{"id":311776,"date":"2025-10-17T21:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T21:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/311776\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T21:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T21:58:13","slug":"in-southern-dallas-highly-anticipated-improvements-to-begin-at-glendale-park-in-oak-cliff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/311776\/","title":{"rendered":"In southern Dallas, highly anticipated improvements to begin at Glendale Park in Oak Cliff"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Oak Cliff\u2019s Glendale Park, dozens celebrated the beginning of its renovations Friday morning, bringing together generations and marking progress<\/a> for the southern Dallas gathering spot. <\/p>\n

For nearly 90 years, Glendale has served as a cornerstone to the community, said Zarin Gracey, the District 3 City Council representative.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, this park didn\u2019t receive the attention it deserved,\u201d Gracey said. \u201cToday, we change that story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Construction is set to begin in November and finish in the spring. The roughly 60 acres of green space are finally getting a new state-of-the-art playground, restrooms, a new pavilion and concrete trails as part of nearly $3 million in redevelopment after years of planning and advocacy from the community.<\/p>\n

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Speeding cars on East Ledbetter Drive, or Loop 12, passed by as a crowd, many seniors, heard from advocates, including council members and other officials, and the student body and alumni association presidents from nearby South Oak Cliff High School.<\/p>\n

It marked the beginning of the first phase of the park\u2019s master plan after the groundbreaking was postponed in May. The plan, from 2019, includes ideas to fix drainage issues, parking, and improve sports areas.<\/p>\n

Plans are also in the works for a pedestrian bridge over Ledbetter. Glendale is bisected by the state highway. Officials say it was also once referred to as a Black park.<\/p>\n

At the gathering, John Jenkins, <\/b>the park department director, said that the city\u2019s park system has now become a symbol of bringing communities together, rather than dividing them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t change the past, but we can shape the future for the betterment of everyone,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cOur department is not proud of how past leaders, 45 years ago, referred to this park, the park master plan, as the negro park.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dallas Park and Recreation Director John D. Jenkins speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the first renovation phase of the Glendale Park Master Plan at the park in Dallas on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. <\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Vana Hammond, park board representative for District 3, grew up in the area, and said the park will serve as an example of how the city is giving residents more equitable access to green space and recreation facilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am excited to hear stories from residents and guests on how their morning walks will change and how we will have birthday parties and this will be the facility where everybody wants to come and bring their kids with this new state-of-the-art playground,\u201d Hammond said.<\/p>\n

Glendale spans city council Districts 3 and 4, represented by Zarin Gracey and Maxie Johnson, respectively. Both were in attendance, along with state Rep. Toni Rose. The park\u2019s plan for improvements has spanned multiple council administrations, with former council member Casey Thomas and park board representative Taylor Toynes credited for helping to establish the site\u2019s master plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"For<\/p>\n

August Doyle, a candidate for City Council in District 3 who has advocated for improvements at the park for decades, came to Dallas from his home in Atlanta and spoke Friday. Gracey said that even with Doyle as his opponent, he enjoyed hearing his stories about Glendale.<\/p>\n

When he ran for office in the \u201880s and in 2023, the park was first on his agenda, Doyle said. He wrote to the City Council that the park didn\u2019t have flowers.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust give me a rose or something out here,\u201d Doyle said. \u201cLet us smell one rose.\u201d<\/p>\n

The community\u2019s efforts were evident Friday. Speakers thanked Derrick Battie, a community advocate; Natashia Gerald, the South Oak Cliff alumni association president; and Sandra Alridge, the Singing Hills Neighborhood Association president.<\/p>\n

\"(From<\/p>\n

(From left) Texas Rep. Toni Rose hugs longtime Glendale resident Lena Boyd during a groundbreaking ceremony for the first renovation phase of the Glendale Park Master Plan at the park in Dallas on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. <\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Alridge said officials promised improvements decades ago and \u201cwe were promised the world.\u201d As the City Council changed, officials didn\u2019t follow up on plans. Now, she said the community is getting what it deserves at the park, which has been falling apart. <\/p>\n

Johnson, who represents District 4, said he\u2019s seen how long people have advocated for the park, even when the community was ignored. He noted improvements expected on his side of Ledbetter, including the bridge connecting the park.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing people that have stood on the front lines and not been ashamed to speak truth to power and let everybody know that we, too, deserve equity,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

\"District<\/p>\n

District 4 Council member Maxie Johnson speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the first renovation phase of the Glendale Park Master Plan at the park in Dallas on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. <\/p>\n

Juan Figueroa \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

It shouldn\u2019t have taken this long to see these major improvements at the park, but the groundbreaking ceremony was the product of perseverance, advocacy and love for the neighborhood, said Livia Clemons, the South Oak Cliff High School student body president.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many of us, Glendale Park is where it all began,\u201d Clemons said. \u201cThis was our first park experience, where we learned to swim, where we played legendary basketball games \u2026 Glendale Park isn\u2019t just land and grass. It\u2019s memories, pride and family.\u201d<\/p>\n

This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.<\/p>\n