Trinity Park Conservancy and LGC outline Harold Simmons Park plans, set April 8 groundbreaking

City of Dallas officials and representatives of the Trinity Corridor Local Government Corporation (LGC) and the Trinity Park Conservancy (TPC) presented a status update on Harold Simmons Park to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 25, 2025, and said the project will break ground April 8.

The presentation said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' current floodway expansion work required the project team to “pivot” some development outside the levee; the LGC and TPC described a plan that places four overlooks and a 22-acre West Overlook on the dry side of the levee while preserving a 200-acre nature preserve as the project’s long‑term core.

Committee members were told that the LGC — established in 2017 by city council to govern development within the Dallas Floodway footprint — has contracted TPC as the implementing and fundraising partner. TPC described master-plan elements including a half‑mile linear park on the Ron Kirk Bridge, a skating rink and sport courts, a rooftop café, an event building with a welcome center and STEM education space, a playground the presentation described as having six towers and multiple slides, and a “land bridge” over Beckley Avenue that will tie West Dallas neighborhoods to the levee top and park overlooks.

TPC said the dominant industrial shed on the West Overlook site will be retained and reimagined as sheltered space for markets, arts programming and concessions. The presentation stated that roughly five acres of the West Overlook parcel are city‑owned and 16–17 acres were acquired by TPC at “approximately $42,000,000.” The project team said they have begun site clearing and land preparation, and that the official groundbreaking event is scheduled for April 8.

Speakers acknowledged financial and long‑term operational questions remain outside the scope of this committee update; Chair Mendelson and multiple council members said financial terms and operations/maintenance (O&M) responsibility will be handled by the city’s Trails, Parks and Environment Committee and staff. LGC members said they intend to revisit two governance documents: the 2017 master development agreement between the city and LGC and the 2018 agreement between the LGC and TPC to reflect lessons learned during predevelopment and the Army Corps' floodway work.

The presentation cited an economic‑impact estimate from the project team that projected $7,000,000,000 in economic activity in the first 30 years, $2,100,000,000 in tourism, recreation and health benefits, and an item described as “1.3” in new public revenues (the presentation did not specify units for that last figure). Committee members raised community concerns about displacement in West Dallas and described work underway with partners on education and property‑tax information for residents.

Committee members asked how unrelated proposals — notably proposed high‑speed rail routes and a potential county jail site relocation — could affect park design. Presenters said they are tracking high‑speed rail routing scenarios and that the LGC and TPC support city decisions; they also said TPC owns the former Dawson State Jail parcel and plans to consider it for future park‑support amenities, but that conversion would follow park construction.

LGC and TPC leaders told the committee they plan to return with a more detailed timeline and revised agreement language in the months following the April groundbreaking. The committee did not take any financial or contractual action during the briefing; Chair Mendelson reiterated that budgetary and O&M matters will be considered by Parks, Trails and Environment.

The presentation and committee discussion covered planning, design and outreach milestones and emphasized a near‑term construction start while Army Corps work continues inside the floodway.