Klyde Warren Park Receives Prestigious Urban Land Institute Award

By Liviu Oltean, Associate Editor

Klyde Warren Park

The Urban Land Institute announced Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park as the winner of the 2014 Urban Open Space Award. The award recognizes both large- and small-scale projects that have improved and enriched their communities.

Located near the Arts District, the park was named after Kelcy Warren’s son, who was given the option to name the park after he had donated an undisclosed amount toward the park’s development. Funding for the project was also obtained through other partnerships, including $20 million in bond funds from the city of Dallas, $20 million in highway funds from the state and $17 million in stimulus funds. The total investment totaled $110 million.

Designed by The Office of James Burnett and Jacobs Engineering Group, Klyde Warren was developed as a deck park over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Encompassing approximately five acres, it features a children’s park, a reading room, restaurants, a performance pavilion, a fountain plaza, game areas and a dog park.

“This year’s submissions reflect innovative ways that North American cities are financing and developing public destinations that create recreational experiences for residents, spur economic activity on adjacent sites and often preserve historical and cultural heritage, as well,” said jury chair Leanne Lachman, president of real estate consulting firm Lachman Associates in New York.

Klyde Warren Park competed against:

• The Columbus Commons and The Scioto Mile, Columbus, Ohio: Totaling 18 acres, the two parks feature formal gardens, a carousel, cafés, a state-of-the-art performing arts pavilion, seating pavilions along a promenade and a 15,000-square-foot water feature.
• Guthrie Green, Tulsa, Oklahoma: Developed with a bevy of sustainable components, Guthrie Green boasts an 11,000-square-foot café pavilion, a performance stage, an outdoor amphitheater and interactive fountains.
• The Railyard Park and Plaza, Santa Fe: Described as “the culmination of two decades of community activism,”, the Railyard features a promenade, art galleries, museums as well as office and retail components.
• Washington Park, Cincinnati: Sitting on about eight acres, Washington Park is a shining example of responsible development. With a $48 million investment, the park was rehabilitated entirely: What was once a high-crime neighborhood has become “the most democratic site in the region.” It features a grand civic lawn, a permanent stage and a 7,000-square-foot water feature.