From Parking Lot to Urban Green Space

The first of four new parks opening in Dallas in the next few years opened earlier this month—Pacific Plaza park.

1 minute read

October 21, 2019, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Dallas, Texas

Andreas Praefcke / Wikimedia Commons

Hayat Norimine reports on the opening of the Pacific Plaza park in Downtown Dallas earlier this month.

Pacific Plaza covers 3.7 acres in Downtown Dallas, on what was formerly a parking lot near Pacific Avenue and St. Paul and Harwood streets.

"The space includes 144 newly planted trees and preserved 23 mature live oaks along Pacific Avenue. The park is at the center of a pedestrian corridor that runs from Klyde Warren Park to Main Street Garden and the Farmers Market," according to Norimine.

Dallas Park and Recreation Department is in the midst of a wave of capital investments around the city. The park is the first of four new parks expected to open by 2022.

The article is also a chance to fete the retirement of Dallas Park and Recreation Department Director Willis Winters, who's last day on the job after 27 years in the department will be October 22.

Monday, October 14, 2019 in The Dallas Morning News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA