U.S. Transportation Department puts $80 million toward Dallas, McKinney freeway parks

On Thursday, Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Dallas to announce plans for four “pedestrian caps” or deck parks over segments of freeways in Dallas and McKinney.

Funded by $80 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the projects will include Southern Gateway Park, Klyde Warren Park, an interstate location near the Dallas Farmers Market, and State Highway 5 in McKinney. Each project, modeled after the successful Klyde Warren Park, is estimated to cost over $200 million, with federal funds covering approximately one-third of the expenses.

These initiatives are part of the federal government’s “Reconnecting Communities” program, aimed at mitigating the historical damage caused to neighborhoods by interstate construction, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the importance of these projects, stating, “It is step one towards doing things better. For making residents better off without making anybody worse off. Which is what we get to do today.”

Historically, the highway system facilitated suburban growth but also displaced communities, particularly in areas like Oak Cliff in Dallas.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and various federal, state, and local officials, along with almost the entire Dallas City Council, attended the announcement. Mayor Johnson highlighted the significance of these projects in expanding parkland and enhancing pedestrian-friendly environments in the city.

April Allen, President of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, expressed optimism about the project’s potential to create a more walkable and vibrant neighborhood, catering to the preferences of younger residents.

Planners aim to complete the projects by the start of the 2026 World Cup matches in North Texas.