The Park

Introducing Micaela!

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:04:09 GMT

Hello, Friends of the Park!

My name is Micaela and I am the thrilled to introduce myself as the newest member of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation team. Originally from Boston, I moved to the Big D after college and it was love at first sight. After only a few months here, I heard about The Park and knew I had made the right choice - Dallas is the place to be! I am thrilled to be a part of The Park Foundation, a team that is creating Common Ground (out of thin air!) for Dallasites to enjoy.

With all of the progress being made on The Park and everything going on in and around Dallas, there is plenty to share and discuss. I%26#8217;ll bring news on The Park, our Capital Campaign, new things in the neighborhood, construction updates and more.

So, Dallasites %26amp; future Park Patrons, in my first blog post I ask you what makes a city great?A park of course! All great cities have great parks and now it%26#8217;s our turn to create one of our own! I hope this project will spark the same sense of pride and excitement for you as it has for me. Now is your chance to weigh in %26amp; share your wish list for The Park!

Thank You, JPMorgan Chase!

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:50:50 GMT

If you haven%26#8217;t heard the great news, Chase gave The Park a $3 million gift to the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation on February 1st %26#8211; a gift so exciting that JPMorgan Chase %26amp; Co. CEO, Jamie Dimon, was front and center to personally present this very generous contribution. Mayor Tom Leppert, members of city council, and scores of The Park%26#8217;s friends and neighbors attended the press conference to share in our excitement as we presented Jamie Dimon with an honorary %26#8220;key%26#8221; to The Park. We were thrilled to unveil the newly named Chase Promenade, the crescent-shaped tree-lined walkway that will span the length of The Park. This incredibly kind donation is the lead gift in the final phase of our $30 million capital campaign.

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A huge THANK YOU to JP Morgan Chase, for your generosity, leadership and commitment to the City of Dallas. And a special thanks to Chairman of Chase in Dallas, Elaine Agather, whose commitment to our city was a driving force behind the donation. Thanks to partnerships like this one, we are one step closer to the day when we can all enjoy this beautiful park! What an incredible way to kickoff 2010!

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Learn more about Chase%26#8217;s generosity from the Dallas Morning News%26#8217; Rudy Bush

Press Conference Today

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:49:37 GMT

Watch out for some big news today at 4 p.m.! We'll be announcing a major donation at a press conference this afternoon.

Update on the Waterfall on Woodall Rodgers Fwy

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:53:23 GMT

Atmos and Mastec have been working on upgrading a gas line on the corner of Olive and McKinney. They exposed a water line which began leaking and then exploded. The Park's contractor, Archer Western is monitoring and draining where they can, but the water has created quite a mess on Woodall Rodgers Fwy and the frontage road. Archer Western will continue assessing the issue and draining the freeway.

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As of 6:15pm: Water main is turned off and repairs are derway.

Wick Allison Hearts The Park

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:58:05 GMT

D Magazine publisher Wick Allison has some kind words for The Park in the December issue. He calls the project the "heart of the city." Thank you Wick for the support! For the full story, visit DMagazine.com. An excerpt:

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The tin man famously had no heart. Neither did Dallas, if you think about it. Before October%26#8217;s opening of the AT%26amp;T Performing Arts Center, where would you have put it?

I know where to put it now. Woodall Rodgers Park, when it opens in 2011, will reorient our 150-year-old conception of downtown. I don%26#8217;t mean only spatially, although the Arts District has already tugged development northward. I mean spiritually.

Arts District and TX DOT Improve St. Paul Turn

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:06:20 GMT

The Arts District and TX DOT have been working together to improve mobility in the area during construction of The Park. One recent improvement of note: The %26#8220;No Left Turn%26#8221; sign at the corner of St. Paul and Woodall Rodgers frontage road has been removed.%26nbsp; The city will paint new marking to designate that traffic in the left lane can turn left or go straight.%26nbsp; This should assist with DMA cut-through traffic.

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Good news for all of us St. Paul drivers! Thanks Arts District!

We Impressed Secretary LaHood!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:53:55 GMT

Check out the kind words from Secretary LaHood after his visit to Dallas last week on his FastLane blog. An excerpt from A Big Day in Big D:

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Do I sound impressed? Well, I absolutely am. You know, transportation advocates have cities they like to name-check when discussing livability and sustainability. But innovative transportation projects don't have to be northern or coastal; there are transportation pioneers everywhere.

Thank you and congratulations, Dallas, for committing to a greener, more sustainable home. The Department of Transportation is proud to be your partner.

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And we say, thank you Secretary LaHood!

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Voices of the Recovery Act

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:47:38 GMT

Check out these great%26nbsp;interviews%26nbsp;with our Archer Western guys!

