Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson officially launched a new Dallas Parks Coalition this week to support public parks throughout Dallas.
The coalition is made up of 17 organizations working alongside the City to preserve and grow parks and green space throughout the City.
Mayor Johnson joined some of the Dallas park system's fiercest advocates for the launch of the new Dallas Parks Coalition. The Coalition's organized advocacy will equip Dallas with a competitive advantage as we work to become the major city with the best park system in Texas! pic.twitter.com/aHYFo6I68O
— Office of Mayor Eric L. Johnson (@DallasMayor) August 28, 2023
“Parks are what I consider to be critical infrastructure in a modern city,” Johnson said Monday, pointing to Klyde Warren Park as an example of Dallas’ commitment to green space and walkability for City residents, per Audacy.
“We’ve become a model for not only other cities in the United States but around the world,” he added. “There are cities all over now working to create their own versions of Klyde Warren Park.”
Johnson also said more public parks will make Dallas more appealing to prospective residents and businesses.
“It’s going to equip Dallas with a genuine competitive advantage as we pursue our mission to become the major city with the best park system in the entire State of Texas,” he said.
Mayor Johnson said he supports the Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s request for $398 million from the upcoming 2024 Captial Bond Program, which is currently set to total $1 billion. Public parks have been one of Johnson’s top three priorities, alongside property tax reform and public safety.
Dallas Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins said he has “never met any mayor that’s been so supportive of this park system the way this mayor has been,” reported NBC 5 DFW.
In April, Johnson named the City’s first “greening czar” responsible for leading efforts to transform vacant land into community greenspaces, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Several City departments are vying for the limited funding available in the upcoming bond election. The Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue are requesting $465 million and $265 million, respectively.
Some City officials have suggested delaying the bond election from May to November in order to raise more funding, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“As a collective, we will decide what we do with this bond program,” Johnson said Monday, per NBC 5. “But I wanted to make sure parks are front and center.”