The Park

Almost a Walker's Paradise

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:06:33 GMT

It%26#8217;s no secret %26#8211; we love our cars in Dallas. And while driving is an easy way to get from Point A to Point B, we hope The Park will encourage people to leave their cars behind, take a walk, and explore the neighborhood. We%26#8217;re happy to note that the current walk score for the area around The Park is an 88 (%26#8220;very walkable,%26#8221; according to www.walkscore.com), and it can only get better from here!

Walkable neighborhoods offer a number of benefits for residents and visitors, including a cleaner and safer environment, a healthier lifestyle, and a positive economic impact. By connecting the vibrant neighborhoods of Uptown and Downtown, The Park will provide our community with one more reason to get outside and enjoy this beautiful city.

The Tree Trust

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:53:00 GMT

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? Honor them by endowing one of the over 300 trees that will grace The Park and provide shade for countless visitors. You can choose from Red Oaks, Chinese Pistaches, Pond Cypresses, River Birches, Bur Oaks, or Lacebark Elms! For more information, please contact Angie Calderwood at 214.716.4500 or angie@theparkdallas.org.

Volunteer Spotlight: David Rodriguez

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:49:13 GMT

Shining the light on our dedicated volunteers...
It is amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together! Thanks to volunteers like David, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation is one step closer to having a park that Dallas can be proud of and enjoy for generations.
What is your role for Friends of The Park?
First as an enthusiastic volunteer excited about a much needed urban place of destination and people generator for downtown Dallas
How long have you been volunteering for the Friends of The Park? %26nbsp;
I have been with supporting the Friends since it first was organized in 2010.
Why did you get involved with for The Park?
Our firm (Ware Architecture Studio) happens to be the Green/Sustainable Consultants for the project, so were excited to hear of grass roots efforts to promote the project to the masses.
What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience with The Park?
Most definitely the people involved (both paid staff and volunteers) who are deeply committed to THE PARK and the added value it provides to the urban area of Dallas.
That, and the opportunity to just be a regular grass roots volunteer and be under the radar%26#8230;.I%26nbsp; lead other large organizations and groups%26#8230;here%26#8230;it%26#8217;s great for a change to just take orders and be an Indian and not a Chief%26#8230;.love it !!!
What have you learned through your experience?
Again%26#8230;the opportunity of meeting new people I had never met before %26#8230;also committed to a wonderful sustainable common cause that is a core belief for me.
Tell us something about you - where do work? Any hobbies?
I am the Vice President and Director of Sustainability for Ware Architecture Studio
In my spare time, I enjoy mentoring individuals who want to know more about sustainability as it applies to the built environment. I am am heavily involved with with my Alumni Association %26#8211; The Dallas Texas Exes (Hook %26#8217;em Horns !!)
Name your favorite thing about The Park.
That it was built over an existing highway%26#8230;how cool is that%26#8230;reinforcing what I learned in architecture school%26#8230; "You are only limited by your imagination."

Your Green Path: The Park

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:36:00 GMT

GreenRightNow.com

Feature Blogger, Barbara Kessler:

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The Woodall Rogers Park will literally put a lid on the freeway, creating a community gathering space that will connect neighborhoods with the Dallas Arts District.

Construction Update - November 30, 2011

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:28 GMT

As dirt and trees arrive over the eight-lane Woodall Rodgers Freeway, crews are working hard to ensure the City%26#8217;s brand new tunnel is safe below.

The eastbound main lanes of Woodall Rodgers Freeway will be closed this weekend to finish fireproofing the underside of the beams. Closures will take place from 9:00 PM on Saturday, December 3 until 10:00 AM on Sunday, December 4 and again from 5:00 PM on December 4 until 5:00 AM on Monday, December 5.

We appreciate the continued support and patience of our friends and neighbors as we work to make The Park and the tunnel safe for all visitors!
Check out TxDOT's website (below) for more information on these lane closures.
http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us

Trees in The Park

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:15:51 GMT

%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;We recently received an excellent question on our Facebook page about the logistics of planting and maintaining healthy and happy trees in The Park. Planting trees above a freeway doesn%26#8217;t happen every day, but our structural engineers and landscape architect were up to the challenge. The structural box beams were designed to allow the trees to grow at grade with the rest of The Park while preserving the necessary traffic clearances in the tunnel. If you%26#8217;ve driven by The Park or checked out our webcam photos, you might have seen the square-shaped gaps between the beams %26#8211; these will serve as the planters for our 300-plus trees. Tree sizes will be determined by the use of root barriers, but the trees will nevertheless reach mature heights of up to 40 feet. All of The Park%26#8217;s trees are native and adaptive species, making them lower-maintenance and facilitating our efforts to keep them healthy. We hope to see some of these trees coming in soon, and we can%26#8217;t wait for everyone to enjoy them when The Park opens!

