Ambivalence Over Dallas 'Deck Park' Proposal

As the Southern Gateway project moves forward in the state approval process, a component proposal for a cap park over Interstate 35E hangs in the balance.

May 27, 2016, 1pm PDT | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

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"A Dallas City Council committee voted Monday to support building a 5.5-acre deck above Interstate 35E near the Dallas Zoo," reports Robert Wilonsky. "But that support wasn’t exactly overwhelming."

The proposal to cap Interstate 35E is part of the $625 million Southern Gateway project, which has encountered controversy in the past over its plan to add toll lanes to two Dallas-area highways.

The recent opposition to the cap park plan, however, came from residents and businesses along the corridor, "some of whom are concerned about being displaced in favor of 5 acres of green space."

Wilonsky's coverage includes details of the four options on the table for the I-35E deck park, ranging in potential cost from an estimated $35.4 million to $118 million. As for the Southern Gateway project, "TxDOT’s hoping to hold a public hearing later this summer in order to get environmental clearance for the Southern Gateway project, and come August it hopes to issue a request for proposals." Thus, the clock for the deck park proposal is ticking.

Full Story:

Dallas wants a deck park over I-35E near the zoo, but will giant price tag sink council’s support?

Published on Monday, May 23, 2016 in The Dallas Morning News