The huge multi-million elevated park being developed in Interstate 35E has just reached its 75% target funding according to a D Magazine article from April 21. They say,
“The first phase of the Southern Gateway Park in Oak Cliff is due to open in 2024. The foundation tasked with fundraising says it has raised about 75 percent of the money needed for the park’s northern portion.
The deck park will span Interstate 35E between Ewing and Marsalis avenues near the Dallas Zoo. It is already under construction.
On Tuesday, the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation announced it has raised $62 million of the $82 million needed for the first phase, thanks in part to grants from The Rees-Jones Foundation, the Communities Foundation of Texas, and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. The entire effort is a public-private partnership with the city of Dallas and the foundation, with support from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Transportation.”
Three mayors, current Mayor Eric Johnson and former mayors Ron Kirk and Mike Rawlings, were all present during the city hall where they expressed their delight with the target fund reaching to 75% according to an Axios Dallas article from April 20 which reports,
“The mayors each echoed “Field of Dreams,” saying if the park is built, the opportunities will come.
Rawlings urged more donors to give money toward the effort and start raising funds for the second phase of the project, which he called a “big opportunity” for southern Dallas.
“This is our opportunity to put a stake in the ground, to put a front yard on the city of Dallas as you’re driving from Austin,” he said.”
However, the development will still have another phase which will cost more than the first one. The second phase which primarily involves constructing a bridge over the runway is estimated to cost around $90 million. What makes it expensive is its modern technology that will ensure safety to park goers and motorists alike.
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