Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum

Posted: **08 Jul 2019 15:52**

New West End Square park in downtown Dallas has giant swings for adults
http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city- ... oundation/

Parks for Downtown Dallas did not offer comment on the timetable, but a 2018 briefing submitted to the Dallas City Council sets the date for the ground breaking for West End Square for September 2019.

I hope this is true.

Posted: **10 Jul 2019 01:27**

Amy Meadows, president of Parks for Downtown Dallas, says in a statement that they plan to break ground on West End Square in early 2020, and their goal is to build all four parks by year-end 2022.

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city- ... oundation/

This article says early 2020, so I guess we will see. Obviously I'd prefer September, but I'm also happy with early 2020 as well. Glad to see they aren't wasting time getting this one off the ground. I think this park will be completed at the perfect time to really tie everything going on in the area together.

Posted: **22 Nov 2019 15:22**

There's an event invitation on Facebook for a "virtual groundbreaking" of West End Square to take place January 13 at City Hall. https://www.facebook.com/events/496788644512459/

Parks for Downtown Dallas and the Dallas Park & Recreation Department invite you to join us in commemorating the start of construction on the first-ever park located in the West End Historic District.

The event will be held in the Flag Room at Dallas City Hall, 6E South.

Not sure what this means except maybe it's a ceremonial groundbreaking (photo opp with hard hats and shovels) that they're moving indoors due to weather. Hope that's the case.

Posted: **22 Nov 2019 15:50**

They werne't kidding when they said "early 2020". I'm glad to see they aren't wasting any time on this one!

Posted: **23 Nov 2019 12:17**

Harwood and West End have been in progress for some time design-wise. Harwood Park is getting some design details worked out still but West End since it's so small is probably easier to get resolved and funded.

Posted: **25 Nov 2019 08:05**

I have to give 'Parks for Downtown' some serious credit for making as much progress as they have. In a time when we have organization after organization (govt or otherwise) making promise after promise with little or no execution, these folks have kept things moving far better than I ever hoped. Kudos

Posted: **26 Nov 2019 13:08**

Well, that's because the Parks Department has millions of acres of parks to take care of, manage, plan, etc. We are fortunate we have an organization that stepped in to focus on Downtown and take the load off the larger organization. With the continuous staff cutbacks in government departments and a mixed bag of priorities from City Staff, Council Members, City Manager, neighborhood advocates its hard to keep all boats floating. Many parts of Dallas have terrible access to clean & safe parks and that's a bigger issue than a few urban playgrounds that make developers and urban enthusiasts like us happy. Some leaders want signature parks like Klyde Warren all over the city while others would prefer just green space, trees, and some basic playground equipment. I wish we had similar groups of enthusiastic leaders for creating safe places in other parts of the city as we have Downtown.

Posted: **27 Nov 2019 13:38**

Signature parks near White Rock, Casa View, Pleasant Grove, Arcadia Park would be great for the city

Posted: **02 Jan 2020 12:45**

UPDATE 1-2-2020: The parking lot has been closed so that construction can begin.

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city- ... oundation/

They said 'early 2020' and they certainly weren't kidding. Great news!

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 09:22**

DPatel304 wrote:
UPDATE 1-2-2020: The parking lot has been closed so that construction can begin.

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city- ... oundation/

They said 'early 2020' and they certainly weren't kidding. Great news!

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... s_headline

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 09:47**

It's so good to see this finally coming to the West End. Looks like a great park. I love all the shade structures and functional areas. The trees are great as well... Hopefully, those prairie plants get enough sun to survive. Glad they didn't just try to put groomed bermuda everywhere. That stuff hates shade.

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 13:00**

Well with the park started that will give good incentive for the Spaghetti Warehouse building to reopen as something and I hope it's not another co-working space...

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 13:06**

I know we have seen lots of renderings of this park but here is a decent site plan I found for those of us who would like to see less flash glitter and more practical details.

WEST-END-SQUARE_01_PLAN_FIELD-OPERATIONS.jpg

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 13:35**

cowboyeagle05 wrote:I know we have seen lots of renderings of this park but here is a decent site plan I found for those of us who would like to see less flash glitter and more practical details.

