In a major boost for parks and green spaces, the Dallas City Council has unofficially agreed to allocate $310.5 million towards these initiatives in the upcoming May 4th bond election.
This represents a significant portion of the proposed $1.1 billion bond package that will fund various infrastructure projects across the city.
Competing Priorities for Bond Funds
The $1.1 billion in proposed bond funding has sparked intense competition among different interest groups vying for a piece of the pie.
Key priorities include:
- Streets and Transportation: Nearly half of the bond money is recommended for much-needed street improvements and repairs. Dallas streets are notoriously uneven with potholes, and even $500 million would only address about 6% of the total needs.
- Parks and Recreation: A community bond task force recommended using $350 million (about a third) of the bond funds for parks and recreation projects. Mayor Eric Johnson has repeatedly stated that parks are a top priority for him.
- Housing: Housing advocates argue that the proposed $25-70 million for affordable housing development is insufficient. Groups like the Dallas Housing Coalition are pushing for $200 million of the bond money to incentivize affordable housing projects.
New Parks and Expansions Planned
If approved by voters, the $310.5 million parks allocation in the bond package would enable the city to develop new parks as well as expand and enhance existing green spaces.
Some of the proposed projects include:
- $20 million for dredging White Rock Lake
- $15 million for the new Forest Audelia Park and Multipurpose Center
- $2 million for a new multiuse facility with pickleball courts in Lake Highlands
- $8 million for White Rock Creek Trail improvements
- $20 million for a new recreation center adjacent to White Rock Hills Park
These people roll up their sleeves and they go around and around. They do it well and they do it with respect,
said newly elected Council Member Kathy Stewart, expressing support for the parks projects vetted by volunteer board members.
Debate Over Park Funding Equity
However, not everyone is satisfied with the proposed parks funding. Council Member Jaime Resendez raised concerns about funding cuts for a project at Glendale Park in the underserved Pleasant Grove area.
I think that’s absolutely unacceptable and it’s absolutely not equitable, Resendez said about having to lobby for a mere $4 million for a park that the community has been requesting since 1980.
More Green Space Needed As City Grows
As Dallas experiences rapid population growth, demand is surging for more parks and walkable green spaces. The Trust for Public Land ranks Dallas just 35th in the nation for park acreage per capita.
Many Dallas residents lack convenient access to quality parks and natural areas. The proposed $310.5 million investment would expand the amount of green space for Dallas’ growing population to enjoy.
Parks provide numerous benefits, from recreation to improving mental and physical health to cooling the urban environment.
When we’re smart about it, we get more bang for your buck with parks and trails and recreation centers than with anything else we do with your tax dollars,
Mayor Johnson said in his State of the City address advocating for more parks funding.
The future of Dallas’ parks and green spaces now rests in the hands of voters, who will decide whether to approve the $1.1 billion bond package on May 4th.
The proposed $310.5 million allocation would mark a major investment in the city’s natural spaces and quality of life for decades to come.
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