Park It Here

Nature thrives in Uptown Dallas thanks to this dedicated community group

When you think of Uptown, "shopping," "dining," and "entertainment" are probably the first things that spring to mind. But something else should too: "parks."

More specifically, Griggs Park and Anita Phelps Park, the two lovely green spaces that Uptown Dallas Inc. (UDI) maintains and improves so residents and visitors alike can enjoy a little bit of nature within the city.

At eight acres, Griggs Park is an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Uptown. It was reconstructed in 2013 and has been evolving ever since. The park includes a walking path, stunning skyline views, and family-friendly amenities such as a half-court basketball court donated by the Mavs Foundation and a soon to be, new playground.

Construction on the new playground began in mid-September and will consist of two areas designed with different age ranges in mind: the first for little ones ages 3-5 and the second for kids 6-12. Of course, swings, slides, and climbing structures aplenty are in the plans. UDI says the new playground will be complete by the end of the year with plans for a spring celebration event.

Griggs Park also serves as a gathering spot for the Uptown community, especially when there's fun to be had. UDI's Movies in the Park shows a different flick al fresco each week in September, drawing picnickers, families, and movie buffs to the free event. On October 4, Griggs Park will be the site of the Uptown Block Party for National Night Out, which encourages neighbors to look out for each other and will include a canned food drive and free concert from '80s cover band The Spazmatics.

Though smaller, Anita Phelps Park, located at 2200 Cedar Springs, is no less impactful. Uptown Dallas, Inc. has added lush grass and benches from which to enjoy it, and the trees are lit at night for both safety and beauty. The company also added additional trash cans, a bike fix station, and repaired portions of damaged sidewalks. Three art sculptures, donated by Gables Residential, add color and whimsy to this beautiful park.

UDI also is working to turn McKinney and Cole back to two-way streets, which would bring even more green space to Uptown. The reclaimed public space could be turned into plazas perfect for reading a book or savoring a meal outside, and would also up the area's property values even more. Now that's a true win-win situation.

Art decorates Anita Phelps Park in Uptown.

Photo courtesy of Uptown Dallas Inc.

Art decorates Anita Phelps Park in Uptown.

uptown parks promoted

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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