Dallas began building a $110 million park over a freeway in 2009; 3 years later, Klyde Warren Park became a major attraction

Klyde Warren Park, a $110 million public park, was built over a sunken freeway in downtown Dallas, Texas. It was developed to turn the space above a sunken freeway into a public green space. The construction began in October 2009 and the five-acre park opened in October 2012. This happened after a $110 million first phase funded through a combination of public money and private donations.

The project and its purpose

Klyde Warren Park is a five-acre public park in downtown Dallas, Texas. It was built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway, between Pearl and St. Paul streets. The aim was to create green space above a busy road and reconnect parts of the city centre. The park serves as a recreational, social and cultural space for residents and visitors.

How the project began?

In 2004, an initial feasibility study was conducted, and in June 2006, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation unveiled the original design. In 2009, Archer Western won the construction contract. The construction began in October 2009 and the park opened in October 2012, which 36 months after construction began.


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The cost and funding

The first phase of the project cost $110 million. The project reportedly used a public-private partnership model, combining public funding and private donations. The City of Dallas contributed $20 million through bond funds. The Texas Department of Transportation contributed $20 million in highway funds. Meanwhile, the US Department of Transportation provided $16.7 million in stimulus funding. Private donations accounted for $50 million and these listed contributions total $106.7 million.

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The park's economic impact

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that the park has generated a $2.5 billion economic impact for Dallas. It was intended to encourage economic development and improve the value of surrounding property.

The park also helped in reducing traffic noise for pedestrians and nearby buildings. It has also become a major attraction and a focus of economic development in the city centre.