Thanks for sharing! Really excited to see this one take shape.

I wonder if it would make sense for something like the Cidercade or Free Play Arcade to move into the old Spaghetti Warehouse space.

Posted: **03 Jan 2020 14:54**

The question is who owns the old restaurant building and how behind is it on maintenance. The building may not be about to collapse but I imagine it needs some serious reinvestment in more ways than one.

Posted: **06 Jan 2020 14:32**

I honestly thought at last week's "groundbreaking" that they were using the term quite liberally, but as of today there are earth movers tearing up the asphalt.

IMG_7674.jpg

Posted: **09 Jan 2020 14:40**

Pacific Plaza Park, Downtown Dallas, 09-19-19

From concrete to greenery, inside the rise of parks in downtown Dallas
By David Ajamy – Digital Reporter, Dallas Business Journal, Jan. 8, 2020

Article: https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/01/08/parks-for-downtown-dallas.html

Posted: **14 Jan 2020 17:07**

Here's a video of the upcoming West End park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oWJvbjgHTM

Posted: **15 Jan 2020 08:22**

DPatel304 wrote:Here's a video of the upcoming West End park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oWJvbjgHTM

Looks like a great opportunity for any restaurant that takes the old Spaghetti Warehouse space.

Posted: **15 Jan 2020 09:31**

DPatel304 wrote:Here's a video of the upcoming West End park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oWJvbjgHTM

I was wondering if all of the features in that flyover were final, including the "water table" at the :30 mark. Good to know DDI is funding that.

Downtown Dallas Inc. Commits $300K for West End Square Water Feature
https://dallasinnovates.com/downtown-da ... nd-square/

The "innovation arcade" has been mentioned before, but I'd like to know what those glowing cubes at 1:10 are... they look like a digital display of some kind and of course I wonder if they're likewise funded/final.

Posted: **15 Jan 2020 10:03**

If I remember correctly the Innovation Arcade will be home to rotating art displays, some interactive. I'm assuming the glowing cubes are an example of the type and size of the art - not a permanent display.

Posted: **15 Jan 2020 10:45**

Wow, that flythrough looks really cool. I can easily see those cubes being a popular spot for selfie/photo opportunities.

Posted: **15 Jan 2020 14:19**

Nice, noticed the Spaghetti Warehouse in the flyby, has that space been taken yet?

Posted: **17 Feb 2020 18:20**

Posted: **01 Mar 2020 22:06**

This is moving along.

west1.JPG

Posted: **13 Jul 2020 21:05**

Making some real progress recently.

Posted: **14 Jul 2020 09:33**

What a great amenity this will be. Hopefully whatever takes over the Spaghetti Warehouse space is able to take advantage of all that space fronting the park. Possibly build out a patio or ground-floor retail of some kind.

Posted: **23 Jul 2020 10:14**

northsouth wrote:Making some real progress recently.

I wonder if that single-story section inside the U is a later addition and can be demolished. Would be perfect for a large covered patio/game room.

Screen Shot 2020-07-23 at 10.09.06 AM.png

Posted: **23 Jul 2020 14:57**

lakewoodhobo wrote:
northsouth wrote:Making some real progress recently.

I wonder if that single-story section inside the U is a later addition and can be demolished. Would be perfect for a large covered patio/game room.

Yeah, that section stuck out to me as well. Even as is, you could probably put a nice rooftop patio on top of there.

Posted: **04 Aug 2020 10:58**

Posted: **04 Aug 2020 12:43**

^Wow, great picks!! Looks like they are really cooking on this park.

It is exciting to think that after we finally fully awaken from this COVID nightmare, there will be all these new little spots in Dallas that have sprung up to enjoy. West End, Discovery District, I'd even throw Pacific Plaza in there since it opened not long before COVID shut things down.

Posted: **04 Aug 2020 13:07**

exelone31 wrote:^Wow, great picks!! Looks like they are really cooking on this park.

It is exciting to think that after we finally fully awaken from this COVID nightmare, there will be all these new little spots in Dallas that have sprung up to enjoy. West End, Discovery District, I'd even throw Pacific Plaza in there since it opened not long before COVID shut things down.

