North Dallas is getting some more green space with the addition of a new park on a currently vacant lot, the latest step forward for Mayor Eric Johnson’s Dallas Greening Initiative.
Located at 18201 Gibbons Dr. by the intersection of Frankford Road and the Dallas North Tollway, the lot is next door to Dallas Fire Station 10 in Council Member Cara Mendelsohn’s District 12.
Cara Mendelsohn
“Transforming a vacant lot into a neighborhood green next to Dallas Fire Station 10 is a smart, efficient use of city-owned land that will serve families, first responders, and the broader community for years to come,” Mendelsohn said. “This is a thoughtful approach to bringing meaningful improvements to the residents of District 12.”
In partnership with Trust for Public Land, the Dallas Greening Initiative started in 2022 at Mayor Johnson’s request. The idea was to inventory vacant city-owned land for conversion into green space. Some 15 new parks (at least one in each council district) in five years is the end goal of the project, with the lot on Gibbons Drive marking the sixth site slated for transformation.
Construction at Bushmills Neighborhood Green is currently underway, and four other initiative projects are expected to break ground in 2026.
“The Dallas Greening Initiative is an example of how impactful partnerships and community engagement can transform underutilized parcels of land into purposeful greenspaces,” said Dallas Greening Czar Garrett Boone. “I’m thrilled to see the progress we’re making with this second cohort of sites, especially with their unique placement next to Dallas Fire-Rescue fire stations. This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration in building a greener, healthier, and more connected Dallas.”
Completion of the Gibbons Drive project is expected in 2027. Members of the local community will be encouraged to participate in the design through engagement meetings and an upcoming pop-up park activation with Better Block.
“This new greenspace provides an opportunity to connect with our neighbors in the community we serve,” said Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Justin Ball. “Along with community engagement, the park will serve as an extension of the living quarters at our fire stations and provide much-needed access to nature, which is scientifically proven to reduce stress.”
Dallas has been making significant strides in adding to its park system and overall green space. Earlier this year, the city inched up in Trust for Public Land’s national ranking.
“Today, 81% of Dallas residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park,” Trust for Public Land Texas state director Molly Morgan said in May. “That’s significantly more than a decade ago. … This didn’t happen by chance either. It’s thanks to bold city leadership, strong public-private partnerships, and community-driven planning that this happened, and it takes intentionality and the leadership that we have in this room.”