Expansion includes Jacobs Lawn

By Angela Lang

Klyde Warren Park and its Foundation announced a major construction milestone this week for the transformational expansion of one of Dallas’ most beloved public spaces. Following a competitive bidding process that attracted six bids, the Texas Transportation Commission has awarded the construction contract to Archer Western, the same firm that built the Park’s original deck structure more than a decade ago. Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2026 and take approximately 24 months to complete.

“Fourteen years ago, many people questioned whether building a deck park over a freeway was even possible,” said Jody Grant, chairman of Klyde Warren Park. “Today, Klyde Warren Park stands as proof of what can happen when a community believes in a bold vision. This expansion isn’t simply about adding acreage. It’s an investment in Dallas, an investment in the community and an investment in future generations.”

Since opening in 2012, Klyde Warren Park has become Dallas’ town square — a place where families celebrate milestones, friends reconnect, visitors experience the city and communities come together every day. The expansion builds on that legacy by creating even more opportunities to connect, celebrate and experience the heart of Dallas. Beyond its community impact, the Park has become one of Dallas’ most significant economic development engines, contributing to an estimated $5.9 billion in increased surrounding property value. To date, that development has generated $957 million in incremental tax revenue benefiting the City of Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas ISD, Parkland and Dallas College. The expansion is projected to generate an additional $3.5 billion in property value over the next decade while further driving visitor spending, tourism and continued investment throughout downtown Dallas.

The 1.7-acre expansion will increase Klyde Warren Park from 5.4 acres to 7.1 acres, extending the Park west toward Field Street while covering the final recessed portion of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway and completing the Park’s original vision.

The expansion will feature The Jacobs Lawn, a 37,000-square-foot multi-use green space designed for festivals, markets, performances, civic celebrations and the kinds of community gatherings that define great cities. 

During the winter months, The Jacobs Lawn will transform into an outdoor ice-skating rink, with additional seasonal programming planned throughout the year. Adjacent to the lawn, the Overlook will allow guests to view the vibrancy of the city traffic as cars disappear right underneath them, helping tell the story of how the Park was built on top of one of the busiest freeways in Texas.

Complementing these outdoor gathering spaces will be a striking glass-and-steel pavilion suspended above the freeway between St. Paul and Akard Streets. 

The two-level structure will feature approximately 24,000 square feet of climate-controlled event and reception space, along with an 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace overlooking the Dallas skyline. Open to the public, the pavilion is envisioned as a vibrant destination that draws people into the heart of Dallas.

The expansion is the result of years of collaboration among public agencies, private donors and community leaders. Funding partners include the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Regional Transportation Council, Dallas County, the Klyde Warren Park/Dallas Arts District Public Improvement District and numerous philanthropic partners. The engineering and design effort has been led by Jacobs in collaboration with HKS and Gensler, working alongside the City of Dallas, TxDOT and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

City officials emphasized the vital role local parks play in bringing people together:

“Klyde Warren Park embodies the bold steps forward that we can take with innovative vision. This is the type of project that has made Dallas one of the most successful and fast-rising cities in America,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson. 

“The expansion of this Park is exactly the kind of transformative investment we must continue to make throughout Dallas’s urban core. It will add new green space for residents to enjoy while driving continued economic growth, connecting our communities, and enhancing the quality of life that makes Dallas a destination for families, businesses and visitors from around the world.”

Transportation leaders also highlighted the project’s role in reconnecting communities while enhancing quality of life.

“Klyde Warren Park remains one of the finest examples of transportation infrastructure serving people in entirely new ways,” said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. 

“What was once a barrier through the heart of Dallas has become one of the city’s most celebrated destinations. This expansion continues that vision by strengthening connections, creating opportunities and supporting the growth of a world-class region.”

While construction is underway, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation will launch the next phase of its private fundraising campaign to support the amenities, programming and experiences that will activate the expanded park upon its completion.