They had me until the Skyway to Tomorrowland

On July 22, the class took a trip to Dallas to meet and greet at the Trinity River Foundation offices. There was a reception and presentation to an assembled group that included real estate professionals, representatives from design and architecture firms, the Dean of UTA's School of Urban and Public Affairs, and our small group of graduate students.

The Foundation offices were filled with interesting tidbits, including the large model of the vision for the Trinity River in Dallas. The model itself was a bit controversial when it was first constructed, with some eyebrows raised over the cost, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Complete with a raft of tiny model houses and miniature led streetlights, the model is impressive, and conveys a powerful image of what the vast series of parks, parkways, athletic fields, and iconic bridges could do for Dallas. In addition to the overall model, there were models of the two Calatrava bridges as well as wall murals of the overall plan. And literature. Lots and lots of literature.

We met and mingled, then watched a presentation of the vision for the river corridor. Several aspects stood out. One was the proposed white water course. The design was pretty slick, using changes in elevation to create a course that paralleled the river but flowed in the opposite direction, then switched back to flow in the same direction so that a kayaker could take a trip, then walk up some stairs and start all over again. The Trinity Forest area was also interesting, allowing a very natural, almost wilderness experience within a large city. A decommissioned and repurposed bridge that would be analogous to New York's Highline park is another intriguing aspect of the overall plan.

The design was good and well thought out, but the organization, support, funding, and timeline were all a little more murky. Dallas approved over $200 million in bonds to begin construction of infrastructure for the plan, but has run into difficulties with the location of the proposed parkway and the structural integrity of the levees. The plan is massive, and will require an enormous commitment of time and effort, but seems to be largely based on the hopes that it will all work out one day.

There are plans for real estate development to take advantage of the amenities created by the plan, but these are also sometimes fanciful in conception. The vision offers opportunities to better connect Oak Cliff and Downtown, but certain aspects seem off. The main downtown gateway will be immediately below the Lew Starrett Justice Center, which deter young mothers from taking their toddlers for a stroll. Proposed Oak Cliff side development is linked to Downtown Dallas (at least in part) via a aerial tram. The artwork reminded me of Disney World's Skyway to Tomorrowland (a bit of 1960's technology which has, I believe, been closed). In total, the plan does not always parse well.

If much of this plan actually gets built, it will provide a great deal for Dallas. Not the least will be ample opportunity for additional development to take advantage of the amenities within the park system. It will be interesting to compare and contrast this plan with the Fort Worth vision.