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Cedars group seeks city partnership for inclusive playground; Friends of Willis‑Winters Park donate $20,000
Summary
Residents including Abby Sunshine and Friends of Willis‑Winters Park asked the Dallas Park and Recreation Board for clearer timelines, community engagement on the Old City Park master plan and support for a new inclusive playground; Friends of Willis‑Winters Park announced a $20,000 donation for local park improvements.
Several members of the public used the board’s public‑comment period on June 18 to press the parks department for partnership and clearer timelines for neighborhood park projects.
Naima Hill, who identified herself as a Parks Community board member, a Cedars Neighborhood Association representative and founder and board chair of the nonprofit Abby Sunshine, asked the department to update the community on the Old City Park master plan and to incorporate neighborhood guidance. Hill said the Cedars has identified the underutilized green space at Holt City Park as its preferred site for a new inclusive playground and asked for formal city partnership so the group can pursue grants and planning approvals.
"We would like an update on the status of the Old City Park master plan, and specifically how and when community guidance will be incorporated," Hill said. She described Abby Sunshine’s organizing activities, including the free Abby Sunshine Festival that drew more than 500 attendees, and the group’s successful Love Your Block grant.
Barbara Cohen, president of Friends of Willis‑Winters Park, reported accomplishments at Willis‑Winters Park and said the group was donating $20,000 toward future projects, including playground replacement and turf for the baseball fields. Cohen listed recent improvements at the park and thanked the department for its partnership.
Paul O’Connor, a resident who described leading volunteer cleanup work, offered to coordinate donation cleanups at problem sites and thanked staff for recent work at Pelican Point Sunset.
Why it matters: neighborhood groups are seeking concrete timelines and formal city collaboration to turn volunteer energy and small‑grant awards into constructed playgrounds and park enhancements. The board acknowledged the requests and asked staff to follow up on master‑plan timelines and permissions needed for community‑led projects.
Speakers encouraged continued communication between the department and neighborhood organizers so fundraising and grant applications can proceed with clarity on site use and timeline.
