Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dallas says ParkScore climbed as city reports 81% of residents within 10-minute walk of a park
Summary
Mayor Eric Johnson and park officials announced that Dallas rose in the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore, reporting that 81% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park and citing recent bond funding and new projects as drivers of improved access.
Mayor Eric Johnson announced that Dallas has moved up in the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore rankings and said 81% of city residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a rise he described as the result of recent investments and planning.
"This year, we jumped another four spots," Johnson said, adding that the city has increased park access from roughly 58% a decade ago to 81% today. He highlighted major projects now under way — including Halpern Park in Oak Cliff and Harold Simmons Park in West Dallas — and said the city is pursuing a goal of ensuring every resident has access within a 10-minute walk by the end of the decade.
Molly Morgan, state director for the Trust for Public Land, said ParkScore "isn't just a number. It's a reflection of how well cities deliver on their promise of access and parks for all." Morgan reiterated the 81% figure and said it represents more than 300,000 Dallas residents who now live within a short walk of green space. She credited local initiatives named in the event — Smart Growth for Dallas, schoolyards programs and projects along 5 Mile Creek — as contributing to the rise and noted the June 7 opening of Judge Charles R. Rose Park in Highland Hills as an example of new access coming online.
Park Department Director John Jenkins thanked staff and volunteers, noting the department’s workforce (about 1,600 employees) and the role of city leadership and the park board in pursuing the strategy that city officials say has driven measurable gains. Jenkins also acknowledged the city’s recent bond investments, which officials at the event said will leverage further park development and improvements.
Officials at the event framed the ranking improvement as part of a longer-term push to expand access and park amenities across Dallas neighborhoods. No formal vote or policy action was recorded at the announcement; city leaders described ongoing capital projects and partnerships as the next steps to continue raising access.
The announcement was delivered at a city event that included remarks from Park & Recreation Board President Arun Agarwal and Trust for Public Land staff. City leaders said they will continue to publicize project openings and milestones as work progresses.
