Parks serve an important role in our Downtown ecosystem. The greening of Downtown Dallas prevents flooding, creates a habitat for pollinators, and combats the urban heat island effect, all while providing public spaces that residents and workers value for relaxation, exercise, and recreation. To better understand the benefits, Downtown Dallas Parks Conservancy (DDPC) has partnered with faculty and students at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs to examine the effects of converting parking lots and “junkspace” into public parks.

In the years ahead, our aspiration is to build on this progress using this data to guide future improvements and programs. Read the report below.