Higher and Higher

Ascend to new heights with 3 of Dallas-Fort Worth's best climbing gyms

Oso Climbing Gyms specializes in bouldering.

Oso Climbing Gyms/Facebook

You might have been hitting the gym more than the trails lately because Texas in the summer is no joke, and air conditioning is a must.

But if lifting weights and running on the treadmill has you yawning with boredom, consider challenging your body in a different way — with rock climbing.

Your body becomes the resistance as you hoist yourself up man-made walls studded with toe-holds and divots, all safely strapped into a harness with professionals making sure you don't take a tumble.

If you're ready to try it, here's a closer look at three of the best spots for indoor rock climbing in Dallas-Fort Worth:

Movement
What it is: The newest addition to the bunch, Movement is opening in The Hill in October (in the former space of Candytopia and Treehouse). It comes from El Cap, which owns a nationwide network of indoor climbing facilities that also include Earth Treks and Planet Granite. If that last name sounds familiar, that's because Movement was originally supposed to be a Planet Granite, but underwent a name change.

What it offers: Bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing, as well as amenities like yoga studios, functional fitness, cardio zones, and climbing gear shops. Each facility caters to participants of all abilities — from competitive athletes to weekend adventurers and families.

Fun fact: A second location is planned for the Design District in 2022.

Summit Climbing, Yoga and Fitness
What it is: Three locations in Dallas, one in Denton, one in Fort Worth, and two in Oklahoma give Summit quite the presence, but founder Kyle Clinkscales has always been determined to make climbing accessible to all and break down the socioeconomic barriers that usually hinder the sport. There's even a scholarship program.

What it offers: Personal and group training classes, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, and yoga classes. Its big event is called 12 Hours of Summit Suffering, and challenges teams of two to scale as many routes and boulders across Summit locations within a 12-hour time period.

Fun fact: The Plano location is the largest climbing gym in DFW, with 5,000 square feet of bouldering and 20,000 square feet of roped climbing with 55 foot walls.

Oso Climbing Gyms
What it is: Bouldering only, but it's so luxe you probably won't mind. A lot of the classes are themed (BIPOC meet-up, climbing fundamentals, etc.) and there's very much a group mentality.

What it offers: In addition to the walls, take advantage of 36,000 square feet of gym space, saunas, elite fitness area/classes, yoga studio, showers, locker rooms, workspace, and coffee, beer, wine, and fresh foods.

Fun fact: A day pass is just $22 and includes free rental of your climbing shoes.

promoted sports fitness health

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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