Parkdale Lake in for Dallas

Parkdale Lake within a 110 acres of land has been donated by Oncor to Dallas to make way for a brand new park and trail that will compliment the surrounding community and neighborhood according to an Advocate Lake Highlands article which reports, 

“With the donation of 110 acres of land in southeast Dallas, the Circuit Trail Conservancy can complete the Trinity Forest Spine Trail and The Loop.

Oncor made the donation, which includes Parkdale Lake, marking the largest land commitment for the Dallas Park system since 1937. The company, which has owned the property since 2010, started the process of donating the lake and surrounding land west of White Rock Creek to the City of Dallas in 2020.

The lake was built in 1953 as a water storage site for the Parkdale Steam Electric Station, decommissioned in 2005. From the 1930s into the 1950s, the area was farmland.

“The donation of Parkdale Lake and the surrounding areas is huge for Dallas,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in the release. “It will create new recreational opportunities and help us connect our neighborhoods through our trail system.”

Meanwhile, city officials are looking forward to the expansion and development that will definitely invite and encourage people to enjoy the public amenity according to a Fox 4 New article from November 30 which reports, 

“We’re excited there is a path to get off at Scyene Road on your bicycle, jump on Loop Trail and end up at White Rock Lake,” said Councilman Adam Bazaldua. “It’s something never would have been possible for residents of Southeast Dallas in the past.”

What is known simply as ‘the loop’ was first put in motion five years ago, and the entire project is now set to be complete in 2024.

“To go to someone who has not had a trail in their next work and say the trail in front of your neighborhood is the same amenity they have in Uptown with Katy Trail, the same as in White Rock Lake, the same one connecting Joppe is a powerful message that you are all connected with a shared resource that is a public amenity,” said Philip Hiatt Haigh with the Circuit Trail Conservancy.

The vision is for Parkdale Lake to have boat ramps and kayaking that will take another $20 million, which will likely come from both private donations and city bond funds. 

The planned project is expected to be finished by 2023.