Urban Land reporter Ralph Bivens examines downtown Dallas’ turnaround and continuing development resulting from a renewed emphasis on open space, the arts, and delivering the amenities the community wants in “Downtown Dallas – A Turnaround Built on Parks, Arts, and People.” A catalyst for growth, Klyde Warren Park is referred to as

“…a transformative downtown haven built over a below-grade freeway, (which) attracts scads of people every day of the week.”

The freeway deck park is credited with the surrounding area’s economic boom which followed the park’s completion.

“Built over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, the 5.2-acre (2 ha) park effectively erased the barrier between downtown and the bustling Uptown district’s multifamily, retail, and office markets. Not only has Klyde Warren Park made it easier to walk to downtown, but it also draws large crowds to its heavily programmed activities of yoga and music performances, as well as a dog park and a playground. The success of the park, designed by the Office of James Burnett, a Solana Beach, California-based landscape architeture firm, has prompted city leaders to discuss a proposed expansion that could cover more of the freeway.”

Jeffrey Spivak penned “Klyde Warren Park and the Katy Trail” which also appeared in the September issue of Urban Land. The article considers the correlation between Klyde Warren Park’s creation and the real estate boom in Uptown Dallas. John F. Crawford, chief executive officer of Downtown Dallas describes the importance of Klyde Warren Park and the Katy Trail:

“They’re not just one-off projects. They’re  part of a bigger vision of connectivity, mobility, and livability. They have allowed us to develop a live/work/play environment like other cities have.”

Read more about Klyde Warren Park’s impact on the changing face of Downtown Dallas at Urbanland.com.