Dallas City Council Approves Major Land Acquisition for Park System in Far North Dallas
DALLAS -The Dallas City Council today approved the purchase of property in far north Dallas for the future development of a community park. The $13.65 million land acquisition supports the City's initiative to develop public spaces in areas where there are few parks and recreational amenities. Area residents will be able to continue to enjoy the existing soccer fields, batting cages and other amenities that currently exist on the property. The Park and Recreation Department will operate the soccer fields, and the existing Adventure Landing operator will manage all other facilities and amenities until the future park is constructed.
The newly acquired 13.48-acre site is located near the intersection of Coit Road and the George Bush Turnpike. Once park development funding is secured, likely through future bond programs, the property will be developed as a community park. Located in far north Dallas, the nearest park amenity is the Preston Ridge Trail to the west and Twin Lakes Park to the south three-quarters of a mile away. Abutting this property to the immediate north will be the future Cotton Belt Trail, which is scheduled to be completed in the near future.
"Adventure Landing is a part of the fabric of our community. It's a 30-year beloved place for families, school field trips, and lasting memories. I'm excited to preserve this community treasure and see more Dallas residents create their own happy memories at Adventure Landing and the Hildebrand soccer fields." said Cara Mendelsohn, District 12 City Council Member.
Last month, the Park and Recreation Boardunanimouslyapproved the land acquisition item and recommended approval to the City Council. "With the cost of land in the north Dallas area increasing in value, we arefortunate to secure this property to make sure residents have access to green spaces and new recreational amenities. Acquiringland in certain fully developed areas of the Cityfor park purposes is exceedingly difficult,and this acquisition represents a unique opportunity for us as a City" said Arun Agarwal, President, Dallas Parkand Recreation Board.
"This acquisition representsfar more than the purchase of land - it symbolizes a pivotal investment in addressing a critical need within a community with the fewest parks in the entire city. By creating this new park, we are taking a transformative step toward providing every resident, no matter their neighborhood, with access to exceptional green spaces" said Lane Conner, District 12 Parkand Recreation Board Member.
"The Dallas Park System continues to pursue acquisitions in areas of the Citythat are lacking in park land all in an effort to continue to increase the percentage of residents that live within a 10 minute walk of a park or greenspace - a key metric in measuring park systems'effectiveness in serving their residents," said John D. Jenkins, Director, Dallas Park and Recreation Department.
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