The sprawling medical hub in northwest Dallas is poised for a major overhaul aimed at reconnecting health care, nature and urban infrastructure.
Led by the nonprofit Texas Trees Foundation, the $198 million Southwestern Medical District Transformation Project will reshape about 2 miles along Harry Hines Boulevard and build a park at the heart of the district.
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Lannie McClelen, the director of the Southwestern Medical District Transformation Project, said the project will include green infrastructure, new parks, pedestrian and bike-friendly connections and critical utility upgrades within the district.
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A key goal is to mitigate urban heat, improve safety and traffic and enhance connectivity in an area serving hospitals, schools and diverse community members.
The project targets the 1,000-acre Southwestern Medical District, home to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Health and Parkland Health and Hospital System.
The medical district serves millions of patients, has tens of thousands of employees and sees some 45,000 daily drivers, said McClelen.
The area is also one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city, according to the city’s latest urban heat island effect study.
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, heat islands are areas with concentrated structures and limited green space. They are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than the surrounding region. Buildings and roads absorb and release more of the sun’s heat than natural landscapes.
Intentionally designed
By transforming the district’s primary artery, a vehicular corridor, into a walkable, green backbone, the project aims to integrate nature into one of Dallas’ busiest healthcare ecosystems.
McClelen said the integral role of nature in health and wellbeing is often overlooked, and the design process of the Texas Trees Foundation re-establishes the natural harmony between people and nature.
For patients recovering, for staff working long shifts, for students and researchers in the district’s campuses and for the neighbouring communities that pass through daily, the transformation promises more than new asphalt and sidewalks: it offers an environment intentionally designed for human and environmental health.
The Texas Trees Foundation secured $25 million in state funding for the Southwestern Medical District Transformation Project in the Harry Hines Corridor.
Rendering provided by Texas Trees Foundation.
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“Our president and CEO tells a story about where someone lands when they’ve just been diagnosed with a disease? Or, where do you land when you’ve just heard good news? Do you find yourself in a concrete parking lot? And the answer is, oftentimes yes,” McClelen said. “And so this will give space to allow people to find themselves somewhere else, somewhere green.”
The primary beneficiaries will be the approximately 3.5 million individuals who live, work, study, or receive care in the Medical District each year.
About $60.9 million in funding has been secured so far, with a total goal of $198 million, said Heather Stevens, the project’s campaign philanthropic and public adviser. The project secured $25 million during the 2025 legislative session, in a push led by State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and State Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas.
The first phase, which involves corridor work from Butler to Lucas Streets, is being designed and construction is expected to commence in early 2027.
Project leaders aim to complete the whole project by the time the new pediatric campus opens in 2031.
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Stevens said the project is a one-of-a-kind, and there are no guidelines. She hopes this will serve as a blueprint for future projects.
“Sometimes that does mean slightly adjusting the timeline, but not the goal,” Stevens said.
The Texas Trees Foundation has collaborated with residents, hospital staff, students, local businesses and medical professionals to gather input, communicate progress and ensure that the project addresses real community needs.
Next steps
The next step for the project is to complete designing the first phase from Butler to Lucas Street corridor. They are working in partnership with the city of Dallas to finalize engineering for the road design and utility relocation, including major water lines.
This includes new green infrastructure, such as trees and landscaping, improved pedestrian and bike connectivity, upgraded water and utility lines and safer routes for students, staff and patients.
As part of the partnership, the city of Dallas is installing smart lights in the area.
The smart lights have devices in both ambulances and signal lights. When an ambulance approaches, the signal changes to allow the ambulance to pass through quickly or to move cars out of the way, facilitating rapid access to the emergency medical system.
Phase two planning and design for the major intersection at Harry Hines and Inwood includes transforming outdated infrastructure into an 8-acre park.
This park is designed as a green destination for relaxation, recreation and community events. It will offer a safe, welcoming and vibrant public space for patients, medical workers, students, families and neighborhood residents, addressing both practical needs, such as safe walking routes and emotional well-being.
“We don’t have a model for how these problems have been solved before in other societies, in other cities,” McClelen said. “That’s why Australia and other cities are looking towards this project as a potential solution to mitigate the urban heat island effect and then infrastructure issues, and so to be the solution is a lot of pressure, and to make sure we do it the right way is even more important with all the partners involved.”