Capital Campaign Update

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:36:42 GMT

We just got back from a press conference at Mayor Mike Rawling%26#8217;s office and are thrilled to announce over $1million in new donations to The Park! The Rotary Club of Dallas made a generous donation of $500,000 to celebrate their Centennial anniversary and they marked the occasion with a ceremonial pinning of membership for Mayor Rawlings. Their gift will support the%26nbsp; Learning Tree Deck in the Children%26#8217;s Garden.

%26nbsp;

We would like to thank Ebby Halliday, Allison Stemmons, Craig Hutton, the Henry S. Miller family, and the 39 additional Rotary donors for this amazing contribution to The Park and this wonderful part of the Children%26#8217;s Garden. Along with this gift, recent donations from the Community Impact Fund of The Dallas Foundation, William T. %26amp; Gay F. Solomon, The Crescent, Fountain Place, Trammell Crow Center, and the owners of Museum Tower have pushed our current total of private donations to $37 million. We are so thankful for all the support we have received from the community, and we are so excited to celebrate the start of the park improvements!

Construction Update - November 1, 2011

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:40:50 GMT

We%26#8217;re in the home stretch! Over the next two weekends, the FINAL set of beams will be installed, and TxDOT will close the main lanes of Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Closures will begin Saturday nights and lanes will open again Sunday or Monday mornings at the latest.
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We appreciate all of the support from our friends and neighbors during this project, and we can't wait to make this amazing park a reality.
%26nbsp;
Check out TxDOT's website (below) for more information on these lane closures.
%26nbsp;
http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us

You may have noticed...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:40:58 GMT

We%26#8217;ll be sad when the State Fair is over, but it will mean we can get back to work and finish the final section of beams and complete the tunnel. In the meantime, you may have noticed:

%26nbsp;1.) Light fixture and jet fan installation in the tunnel are well underway %26#8211; we just turned the section one lights on!

%26nbsp;2.) We%26#8217;re continuing to install geofoam and waterproofing (the white blocks and blue plastic). How does it work? The white geofoam blocks are an engineered light weight fill material used to lighten the load on the structural beams. It is placed between the tree wells in lieu of soil to reduce load. The blue sheet is a root barrier to keep the roots from going into the geofoam.

%26nbsp;3.) Real soil will be added later this month, beginning in the tree wells.

%26nbsp;4.) Keep an eye out for the first trees and landscaping to arrive before the end of the year.

For up-to-the minute mobility information and cool construction photos, check our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or see the action for yourself on our live web cam.

Doggies in the District

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:26:33 GMT

A month of great events will wrap up on October 30th with costume festivities and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra%26#8217;s Monsters of Film and Doggies in the District! Bring your favorite four-legged family member to the first Doggies in the District and let your pup experience the arts too! Enjoy a variety of vendors, costume-themed festivities, and activities throughout the afternoon.

Friends of The Park will be on-site to talk about My Best Friend%26#8217;s Park (coming fall 2012) with fun give-a-ways for people and pooches alike.

Volunteer Spotlight: Carlos Flores

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:43:51 GMT

Shining the light on our dedicated volunteers...

It is amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together! Thanks to volunteers like Carlos, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation is one step closer to having a park that Dallas can be proud of and enjoy for generations.

What is your role for Friends of The Park?

As a member of the Events Committee I enthusiastically participate in various meetings, attend events, and share with the public the vision and excitement of the future of The Park!%26nbsp; I am always trying to sell The Park whether it be the concept of The Park or a Friends of The Park event or membership.

How long have you been volunteering for the Friends of The Park?
%26nbsp;
As soon as I heard about the Friends of The Park I knew it was something I wanted to be involved in. I first attended the event at Victory House and signed up to be on the Events Committee.%26nbsp; I have attended all meetings as well as the events at St. Ann%26#8217;s, The Trammel Crow, and more recently the fabulous Stanley Korshak event.

Why did you get involved with for The Park?
%26nbsp;
I love the concept of The Park and joining Uptown with Downtown in the midst of one of the largest Arts Districts in the country.%26nbsp; Also, because Friends of The Park is a dynamic organization that has within its structure people from all types of businesses and leadership roles.%26nbsp;

What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience with The Park?

That the leaders of The Park are flexible and willing to listen to many ideas and thus create "fun" events.
%26nbsp;
What have you learned through your experience?

That The Park will be enjoyed by all members of the Dallas community and that our events will appeal to all walks of life, therefore will be enjoyed by many visitors to the Uptown and to Downtown areas of Dallas.