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Archer Western Project Manager Troy Butt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTyWSkG2l2I%26nbsp;

Archer Western Project Engineer Trevor Eickhoff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5yeM-DwUT0%26nbsp;

Sec. LaHood Press Conference

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:33:37 GMT

We were honored today by a visit from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. For a few details from today's event, check out our photo gallery.

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Rudy Bush has the story over at the City Hall Blog.

Vancouver Study Trip

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:22:52 GMT

Study tour to Vancouver turned up interesting food for thought. Along with some renewability and sustainability research, Linda and the Park%26#8217;s landscape designer Jim Burnett, visited glass sculptor Joel Berman%26#8217;s studio to learn more about glass sculptures and visited Stanley Park to study public art including Juame Plensa%26#8217;s "WE" sculpture. We look forward to enjoying Plensa%26#8217;s sculpture %26#8220;Sho%26#8221; at the Meadows Museum at SMU soon!

The Park Sustainability R%26D

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:39:42 GMT

As part of our alternative energy, green roof and solar research %26#8211; all concepts under consideration for The Park, Linda was in Vancouver this weekend. She visited Stanley Park and the Vancouver Convention Centre%26#8217;s 6-acre living green roof. To watch a wonderful 4.5-minute video, please go to:%26nbsp; www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX0JHdVd27o

By the way, our solar lamp posts will be a much updated, sleeker aesthetically and appealing version. They have come a long way...

Perot Museum of Nature %26 Science

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:40:06 GMT

Ground shook and broke yesterday on the site of the future Perot Museum of Nature %26amp; Science at Victory Park.%26nbsp; The team%26#8217;s hard work and incredible creativity guaranteed a perfect groundbreaking event success %26#8211; for kids and kids at heart. Looking forward to tonight%26#8217;s Dinner in the Wild. If it%26#8217;s anything like yesterday%26#8217;s event, it%26#8217;s sure to be a smashing success!
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Excuse the fuzzy photos... Next time I will bring a real camera. Sorry trusty Blackberry, your talents only go so far.

Pier Drilling Has Begun

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:32:14 GMT

Pier drilling for the St. Paul exit ramp has commenced. These are the first to be drilled. When complete there will be a total of approximately 7,500 lineal feet of drilled shafts that range in depth from 7 to 60 feet and approximately 260 shafts ranging in diameter from 18 inches to 5 feet throughout the park. The shafts will then be filled with concrete.

On Stage

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:47:35 GMT

Congratulations to Dallas Theater Center for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Super fun for all ages. It%26#8217;s running until this Sunday %26#8211; the 22^nd. Don't miss it! And don%26#8217;t forget to buy your tickets for the timeless Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens %26#8211; running from December 1^st to the 27^th.%26nbsp;

This Weekend

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:33:02 GMT

Lots to do and see this weekend in Dallas. Main Street Garden's dedication is tonight at 5:30. And if you're headed to the star-studded Texas Stampede events this weekend, sneak a peek of the site for next week's Perot Museum of Nature and Science Dinner in the Wild. The white-peaked tent is fabulous... For a limited time only, the Rockies can been seen in Dallas!

Richard Bretell Panel Discussion Tonight

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:17:10 GMT

The Dallas Center for Architecture and Richard Brettell are hosting a panel discussion tonight on the Park and the Arts District at 7:30 at 1909 Woodall Rodgers Freeway. It's not too late to sign up for this great event. We'll hear from%26nbsp;our restaurant and pavilion architect Thomas Phifer, Veletta Lill and Willis Winters.

Admission free to Dallas Architecture Forum members
$20 non-members
$10 for DMA members
$5 for students

KERA New Music Radio Station to Launch Nov. 9

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:15:06 GMT

Linda Owen recently met with KERA%26#8217;s President %26amp; Chief Executive Officer Mary Anne Alhadeff and Chairman of the Board Dan Routman about their%26nbsp;new music radio station, KXT 91.7 FM featuring local artists. The station will launch in just a few days on Nov. 9 playing%26nbsp; acoustic, alt-country, indie rock, alternative and world music. In just a few short years, The Park will be an excellente venue for live music. We look forward to enjoying KXT and planning future events in The Park!

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Woodall Rodgers Freeway Open

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:18:56 GMT

Woodall Rodgers Freeway has been reopened - 24 hours ahead of schedule... or is it 25 with the time change?? Regardless, happy November and el D%26#237;a de los Muertos! Go Cowboys!

St. Paul Off-Ramp

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:32:19 GMT

It's the end of the road for the St Paul off-ramp. Woodall Rodgers Fwy. will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday morning. However if Archer Western is as speedy as they were last weekend, the freeway will be open well before then. Stay tuned. In the meantime... Happy Halloween!

Coming Very Soon

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:36:03 GMT

You may have noticed the Live Web Cam on our home page. We're working%26nbsp;through some tech issues now,%26nbsp;but sometimes you can actually watch construction live. We'll be sure to let you know when it is fully up and running!