INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY
Project details • Reoriented parking and entry drive • Additional parking • New trail with picnic tables and benches along trail • New trail to connect to existing trail on the south end of the park • New interpretive signage
and basket swing. “Community from all over the neighborhood gets to play together in that park,” McGough said. “It has been extremely popular. I get a sense of joy and pride every time I look out there and there are kids top to bottom all over the equipment.” Future goals As work on the park continues, McGough said future construction at Flag Pole Hill Park will aim to “honor the natural state” of the park by respecting wildlife. Master plans include the restoration of the prairie land and trees throughout the park as well as the wooded areas in the park’s eastern region. “It’s just a great melting pot of city and rural, past and present,”McGough said. Flag Pole Hill Park has become a major destination due to diverse playground equipment, said Robb Stewart, parks and recreation board member for District 10. “It’s crowded every day with kids,” Stewart said on the all-abilities play- ground. “Before, it was hardly used at all.” Stewart said he has been involved in several public meetings as work on a master plan for Flag Pole Hill Park was devised. In future phases, he said the board is also considering the addi- tion of handicap restrooms to further accommodate visitors as well as sig- nage with historical background on the park. The addition of a looping trail will also support pedestrian and cyclist safety. Stewart said Lanshire Drive and Goforth Road near the park are more rural than other parts of Dallas and lack sidewalks. “The loop trail on that side pro- vides a great safety opportunity to get pedestrians and cyclists o the street,” Stewart said. “There have been a lot
The master plan for Flag Pole Hill Park shows the rst phase of improvements will add a mile-long trail of at least 6 feet in width and two new parking lots. Future phases could add security enhancements and additional parking.
in funds from the 2017 bond program working days going into phase one phases of improvements planned or fewer
$1.1M
SLOPING PRAIRIE RESTORATION AREA
UPPER PRAIRIE RESTORATION AREA
180
EXISTING TRAIL
4
WOODED AREA
PROPOSED TRAILHEAD
107.1
acres of land
PLAYGROUND
PROPOSED TERRACE PARKING
HISTORIC PAVILION
SOURCE: CITY OF DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
FLAG POLE HILL PARK GRAND LAWN
MONUMENT ARRIVAL
more funds are needed to support the rapidly growing North Texas region, and Dallas residents would be “fully involved” in discussions before the city proposes a larger bond package. Community members in the Lake Highlands community would also be engaged before a larger bond package is presented, according to Agarwal. “The area is becoming more vibrant. … It’s not the same neigh- borhood [than years prior],” Agarwal said. “It’s becoming pretty dense as we are seeing it. And with that density means more amenities.” Residents within City Council Dis- trict 10 have requested improvements to Flag Pole Hill Park for several years, according to Council Member Adam McGough. He said there have been three major areas of focus at the park: adding an all-abilities playground, which was nished in 2018; general park renovations; and expanding the trails. Amenities at the roughly $750,000 all-abilities playground include a spe- cially designed climbing structure
N. BUCKNER RD.
Existing parking New parking Renovated park rental facility Proposed trail
EXISTING HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
GOFORTH RD.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
Continual improvement Improvements to Flag Pole Hill Park could come in as many as four phases, according to Agarwal. Future phases of work could include solar-powered lights equipped with security cameras and more trails. Phase one of construction draws funds from the voter-approved 2017 bond program, which allocated $261.8 million to 191 parks and recreation projects citywide, according to the bond website. Agarwal said o cials may ask for nearly double that amount when Dallas presents another bond pack- age to voters in the future. He added
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Arun Agarwal, the president of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Board, said the new trail will also connect to the existing White Rock Creek and SoPac trails, which are located near Flag Pole Hill Park. Agarwal said he and his team are working to gain approval from City Council to widen the trail to as much as 12 feet wide. “It is going to become a comprehen- sive part of the trail system, which our city is developing right now,” Agarwal said. “I think it will be really fantastic when it’s done.”
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