Dallas: 10,000-acre Nature District to be country's largest urban green space

Dallas has proposed a massive new urban park that will be 10 times the size of Central Park when complete, which would make Dallas one of the greenest cities in the US. The proposal aims to create a 10,000-acre Nature District within an area called the Trinity River Corridor.

Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the Trinity River Park will see playgrounds, lawns, meadows, lakes and riverside trails. The Trinity River has shaped Dallas but the river is disconnected from the public by long stretches of undeveloped land and a lack of access. Also prone to floods, over the 20th century Dallas straightened the river and built levees over 23 miles that cordon the river off from the city. The project is also designed to minimise flooding.

This proposal, which includes 7,000 acres of the Great Trinity Forest, makes the Trinity River Park the sparkling crown jewel of Dallas.

Highlights of Dallas Nature District:

To transform the Trinity Floodway into a world-class park, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates emphasises two core concepts at the center of its design: civic spaces and naturalistic landscapes. Civic spaces, like playgrounds, fountains, plazas and lawns provide a connection between the city and the floodplain, protect programmatic areas from extreme flooding, and bring a sense of identity to the dry side of the city’s levees. Riparian landscapes will restore the ecological function and natural beauty of the channel and its banks while also reducing the vulnerability of pathways and other important design elements.

Highlights include:

Spread over 285 acres, the Harold Simmons Park will be a part of the 10,000-acre Nature District.
Apart from the park, 1,000 acres have already been developed into the Trinity Forest Golf Club, Texas Horse Park, and the Trinity River Audubon Center. The Audubon Center, which is a hub for environmental science education for children, teaching about 25,000 students a year.
The Trinity Strand Trail will connect 73 miles of trails. The first 2.5 miles have already opened, with an aim to connect the Katy Trail with the Trinity River.