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Council rezones parkland area to allow Dallas Wings practice facility; vote 11–4
Summary
The council approved a zoning change to a mixed‑use district to allow construction of a practice facility and related recreation uses at a city park parcel near Pinnacle Park Boulevard; council discussion noted the site was donated as parkland and that de‑parking would require a public referendum.
The Dallas City Council voted 11–4 on Sept. 10 to rezone a roughly 37.8‑acre city parcel (part of Joey Park / listed parkland) from its existing plan‑development/industrial classification to an MU‑1 mixed‑use district, clearing a zoning step required for a practice facility project connected to the Dallas Wings and associated recreational fields.
Why it mattered: The parcel is currently dedicated parkland but the existing plan‑development district did not allow the recreation and private‑recreation uses planned for the site. Staff said the mixed‑use rezoning provides flexibility for a practice facility and complementary uses while aligning with the city’s place‑type guidance.
Council debate: Supporters, led by Councilmember West, said the rezoning is necessary to satisfy deadline and contract requirements to deliver the practice facility and related fields. City staff said the chosen site aligns with the “regional open space” place type and that conversion to an MU‑1 would allow the proposed recreation uses; they also said that de‑parking or a different long‑term non‑park use would require a separate de‑park process and a voter referendum under Texas law.
Opponents argued the site is surrounded by industrial uses, questioned whether other existing city buildings or Fair Park could host similar facilities, and expressed concern about building new infrastructure on raw land. Some council members said they prefer adaptive reuse of existing city facilities when feasible.
Vote and next steps: The council approved the rezoning 11–4; staff said the city is contractually required to deliver the practice facility by April 2026 and that rezoning was one of several time‑sensitive steps. Parks and the city manager’s office will continue project planning and permitting work under the new zoning classification.
Ending: The rezoning removes a zoning barrier for a practice facility and fields intended for professional and community use; council members urged staff to complete permitting and to present ongoing project milestones to committee as the project advances.
