The top-ranked park system in Texas is asking residents to help choose new playground equipment at Eloise Lundy Park in Southwest Dallas.
Three design concepts are on display at Eloise Lundy Recreation Center through August 1. Residents may vote for their favorite by 5 p.m. that day, at 1228 Reverend CBT Smith St.
Eloise Lundy Park is near the Trinity River between Interstate 35 East and Colorado Boulevard. Constructed in 1915, it is a 3.3-acre property with an outdoor basketball court, playground, softball field, tennis court, picnic tables, and grill.
The Dallas Park and Recreation Department has also scheduled a focus group for August 13 to “gather feedback on enhancing the user experience on our websites.” Attendees who’d like to participate must complete a survey by noon on Wednesday, and those who have been selected will be notified by email on Friday. Childcare for those under 5 is available, as well as “special incentives” to participants.
Encompassing more than 21,100 acres of parkland that includes over 400 parks, Dallas’ parks system this year rose to the top of the Trust for Public Land ParkScore to rank above other Texas cities, The Dallas Express reported in May.
The Trust for Public Land ranked Dallas 38th among 100 of the largest cities in America, jumping Austin at number 44. In 2023, Dallas ranked 43rd, and Austin was 41st. The nonprofit organization assigns points for 14 measures across five categories — amenities, acres, investment, access, and equity. Points are awarded on a relative basis. Each city’s total points of a maximum 500 are normalized to a ParkScore rating of up to 100.
The Dallas parks system also includes more than 180 miles of hike and bike trails. Unlike some City departments, Park & Recreation has largely avoided internal and external dysfunction. One factor is the nonprofit Parks for Downtown Dallas, which has helped the City create public parks over the last nine years.