Klyde Warren Park will soon be receiving a much-needed upgrade. The Perot family has graced the park with a $5 million donation to expand and renovate the children’s area, which will be renamed after the park’s founders, Sheila and Jody Grant.
The Children’s Park will be the first feature named after the Grants, who first led the efforts to build a deck park back in 2004. Sheila and Jody will also head the Enhancements and Expansion Project, expected to wrap up in 2024.
“Without Sheila and Jody Grant, there would simply be no Klyde Warren Park,” said Margot Perot. “This gift honors their courage and commitment in developing this wonderful Park for all of Dallas to enjoy. I can’t think of a greater privilege than putting the Grants’ name on the newly expanded Children’s Park, commemorating their selfless service and creative passion in making this dream for Dallas come true.”
“[Sheila and Jody] are behind the scenes advocates for Klyde Warren Park,” said Kit Sawers, President of the beloved Dallas park. “They traveled around the country and around the world before the park was built to see what the best amenities [were] that they could bring to Dallas. And it was very important to them that everything in Klyde Warren Park be free. They are truly unsung heroes.”
The Grants expressed their gratitude in a release on the Klyde Warren Park website.
“Sheila and I are beyond honored by this generous and thoughtful gift by the Perot family,” said Jody. “The Perot’s have been such dear friends of ours, and of our beloved Klyde Warren Park, since its inception. We are incredibly grateful for this meaningful gift and the lasting joy it will bring to our community’s many children.”
“The family’s generous gift will prove catalytic to building on our momentum and growth. They have been longtime advocates for the city of Dallas and an encouraging force behind the Park’s success,” added Sheila.
The generous donation from the Perot family, who has an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion, will contribute toward the expansion of the children’s area from 12,000 to 18,000 square feet and fund new features.
“Not only will we be adding a shaded area for birthdays and other celebrations, but we will be adding an additional water feature which people love in the summer heat,” said Sawers. We will also add a climbing wall and a tower, which is a safe tower, that small and large kids can climb on and enjoy that also has a slide on it.”
Expansion of the Children’s Park is expected to take about five months after construction begins early next year. While the area is closed off for construction, Klyde Warren Park will feature special programming for children on the main lawn.
The Sheila and Jody Grant Children’s Park is just one of many improvements planned for the Klyde Warren Park’s renovation project.
