DALLAS — The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved authorizing about $42 million in funding to move forward with work on deck parks over I-30.
The deck parks, similar to Klyde Warren Park over Woodall Rogers Freeway, would be built over I-30 on Lamar Street and between S. Ervay Street and Harwood Street near Old City Park.
The votes authorize payments totaling about $42 million from the city’s convention center construction fund to enter a funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction of the deck park on Lamar Street and the city’s portion of the cost of building the deck park near Old City Park. Federal grant funding to the tune of $31 million will also support the construction of the deck cap near Old City Park.
“The deck cap is intended to reconnect communities that were separated years ago by the construction of the original freeway, including the Dallas Downtown Historic District, the Dallas Farmers Market, the Cedars Area, Dallas Heritage Park, and several other residential and commercial areas in South and Southern Dallas,” a Dallas City Council memo on the issue read.
That sentiment was shared by Dallas City Council members and speakers during the meeting Wednesday.
“That’s connecting communities and bringing economic development,” Council member Jesse Moreno, who represents the area, said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to stitch these two communities back together.”
“I know this is a benefit to the city and ultimately to the southern part of the city,” said Dallas city councilmember Carolyn King Arnold. "I’m excited about what’s coming to the southern sector."
“That connectivity is going to be huge,” said Dallas city council member Omar Narvaez. “It’s a big win for all of Dallas when we connect the southern and south ends of our city because that takes economic development that way.”
Council member Cara Mendelsohn said she supported the project, but asked city staff about how much had been spent from the convention center fund, how much had been encumbered, and the total project cost.
Before the vote approving the funding, Dallas Director of Convention and Event Services Rosa Fleming said about $113.5 million in contracts had been awarded for the project to date, including for planning and advanced planning with a total estimated cost of about $187.3 million.
Representatives of the Hotel Association of North Texas and Visit Dallas also spoke in support of authorizing the funding for the deck caps over I-30.
Ken Benson of the Hotel Association of North Texas said he hopes the projects will open the southern portion of the Cedars area to tourism and economic development and increase mobility options in the area.
“This is likely the most transformative to our city as it will connect communities separated by freeway, the communities of downtown Dallas, the cedars and Dallas Heritage Park,” said Gerardo Sanchez of Visit Dallas.