Trinity River Park
The city of Dallas, Texas is set to develop what is being described as ‘one of America’s greatest urban parks’.
Designs for the 10,000-acre Trinity River Park by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), were unveiled by Mayor Mike Rawlings earlier in the year, and in October 2016, a $50 million donation from Annette Simmons in honour of her late husband Harold Simmons, pushed the project closer to becoming a reality.
The park will be 10 times the size of New York’s Central Park and will comprise 7,000-acres of the Great Trinity Forest, 2,000-acres of space between the Trinity River levees, and 1,000-acres of space that has already been developed.
Following the ideas guiding landscape urbanism, the designs connect the river with the city, creating a ‘beautiful and naturalistic network of trails, meadows and lakes’. The area between the land and river will restore the ‘ecological function and natural beauty of the channel and its banks’, while also providing protection from the severe flooding that has blighted the city in recent decades.
MVVA will work in collaboration with a wide range of engineers and other specialists to ensure the park's infrastructure is sound, adaptable and accessible.
Following the donation, moves are being made to name the park The Harold Simmons Park, subject to City Council approval.
Content and images courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.