea resurfaced in the real estate community, John Zogg began to rally support for the project. In 2004, The Real Estate Council provided a $1 million grant to fund feasibility studies and provide staff support during the incubation stage. Texas Capital Bank founder Jody Grant heard about the project and joined the cause with a $1 million personal donation and $1 million donation from the bank. In 2004, Grant, Zogg and Linda Owen formed the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, the organization that led the project from design to completion. Many city and civic leaders contributed to the Park throughout the process.
Construction on the deck began in October 2009, and the Park opened in October 2012.
The Klyde Warren Park / Dallas Arts District Public Improvement District contributes funds to help keep the Park clean, safe and active.
Design
Klyde Warren Park was designed by award-winning landscape architect Jim Burnett, principal of The Office of James Burnett. His design created a sense of discovery when moving from “room” to “room” throughout the 5.4-acre Park. The sustainable landscaping includes 37 native and non-native plant species and 247 trees, transforming a former freeway to a beautiful urban oasis.
The Park is a feat of engineering and design. It is even with the street level and preserves clearance for the highway below. The deck is made of more than 300 concrete beams arranged in groups with spacing in between the groups. Concrete slabs span the spaces connecting to the bottoms of the beams and forming trenches. The trenches act like planter boxes, allowing the trees to grow to the desired size. A combination of geofoam and specially designed soil helps keep the deck from being too heavy.
The design and construction of the Park was managed by Bjerke Management Solutions, and the design was led by two nationally recognized design firms, The Office of James Burnett and Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. The Texas Department of Transportation selected Archer Western as the contractor for construction of the deck plaza. McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., served as the contractor to construct all of the amenities and complete the Park.
Public / Private Partnership
The $112 million project was funded through a public-private partnership. Public support included $20 million in bond funds from the City of Dallas, $20 million in highway funds from the state and $16.7 million in federal stimulus funds. The balance of funding was provided by individual donors directly to the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation.
Klyde Warren Park is owned by the City of Dallas and privately operated and managed by the private Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. The Foundation studies iconic public parks across the country and continues to bring best practices to the Park’s operations, programming and maintenance.