Dallas turns an empty industrial lot into downtown green space
What does an abandoned industrial parking lot and a vibrant green space have in common? In the case of downtown Dallas, Texas, it is transformation. The space, passed by thousands of times daily, has evolved from a central eyesore into a public center for entertainment, relaxation and access to nature in a bustling city.
Called Pacific Plaza, the 3.74-acre lot is a result of a partnership between the City of Dallas and Parks for Downtown Dallas. Together, the organizations worked with design firm SWA Group to incorporate a multigenerational, multipurpose space. Pacific Plaza is the first of four similarly planned parks in the area.
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“Quality green space is part of the transformation of Dallas,” said Chuck McDaniel, managing principal of SWA Dallas. “The first in a chain of parks throughout downtown Dallas, Pacific Plaza enhances the quality of people’s lives by offering a place of natural respite amidst the downtown bustle and by mitigating the effects of the urban heat island.”
More than one acre of the park is dedicated as a lawn area for soccer games and community concerts in the park, among other activities. A paved path surrounds the space, offering ample room for walkers, runners and bikers to get in their exercise. Dogs are also welcome in the park, with an area irrigated and lined with granite for their use.
The entire park is landscaped using water-saving practices in the infrastructure of the design. Native and locally adapted plants were used to enhance the green space with a low environmental impact. In addition, a grove of 26 mature oak trees were saved from the chainsaw and incorporated into the design. Connecting all of these elements together is “The Thread,” a 614-foot-long Indiana limestone bench that snakes throughout the space.
Adding art and visual variance to the project is a 95-foot by 135-foot, elliptical-shaped pavilion designed by Heath May of HKS Architects’ Line Studio. This structure was designed to reflect the history of the area, which used to house a railway and automotive center. The structure features punched-out Morse code signatures throughout the curved metal to represent every stop along the Texas and Pacific Railroad between New Orleans and El Paso.
“The economic value of parks is well-documented, but the social resiliency developed through people being together at places like Pacific Plaza has a profound impact on our community,” McDaniel said. “I’m excited for Pacific Plaza to be a great place to be downtown that brings our community together.”
