A rendering of the future Southern Gateway Park.
Gayle and Jim Halperin recently stepped forward with an astounding $23 million gift to Dallas’ Southern Gateway Park.
The future deck park, now renamed Halperin Park, will span I-35E in Southern Dallas between Ewing and Marsalis Avenues and will be directly adjacent to the Dallas Zoo, reconnecting historic Oak Cliff.
With a vote of 14 to one last Thursday, Dallas Parks and Recreation Board members accepted the $23 million gift.
It is considered one of, if not the largest ever, in the city’s southern sector. It is also the largest single gift in the Halperin Foundation’s history.
“This is a park that has had some skepticism. It’s been hard. People have thought that it would never happen, and to have someone like the Halperins, Jim and Gayle come along and, you know, really get to know them over the last year, get to know us and really understand our heart for the work that we’re doing in our community,” said Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation President and CEO April Allen.
The commitment unlocks an additional $7.5 million in grants and is enough to complete the first phase of construction.
Phase I of the project broke ground in October, which will include most of the features that the community requested in outreach meetings like a multi-purpose pavilion, large lawn, children’s playground, and turnaround for food trucks and drop-offs.
Halperin Park is set to open in 2026.
