South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park

• Protect and enhance important natural areas and public green spaces to revitalize local neighborhoods and benefit the city.
• Showcase the role of a high-quality park and green spaces to catalyze neighborhood revitalization.
• Contribute to and serve as an anchor for the Five Mile Creek greenbelt of parks in Southern Dallas.
• Implement natural design features to slow and clean runoff, reduce pollutants, enhance tree canopy, mitigate urban heat, expand the creek’s riparian zone, restore natural ecology, and improve habitat quality.
• Support the larger goal of the North Texas office of The Trust for Public Land for every resident in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region to reside within a 10-minute walk of a high-quality park, trail, or green space, thereby fostering a healthier, more interconnected region.
• Improve health, education, and public safety outcomes in the surrounding community.
• Offer a safe and close-to-home opportunity for the nearly 7,000 residents who live within a 10-minute walk to enjoy health-improving recreation, exercise, and access to nature.
• Acknowledge the proximity to Parkland Bluitt-Flowers Health Clinic to enhance health and wellness for nearby residents.
• Incorporate neighborhood-specific artistic and creative features to reflect the neighborhood’s unique history and cultural identity.

• 20 species of drought-tolerant plants were added, 95% of which are native. 8 bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) canopy trees were planted alongside 6 Eve’s necklace (Styphnolobium affine) and 2 possum haw (Ilex decidua) ornamental trees. Grasses, groundcover, and perennials such as sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) are planted along with native Blackland prairie and shade friendly seed mixes.
• 47 of 58 existing trees were preserved, including ash (Fraxinus texensis), pecan (Carya illinoinensis), and cottonwood (Populus deltoides). 5 non-native tree species previously present in the park, including mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), and chinaberry (Melia azedarach) were removed.
• The park has a total of four rain gardens, which are located at its two entry points. Two rain gardens are located to the south at Overton Road and are 219 sf and 512 sf in size. The other two are located to the north at Cedar Crest Trail and are 45 sf and 134 sf in size. These rain gardens capture stormwater from the concrete pathway and basketball court to clean and filter pollutants. They are planted with native drought-tolerant plant species such as Gregg’s mist flower (Conoclinium gregii) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
• Drip irrigation with 15 bubbler heads, 62 high-pop spray heads, 8 rotary heads, and 36 lawn spray heads are used for the planting areas.
• Several educational signs provide useful information for visitors. One of them is about rain gardens and explains the stormwater management practices and native vegetation used in the park. Two signs are dedicated to solar panels and describe the sustainable light fixtures on-site. One sign displays the park’s layout and background, while another has park ordinances written in both English and Spanish.
• The park’s pathway and amenities are illuminated by 13 solar light poles with smart dimming profiles that run and dim as needed from dusk to dawn. The park also features two surveillance cameras integrated with free cellular Wi-Fi. These solar poles are powered by 100% solar energy and are also installed with batteries that store solar power for use during the cloudy days with 3-day blackout autonomy.
• A community lawn measuring 5,491 sf is planted with Bermuda grass sod. The lawn features steps that function as seat walls and has an additional 998 sf of picnic area with 3 picnic grills and 2 picnic tables that are ADA/wheelchair accessible.
• A 1,262-sf play area designed for children ages 2-5 and a 3,911-sf climbing playground for children ages 5-12 include six age-appropriate play structures to encourage strength-building exercise and play.
• The playground has two climbing boulders called “Pagosa” (106 sf) and “Sawtooth” (115 sf). They are each 10 ft in height and were designed by students and youth leaders in the community. They have an 8-ft use zone around them, and the surface of the boulders represents the Balcones escarpment, a rock formation that extends across Texas from Del Rio to Dallas. A sign neraby explains the background of the climbing boulders.
• The park has fitness areas on either side that cover a total of 885 sf and feature 4 different types of all-weather gym equipment, including a flex wheel and body flexer, push-up and leg lift station, cross trainer, and sit-up bench. Additionally, a 2,100-sf basketball half-court provides outdoor sports opportunities.
• The outdoor classroom area includes stairs which function as seat walls and a small stage covered by a 672-sf shade structure that provides shelter from sun and rain. It is used by the residents and the nearby school to host events and celebrations.

The development of South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park was made possible through a public-private partnership, with 93% of the funds coming from private donors. The cost-sharing among municipalities and organizations involved was carefully evaluated. The City of Dallas purchased the land for $166,400, while the Communities Foundation for Texas contributed $500,000 for the development of the park near South Oak Cliff High School. Additional features, such as rock-climbing boulders, were funded through a $109,000 grant from The North Face’s “Walls Are Meant for Climbing” program. Solar-powered lighting and free public Wi-Fi were made possible by a $120,000 grant from Green Mountain Energy’s Sun Club.

In total, private contributions amounted to $2,100,239 across 23 gifts, including support from Trust for Public Land’s internal grantmaking. Public contributions totaled $166,400 from a single donation. The landscape architect significantly reduced their fees to support the project, and the contractor donated time for value engineering. This highlights the broad support received to bring Renaissance Park to life.

• The successful partnership between For Oak Cliff, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), and the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department highlights the effectiveness of public-private collaborations. For Oak Cliff is a grassroots organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents of the South Oak Cliff community, which allowed them to provide local insight, while TPL is a national nonprofit organization that offered expertise in park creation and community engagement. The City of Dallas and Parks and Recreation Department helped with the park’s integration into the city’s park system. These organizations played crucial roles in the park’s development, demonstrating the positive impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts in community projects.

Light Pole: Solarlume by Solartonic
Bench: FGP by Landscape Forms
Picnic Table: Rauster by MMCite
Custom Shade Structure: USA Shade
Trash Receptacle: FGP by Landscape Forms
Bike Rack: Bola by Landscape Forms
Grill: ASW by RJ Thomas MFG
Playground & Exercise Equipment: Kompan
Climbing Rock: Pagosa Boulder, Sawtooth Boulder by ID Sculpture

Project Team

Owner/Client: Trust for Public Land
Landscape Architect & Prime Consultant: Studio Outside
Civil Engineer: Salcedo Group
Irrigation Design: Heidman Irrigation
Contractor: Hill & Wilkinson
Specification Writer: Introspec

Role of the Landscape Architect

As the prime consultant, the landscape architect led the design team with extensive coordination between the owner, design team, donors, and the city. The landscape architect was responsible for site design, paving selection and design, material and product selection, shade structure design, playground design, grading, planting plan, bioswale and rain garden design, and ecosystem restoration efforts.