2015 Dallas Parks master plan

A 20-YEAR VISION

vISION & gOALS

action items

Park system Improvements >>

Park system expansion
This page presents recommendations to strengthen Dallas’s existing parks and trails, and to prepare for future expansion. (Specific recommendations for park system expansion are presented in "Park System Expansion" on the next page.) 

The goals and action items presented on the preceding pages are intended as guideposts for park system planning over the next 20-years, or the life cycle of the 2015 Dallas Parks Master Plan. Recommendations seen here for park system improvements are intended to identify priority items to be addressed within the next five-year planning period.

Recommendations are organized into the following categories:
  • Maintenance and Safety Recommendations
  • Community Involvement Recommendations
  • Park-Specific Recommendations
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
The City Parks staff includes one Park Supervisor, one Utility Worker, and two permanent part-time Park Laborers for a total of three full-time employees (FTE), which equates to 33.3 acres per FTE. Park staff duties include maintenance of 90.52 acres of parkland properties, sports complexes, and some other city-owned properties. 

The following recommendations for maintenance and staffing are provided to ensure (1) parks staff can perform their duties efficiently, (2) adequate staffing is provided for the park system, and (3) visitors feel comfortable in Dallas parks.
  • MS-1: Develop a seasonal maintenance checklist for each park to ensure systematic and regular maintenance is performed for each park. (coordinates with Action Item 4.5).
  • MS-2: As parkland is added to the parks system make sure that the staff to parkland ratio (currently 1 FTE: 33 acres) is maintained or increased (coordinates with Action Item 4.4).
  • MS-3: Partner with the City of Dallas Police Department to provide regular patrols of park facilities (coordinates with Action Item 3.1).
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The City of Dallas currently hosts an “Adopt-A-Park” program, which helps provide volunteer labor for the park system. 

The following community involvement recommendations are provided to assist and guide the collaboration of local residents and City staff.

  • CI-1: Facilitate the establishment of a non-profit “Friends of Dallas City Parks” organization to help care for the parks system through volunteers to help with maintenance, advocacy, and fundraising efforts. (coordinates with Goal 8)
  • CI-2: Create a protocol for public engagement to be incorporated into the design process for new parks and renovations to existing parks (coordinates with Action Item 6.2)
PARK-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS*

Dallas City park

  • DC-1: Remodel or replace bathrooms.
  • DC-2: Repave parking areas.
  • DC-3: Resurface or replace existing walking paths.
  • DC-4: Install new play equipment in southern portions of the park.
  • DC-5: Upgrade irrigation system for large lawn areas on site, use quick connect and automated system with humidity sensors.

roger jordan community park

  • RJ-1: Construct a large picnic structure or structures to accommodate up 40 users.
  • RJ-2: Re-surface sports courts.

birch park

  • B-1: Remove hazard trees onsite and replace with drought-tolerant, low maintenance trees.
  • B-2: Construct a new picnic shelter to accommodate up to 12 users (2-3 picnic tables).

Central bark park

  • CB-1: Construct a new shelter to accommodate up to 6 users (1 picnic table).
  • CB-2: Plant twelve (12) trees to provide summer shade.
  • CB-3: Install a water fountain.
  • CB-4: Install two picnic tables in addition to the picnic table under the shelter mentioned in CB-1 
  • CB-5: Install furnishings and play structures designed specifically for dogs.

walnut park

  • W-1: Construct a path system (approximately 450’) to give visitors a walking surface and to guide concentrate use.
  • W-2: Install park identification signage along Walnut Street.
  • W-3: Install two benches.

gala park

  • G-1: Hire a landscape architecture firm to redesign the park’s southern half.
  • G-2: Prepare a construction budget of park’s southern half.
  • G-3: Renovate the park’s southern half.

rickreall creek trail system

  • RCTS-1: Complete Phase 5 buildout: Central Bark Section

kingsborough park

As part of the 2015 Dallas Parks Master Plan process, the planning team facilitated community engagement to specifically address improvements to Kingsborough Park in the western portion of the City. The result of this initiative was a concept plan which incorporated amenities and facilities desired by surrounding neighbors and the community at large

To learn more about park specific recommendations and the concept plan for Kingsborough Park, click the link below.

* Detailed cost estimates for Park-Specific Recommendations can be seen within the Funding & Operations Recommendations found on the "Resources" page.