Dallas' Second Deck Park Brings Community Together in Oak Cliff

Halperin Park's debut promises to unite neighborhoods, foster growth, and offer vibrant amenities.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:06am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeating pattern of a park bench or picnic table in bright neon shades of blue, green, and pink, conceptually representing the vibrant new public space of Halperin Park.The vibrant new Halperin Park in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood promises to bring a burst of community energy and public amenities to an area long underserved.Dallas Today

After a decade-long community effort, the highly anticipated Halperin Park is set to open in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood. The five-acre bridge park spanning Interstate 35E will feature outdoor seating, a band pavilion, an ice rink, a multipurpose facility, and a children's playground inspired by the area's creeks and streams. The public-private partnership project raised over $200 million to 'heal the wound' and 'knit the neighborhood back together' after the highway divided the community.

Why it matters

The opening of Halperin Park represents a major victory for the Oak Cliff community, which rallied together to advocate for a transformative public space like Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. The new park is expected to attract over 1 million visitors per year, boosting local businesses and fostering a sense of community in an area that has historically lacked amenities compared to other parts of the city.

The details

Halperin Park features a wide range of amenities, including outdoor seating, tables, a band pavilion for concerts and performances, a 'Great Lawn' that can be converted into an ice rink in the winter, a 'Tree Grove' seating area, at least three water fountains, and a multipurpose facility with indoor restrooms and meeting space. The children's playground was designed with inspiration from the creeks and streams found throughout Oak Cliff. The park also includes a designated drop-off area to accommodate school buses and food trucks.

  • Halperin Park will officially open on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
  • The opening ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on the park's 12th Street Promenade.

The players

Halperin Park

A new five-acre bridge park spanning Interstate 35E in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood, created through a public-private partnership to unite the community and provide vibrant amenities.

April Allen

President and CEO of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, the organization that will operate and manage Halperin Park.

Pollo Corral

Owner of Lola's Cantina & Snacks, a new restaurant opening in Oak Cliff near Halperin Park, who believes the park will have a positive trickle-down effect on the entire community.

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What they’re saying

“We're a park with a purpose. We're in a part of Dallas that doesn't have as many of the amenities as other parts of the city. We hope this park will really help to lift up the local community, catalyze growth and development, and give people a flavor for what it means to live in Oak Cliff.”

— April Allen, President and CEO, Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation

“There's a rich history in Oak Cliff and we're excited to be a part of what's growing here. The park is expected to host around a million people a year. The overflow of that is good for everyone. It's food for business owners, for the community, and for families.”

— Pollo Corral, Owner, Lola's Cantina & Snacks

What’s next

The official opening ceremony for Halperin Park will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, during Mother's Day weekend.

The takeaway

The long-awaited opening of Halperin Park represents a major victory for the Oak Cliff community, who fought for over a decade to create a transformative public space that will not only unite the neighborhood but also catalyze economic growth and development in an area that has historically lacked amenities compared to other parts of Dallas.