Parks & Trails

Home / Parks & Outdoors / Parks & Trails
Photo: Griggs Park Sunset, Justin Terveen

Parks & TrailsParks & Outdoors

Print This Page

Big cities are known for their big, pretty, and functional parks. And though parks are not the first thing you may think of when you think of Dallas, our region is no exception. Klyde Warren Park located in downtown Dallas isn’t just a green space—it’s an award-winning innovation. Situated over Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and Saint Paul streets, it is literally a park built on thin air. And it is an urban wonder. Within its 5 acres are a performance pavilion, a restaurant, walking trails, a mini dog park, a children’s playground, water features, an expansive lawn, and much more. White Rock Lake lies in East Dallas. The crown jewel of Dallas’ park system, the lake itself comprises more than 1,015 acres and offers a view of downtown Dallas. The lake and surrounding park areas attract walkers, bicyclists, and rollerbladers and offer kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals. Or you can just lay out a picnic for a lazy day along the shore. But these are only two of the lovely parks in the Dallas Region. You won’t have to go far to find your favorite spot.

Hitting the Trails, Dallas style >. Family friendly parks >

Featured Park

Carpenter Park

Construction is underway on Downtown Dallas’ largest park. The 5.6-acre Carpenter Park, located 2201 Pacific Ave., at the eastern edge of downtown near Deep Ellum and East Dallas, will feature a broad range of amenities including a dog play area, basketball court, interactive fountain, children’s environmental playscape, gardens and walking paths. Carpenter Park is the third of four Downtown parks to be constructed as a result of a public-private partnership between the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Parks for Downtown Dallas. Additional funding has been provided by the Carpenter Family. 

More about Carpenter Park >

Southern Gateway Park

A future deck park is aiming to address Dallas’ north-south divide. The Southern Gateway Park, a five-acre deck park that will span I-35E in southern Dallas adjacent to the Dallas Zoo, will generate economic investment in the historic Oak Cliff neighborhood of southern Dallas.

The park will have features that the community requested including a stage and pavilion, an expansive lawn, children’s playground, food truck area and more. The park is a public-private project between the City of Dallas, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Texas Department of Transportation, and the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation. Construction of Phase 1 is expected to be completed in summer 2022 with amenities opening to the public in late 2023.

Renderings by Southern Gateway Park

West End Park

Downtown Dallas’ newest park has opened 

A new downtown Dallas “smart park” has opened, the first park in the city’s innovation district. The park features gardens inspired by The Texas Blackland Prairies, an outdoor working area with porch swings, and an interactive water feature.

West End Square is the second of four priority parks by Parks for Downtown Dallas in partnership with the City of Dallas Park and Recreation department.

Images courtesy of Parks for Downtown Dallas 

Future Developments

Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park announces construction of world’s tallest interactive fountain

Klyde Warren Park has announced the construction of a next-generation, interactive “super-fountain,” that will be higher than any immersive fountain in the world. The fountain is made possible by a $10 million gift from longtime Klyde Warren Park board member Nancy Best and her husband, Randy. The fountain features a central island of three stainless steel “trees” from which water will pulse and soar to heights of more than 55 feet in the air. The fountain comes alive in the evening with colorful light shows to music.

More about The Nancy Best Fountain >

Jacobs Donates $8 million toward Klyde Warren Park Expansion

Jacobs has donated $8 million to the project that will expand the beloved greenspace 1.65 acres to the west over Woodall Rodgers Freeway toward Field Street. To date, the gift is the single-largest donation to the $100-million project by a corporation, as well as the largest corporate gift in downtown Dallas since the AT&T Performing Arts Center opened in 2009.

More about Klyde Warren Park’s expansion >

Harwood Park

Harwood Park Receives $1 Million Donation Toward Park Construction

The new public park, slated to begin construction in spring 2021, will serve as a vibrant connection point between the burgeoning East Quarter District, the Dallas Farmers Market District and the Downtown core. Harwood Park will be the fourth urban park completed as a part of a public-private partnership between Parks for Downtown Dallas and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.

More about Harwood Park >

Green Spaces in the Dallas Region

Park & Trails to Explore

Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill

  • Fishing, boating, and kayaking on Joe Pool Lake
  • 1,200 acres with 15 miles of mountain biking trails
  • Walking trails through open fields and wooded areas
  • More than 350 wooded campsites
  • Penn Farm Agricultural History
  • Explore Cedar Hill State Park >

 

River Legacy Park
Arlington

  • 1,300 acres of forests and greenbelts
  • 10 miles of cross-country trails
  • A treetop playground that looks like a giant treehouse
  • A canoe launch with access to up to 8 miles of paddling
  • River Legacy Living Science Center
  • Explore River Legacy >

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Plano

  • 200 acres of rolling hills for exploring
  • Off-road biking trails
  • Picnic pavilion and kids’ playground
  • Butterflies, birds, and other wildlife
  • Dog friendly
  • Explore Arbor Hills Nature Preserve >

Meadowmere Park
Grapevine

  • 252 acres on the shore of Lake Grapevine
  • Sloping sandy beaches and camping
  • Swimming, paddle-boarding, kayaking
  • Large, colorful children’s playground area
  • Migratory bird viewing
  • Explore Meadowmere Park >

Trinity Park
Fort Worth

  • Next to the Fort Worth Zoo, along the banks of the Trinity River
  • Annual events such as Mayfest and the National Veterans Day Run
  • Miniature Railroad
  • Natural surface trails for hiking, biking, and running
  • Fishing and duck feeding
  • Explore Trinity Park >

White Rock Lake Park
Dallas

  • 9.33-mile hike and bike trail
  • Shoreline picnic areas
  • Kayak and paddleboard rentals
  • Audubon Society bird watching area
  • Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
  • Explore White Rock Lake >

Klyde Warren Park
Dallas

  • Performance pavilion, walking trails, dog park, children’s playground, games area
  • Free events such as book signings, group exercise, movies, music, and more
  • Food trucks every day
  • Accessible by M-Line Trolley, DART, and D-link
  • 2014 Urban Land Institute Urban Open Space Award
  • Explore Klyde Warren Park >

Nature Centers

Who says there’s no nature in Dallas? We know better. Here are a few more spots to take in the bounty and beauty of the land.

Print This Page