Deck park plan to be unveiled
Dallas: Woodall Rodgers proposal to feature dog runs, eateries, play area
Dallas Morning News, The (TX)
June 7, 2006
Author: DAVE LEVINTHAL; Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 2

A proposed "deck park" spanning Woodall Rodgers Freeway would include amenities ranging from restaurants and retail kiosks to dog runs, a children's garden and free wireless Internet access, according to a design plan that park supporters plan to publicly unveil today.
Known as the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park - although the eventual sale of naming rights could change that, backers say - the park would stretch between St. Paul and Pearl streets, covering 4.66 acres above the canyonlike freeway, the design plan states. The Harwood Street bridge connecting Uptown to downtown's Arts District would close to traffic and become part of the deck park, and Olive Street could close periodically for special events at the park.

The design plan is the culmination of nearly 16 months of meetings, planning and public brainstorming sessions funded almost exclusively by Dallas' private sector, which hopes to make the park one of the city's centerpieces.

Park plan documents also include designs for decorative aluminum and glass-panel canopies that would cover Woodall Rodgers Freeway between St. Paul and Akard streets, as well as slivers of airspace immediately east of Pearl Street and west of Akard Street. The canopies would also reduce freeway noise. Park organizers had considered placing parkland there instead of the canopies, but such an extension proved too expensive, they said.

A walking path would meander through the park from St. Paul Street to Pearl Street, and a pathway along Olive Street would link the deck park to the Katy Trail.

"What you'll see in this plan is what we plan to unveil when the park opens up," said Linda Owen, president of The Real Estate Council, which represents the North Texas commercial real estate industry and is a primary deck park supporter. "It's unprecedented that we have so much support. I don't see anything that's a big obstacle to getting this done."

Construction of the deck park is scheduled to begin in mid-2007, with completion scheduled for 2010.

Also today, park planners will reveal their latest cost estimate - $71.6 million - up from last year's preliminary estimate of $60 million. They say that figure includes potential increases in the cost of raw materials needed to build the decking over Woodall Rodgers Freeway, on which the park will sit.

Of that $71.6 million, the state and the private sector have donated or pledged to donate more than $20 million. Dallas City Hall plans to include $20 million in its 2006 bond program, on which residents are to vote in November.

Park supporters say they'll also launch a fundraising campaign today aiming to secure the remaining needed dollars through private, state and federal sources.

"Every step they take that gets us closer to connecting Uptown to downtown is an important step," said Dallas Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans, who oversees economic development and public works projects for City Hall.

Other park amenities include a performance stage and carousel, restrooms, a reading room, botanical garden, sculptures and water features, according to the design plan.

"Great cities have great parks," said Jim Burnett, whose firm is providing landscape architecture and design services for the deck park. "The private and public sector really realize the need for this park, which is why I think you see so much support for it."

E-mail dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
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CHART(S): BY THE NUMBERS.
Edition:  NORTH
Section:  METRO
Page:  14B
Copyright 2006 The Dallas Morning News
Record Number:  1180421691