After decades of dreaming and planning, Harold Simmons Park has officially broken ground, marking the beginning of a transformative, once-in-a-generation project that will become the largest private-public-funded urban nature park in Dallas at 250 acres!
Updated April 2025
HAROLD SIMMONS PARK
Set between the Margaret McDermott and Ronald Kirk Bridges, the park will have the Trinity River at its center, with 4 overlooks connecting to the levee tops but not sitting within the riverbed. This will preserve the Trinity River’s ecology while making the park safe and accessible year-round.
GREAT CITIES ARE DEFINED BY GREAT PARKS
This is going to be huge for our city, becoming a “Central Park” for both residents and visitors, funded as a public-private collaboration through very philanthropic donations, with city, state, and federal support. As Dallas philanthropic legend Lyda Hill noted at the ground-breaking, “When private philanthropy and public collaboration come together for change, big things happen.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
🛝 6-tower Play Cove with bridges, slides, wetlands, and a first-of-its-kind cable ferry barge
🎵 40,000 sq ft event lawn for concerts, festivals & programming
🛹 One of Dallas’ largest skate & bike parks
🍽️ Two-story café
🐶 Dog park
🏐 Sand volleyball
🏓 Pickleball
🏀 Basketball courts
🛼 Roller skating rink
🧺 Picnic grove with community tables and grills
🌾 Prairie walk, terrace garden and more for water conservation
THE WATER FACTORY
We personally cannot wait for the Water Factory, an immersive, interactive water play area using recycled water from underground cisterns to irrigate the site. It will feature a playful network of towers, misting pipes, and fountains, all shaded by trees and designed to be a cooling hub for families and kids.
MORE THAN JUST A PARK
Trinity Park Conservancy is overseeing the long-term vision for the 10,000-acre Trinity River Corridor, including the Harold Simmons Park. This project centers conservation, connection, and community, ensuring that the Trinity River remains at the heart of Dallas for generations to come.
LOCATION
This new park will be nestled between the iconic Margaret McDermott Bridge and Ronald Kirk Bridge just west of downtown and will comprise 200 acres of the Trinity River’s nature preserves. The other 50 acres will boast breathtaking overlooks atop levees on both sides, providing unparalleled views of the city skyline and the stunning greenery along the Trinity. Plus the park will even be connected to the Katy Trail via the East Overlook!
P.S. there will be around 280 parking spots nearby to help visitors access all of these experiences.