Tell us something about you:%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;%26nbsp;
I have a BA Economics and a%26nbsp;Masters degree in Commercial Banking.%26nbsp; After retiring from the banking and the Federal Government I became a self-employed museum tour guide.%26nbsp; I tour groups of all types and professions.%26nbsp; Also, as a certified docent for the Dallas Center for Architecture I am able to participate in educational opportunities for students in numerous national schools of architecture as well as younger aspiring architecture students at the high school level.

Any hobbies?

Hiker, traveler, Hospital Chaplain, Bible Study Leader, marriage (counseling) mentor, docent, and docent trainer for major Dallas museums.

Name your favorite thing about The Park.
%26nbsp;
The excitement that we all have for what it is and what it will become.
%26nbsp;
Additional Comments:

I can%26#8217;t wait for The Park to open and to take my little dog Gabby to The Park for outings!

%26nbsp;

Carlos is pictured with his wife, Patricia.

Construction Update - 9.10.11

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:34:51 GMT

Another round of deck box beams are on their way and will be installed this weekend! TxDOT will close the main lanes of Woodall Rodgers this Saturday night and Sunday morning to maintain the safety of our drivers. Similar closures will take place the weekends of September 17th and 24th as we approach the finish line of the deck box beam installation.

We appreciate all of the support from our patrons, friends, and neighbors throughout these exciting new developments.

Check out TxDOT's website (below) for more information on these lane closures.

http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us

Construction Update - August 27, 2011

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:17:07 GMT

The final phase of deck box beam installations is upon us! The next round of beams will be hoisted into place this upcoming weekend. The main lanes of Woodall Rodgers will be closed to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

Similar work will resume the weekend of September 10th and continue for 3 to 4 weekends.%26nbsp;

Thank you again, patrons, friends and neighbors, for your continued support.

Lane closures and information will be posted on the TxDOT website (see below) for each of the weekends.%26nbsp;

http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us

Did you know...

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:44:34 GMT

The Park will have a high-efficiency below surface irrigation system that you will never see. It will control water irrigation use and provide a first-year water savings of 322,400 gallons over a conventional overhead spray system. The water saved would allow for a person to take an average daily shower for the next 24 years!

We're moving....but not too far!

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:11:47 GMT

The Park team has a new home! The big move is underway so things are little hectic over here. Our internet, live webcam and phone lines will be unavailable throughout the week. We are working to be up and running as soon as possible.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;Stay tuned for photos of our new digs and more!!

Construction Update

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:03:03 GMT

If you take some time to drive by our site you%26#8217;ll see we%26#8217;re making big progress towards the finish line! We are approaching the final two rounds of deck box beam installations! The deck box beams are about 65 percent complete and we expect the next beam settings later this summer and to complete in early fall.

Additional Updates:

- Utility bridge demolition is complete

- Deck waterproofing is 30 percent complete

- Light fixture installation in the tunnel has begun

- Phase two of the Park Amenities and improvements are slated to begin in August, starting at the west end with earthwork, sidewalks and irrigation

- The first landscaping could begin to arrive in late 2011

For up-to-the minute mobility information and cool construction photos, check our website, like The Park Dallas on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or see the action for yourself on our live web cam

Stanley Korshak %26 Friends of The Park Tune Up for an Inaugural Event

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:45:02 GMT

STANLEY KORSHAK and FRIENDS OF THE PARK are getting ready to launch an inaugural event that will "rock the house" in Dallas. ROCKANDRUNWAY will feature the excitement of a live band combined with a fashion show and will benefit The Park.
"ROCKANDRUNWAY will be like nothing we've ever seen as far as multimedia entertainment," said Crawford Brock, owner STANLEY KORSHAK.%26nbsp; "The combination of live music and a fashion runway show will certainly prove to be a night like no other."
The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 25 and will serve as a continuation of STANLEY KORSHAK's 25th Anniversary celebration~A Quarter Century of Style.

The Park Team is Growing!

Mon, 09 May 2011 07:06:38 GMT

The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation seeks a Development Intern to support the organization over the summer. The Development Intern will have completed at least a year of college, have excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, meticulous attention to detail, ability to multi-task, take initiative, work independently, and manage competing priorities to meet deadlines. Candidates should have an interest in the nonprofit industry and ones with research experience are preferred.
To apply, please send cover letter, resume, availability and references with %26#8220;Development Assistant%26#8221; in the subject line to Angie at angie@theparkdallas.org. No phone calls, please.

Watch: It's Good to Have Friend with Brendan Higgins

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:42:12 GMT

The Park is featured in Former channel 5 news anchor's new travel show - check it out!

Friends of The Park Invite You to The Green Fling

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:51:14 GMT

Ticket Price:

Friends of The Park Member %26#8211; FREE

Non-member - $25, Early Registration $20

Not a member? Become one today and attend for free!