City officials held a groundbreaking ceremony last week to kick off construction on a new park and community facility in a northeast Dallas neighborhood historically plagued by violent crime.
The neighborhood near Forest Lane and Audelia Road in Northeast Dallas has long been known as a hotbed of prostitution and drug trafficking, according to local residents, as NBC 5 reported. However, in recent years the Dallas Police Department task force has focused on clearing the area and working to bring down the crime rate in the neighborhood.
Now, the City hopes to add to that success by building a $7.5 million facility with playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, a gym, and a boxing ring. The park will also feature an event lawn and multi-purpose rooms for community activities.
Park and Recreation officials noted that the area was one of Dallas’ most densely populated, with nearly 18,000 residents per square mile. The facility would be built near an apartment complex that houses nearly 1,500 residents. The officials said they hoped to provide children in the area a gathering place to play and exercise.
Arun Agarwal, president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, told the audience gathered at the ceremony that the park represents a “new lease on life” for the community and its residents.
“It will be a pathway to this community’s happiness, health, well-being, social interaction, pride, economy, and much, much more,” Agarwal added.
The project will be located on a former shopping center site and house four city departments. The Dallas Public Library, Office of Arts and Culture, Dallas Park and Recreation, and the Dallas Police Department are each slated to occupy the space.
Officials estimate the park will cost $1.9 million to build, and another $5.6 million will be utilized for renovations. The funding will be provided through the Skillman Corridor Tax Increment Financing District fund, the City of Dallas, and funds from a 2017 bond program.
The project’s first phase will include the construction of the outdoor spaces and renovations of a 10,000-square-foot building. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
