From painting traffic lights to repairing old store fronts, beautification efforts and improvement projects in downtown Dallas started more than a year ago in preparation for the World Cup. But most of the changes are here to stay.
Downtown Dallas Inc. has completed or is working on 73 projects ahead of this summer’s tourist influx. The remaining projects are expected to be completed by Memorial Day.
“They can be big or small,” Chief Experience Officer Shalissa Perry said. “It could be as small as fixing a trip hazard, such as a broken paver under a tree, or updating entire medians, planting trees [or] upgrading lighting in our parks.”
DDI has spent almost $1 million on “large-impact evergreen projects,” with the help of a one cent increase to the public improvement district rate approved by its board. The public improvement district is a property value-based tax. It is currently $0.139 per $100 of appraised property value, and the city has a $0.15 cap.
“We’re really focusing on projects we knew needed to be done and would last long beyond FIFA,” Perry said. “Things we didn’t have the funds to do with our regular budget. We were able to increase that budget slightly to do these projects that would make a bigger impact.”
The city’s Office of Special Events and the nonprofit DDI have prioritized creating car-free pedestrian zones, specifically on Main, Market, Akard and Harwood streets. The street closures were tested during Halloween’s “Trick or Treat on Downtown Streets” last year. The nonprofit wanted to focus on corridors that connected destinations to downtown Dallas. Other areas of focus include Klyde Warren Park, AT&T Discovery District, Dallas Farmer’s Market and the West End.
This means designated streets will be closed to cars at specific dates and times. The following closures will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 20 and 27, and July 4 and 11.
In addition, there will be no parking on Main Street and no allocated rideshare lots.
Art installations will be placed in Main Street Garden and will be visible to the public starting the first week in June. Water refill stations and misting stations will be installed at Main Street Garden and Harwood Park to help visitors stay cool during hot weather.
“These things are here to improve the space for our residents and visitors,” Perry said.
The city has spent $5 million on transportation infrastructure improvements downtown ahead of FIFA. The funding comes from the Convention & Event Services budget. The main downtown projects have included reconstructing intersections, pavement and sidewalk improvements, and new and upgraded traffic signals.
Dallas City Council authorized $15 million for the International Broadcast Center, which will be at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center downtown on South Griffin Street.