Indeed. I'm so glad construction is in full swing, it'll be wonderful to truly enjoy Downtown post-COVID. Who knows, perhaps more people in the DFW will be more inclined to venture out Downtown after being isolated for so long as well, bringing even more people Downtown.

Posted: **06 Aug 2020 19:09**

Most of the main frame for the northern part of the awning is up, concrete perimeter seems largely poured, beginning to see interior pathways carved into the dirt.

Posted: **06 Aug 2020 22:16**

Wow, this one is moving along very nicely! I recall that they did say this park wouldn't take that long to build, and it definitely shows. I can't believe the amount of progress they've already done in such a short amount of time.

Posted: **21 Aug 2020 22:08**

West awning main structure seems done. Paths have become more defined in the main area after differently colored dirt was brought in for green areas. Looked like they were putting in irrigation pipes yesterday and today.

Posted: **14 Sep 2020 22:19**

Some recent progress shots. Trees added, eastern awning structure up, today they poured a large section of internal sidewalk.

Also, found a piece on the water feature, currently visible under construction. https://dallasinnovates.com/ddi-foundations-300k-donation-set-for-west-end-square-water-feature-that-changes-with-the-weather/?fbclid=IwAR3Mja_0LreWck1Qo02hqxJn2rNmUD1BlIqrr8u34vhNevt3IJDwyAGNVgI

Posted: **15 Sep 2020 08:48**

Cool to know about the water feature. I do not generally have a high view of DDI, but many props to them for donating the funds to make it happen.

Posted: **11 Oct 2020 16:44**

More recent updates: rest of the internal sidewalks have been poured over the last few weeks, then more recently they've put in more trees and smaller greenery. North and west awnings have received paint jobs, and it looks like some bricklaying has begun under the north one as well.

Posted: **10 Nov 2020 09:30**

Posted on Nov 7th in the Downtown Dallas Residents Council Facebook group (Credit goes to Steven Wigley)

This is a HUGE improvement over the surface parking lot that was there, I'm so happy with the way this is looking!

Posted: **10 Nov 2020 12:07**

^ Just beautiful!

Posted: **10 Nov 2020 13:13**

Wow, that is awesome. I could really see this one having a huge gravitational impact on the area.

Posted: **10 Nov 2020 14:54**

I've always thought West End might be the best downtown residential location.

Posted: **12 Nov 2020 17:25**

A few more pictures from the Dallas West End Facebook page. It's still amazing to me how quickly they were able to build this park!

Posted: **20 Nov 2020 10:21**

The park is currently under construction in the heart of the district, with a proposed opening in January of 2021.

https://www.facebook.com/dallaswestend/ ... 9236209670

We're getting close to the opening date of this park!

Posted: **20 Nov 2020 10:44**

By year-end 2022, we intend to bring four parks to Downtown Dallas to ensure all residents have access to beautiful outdoor spaces.

https://www.facebook.com/ParksForDownto ... 1815092624

Also, it looks like the goal is to have all four parks completed by the end of 2022.

I'm honestly very excited to see the transformation of Downtown in the next few years. I feel like developers have been putting in a good foundation for the past decade or so, but we're now at the point where we will finally get to start seeing what a thriving urban core looks like. My only concern at this point is that there will likely be a lot less people going into the office going forward and a lot less business travel too, which could hurt the overall activity levels in Downtown.

Posted: **28 Nov 2020 17:41**

It's coming together really nicely!

Posted: **15 Dec 2020 15:17**

DPatel304 wrote:
The park is currently under construction in the heart of the district, with a proposed opening in January of 2021.

https://www.facebook.com/dallaswestend/ ... 9236209670

We're getting close to the opening date of this park!

Really is looking good and came right along indeed! FYI, the ROW permit part ends at the end of this month, so things definitely seem on track: https://rowmanagement.dallascityhall.co ... =154655185

Posted: **21 Dec 2020 16:45**

https://www.facebook.com/dallaswestend/ ... 3128166280

Opening March 2021!

Posted: **22 Dec 2020 14:04**

Noice

Posted: **04 Mar 2021 18:53**

Walked by on my lunch break today, still some minor work being done. Banner on fence says the park opens March 26.

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