The Southern Gateway Park is a transformative project in Dallas, creating a new park that spans I-35E in Southern Dallas. Dallas’ next deck park promises to bring hope and prosperity as it reconnects divided neighborhoods south of downtown Dallas, knitting together the fabric of our great city. The initial outreach efforts that would inform the park’s design started during the Covid-19 pandemic in the summer of 20202 and resulted in quarantine safety precautions. The challenge of conducting traditional public and stakeholder input sessions would have to be tackled in an entirely different way. The sessions would have to be conducted entirely virtually. The initial outreach effort had more than 140 people participate and received more than 220 written comments and questions. The virtual environment of the public meetings allowed more people to participate because they could do so from home and enabled people to feel more comfortable and free to ask questions. The resulting park programming and design are largely derived from the feedback gathered through the engagement process.

Concurrently, C-Suite Consulting led an innovative outreach plan, in collaboration with residents and other stakeholders, to identify, assess, and prioritize the existing needs and assets of the community. C-Suite Consulting examined ways that the park can positively and holistically impact the community in six key areas: Safe and Stable Neighborhoods, Economic Development, Diverse Housing Stock, Education Opportunities for Children & Adults, Health and Wellness, and Historical and Cultural Values. The final equitable development plan is structured to offer a summary of existing conditions. It suggests several ways to leverage the park investment to achieve equitable growth and equitably  benefit existing residents and those new and returning to the Oak Cliff community.