City leaders and community members gathered under the band shell on Thursday, May 7. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Halperin Park, located above Interstate 35, is set to host a grand opening of events and activities this weekend. Constructed over the highway that divided Oak Cliff in the 1950s, the park is seen as a bridge that reconnects neighborhoods.
City leaders and community members gathered for a private ceremony at the park on Thursday to celebrate the accomplishment and reflect on the path to making the park a reality.
“The opening of Halperin Park isn’t just a win for me or for our team,” said April Allen, president and CEO of Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation. “This park is a win for Oak Cliff, for the City of Dallas, and for anyone who wants to experience love, happiness, beauty, and healing, especially at a time such as this.”
What started as an idea between Katherine Homan and Paul Carden at a community meeting is now a reality. Homan said that she and fellow opportunist Carden shared the same vision of redemption to undo “I-35’s original sin of splitting up our community.”
“We saw the vision and believed in the power of the story and reconnected communities,” Carden said. “And now today we stand on our vision. We stand on the support of the community.”
An overview of Halperin Park. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The May opening marks the completion of Phase 1. Some of the features of the 2.8 acres include a bandshell, children’s playground, skywalk, and city view terrace.
“The green space and sense of connection this park creates will improve quality of life on both sides of the highway: District 1 to the west, District 4 to the east,” District 1 Council member Chad West said. “Oak Cliff families will have more opportunities together, spend time close to home, support local small businesses including many of our homegrown food truck operators right here in Oak Cliff.”
The park opens to the public Saturday, May 9 starting at 7 a.m. with an opening ceremony and ribbon tying set for 9 a.m.
To learn more about the full schedule of the opening weekend programming, visit halperinpark.org/events.
