Dallas CEO Lisa New giving remarks at the dedication ceremony. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The Dallas Zoo held a dedication today for the completion of a new guest parking garage, which will open to the public soon.
The five-story structure is located at 727 S. Ewing Ave. Dallas Zoo CEO Lisa New said that the parking garage represents an investment in families, in the neighborhood and in the continued growth and success of the zoo.
“In addition to zoo guests, the garage will serve those enjoying Halperin Park and the surrounding areas,” New said. “Those perhaps traveling or needing to park here for DART, helping strengthen access and connectivity here in Oak Cliff.”
The garage includes nearly 600 parking spaces and was made possible through both public and private partnerships, including funding from the City of Dallas 2017 Bond Program. The completion of the garage marks the first project out of the Dallas Zoo’s long-term campus master plan, which was approved by the Dallas Park and Recreation Board and the Dallas City Council in 2019.
“This isn’t just a regular parking garage,” District 4 Council member Maxie Johnson said. “It is a unique opportunity to unite our partners between District 1, my good friend Chad West, and District 4. And so with that partnership, you will see a lot of great things happening with District 1 and District 4.”
District 1 Council member Chad West added that though he is “usually the parking reduction guy,” he is celebrating this garage.
“We need it to welcome people to the zoo. Welcome people to Halperin Park,” West said. “They’re going to take the DART. They’re going to walk. They’re going to ride their bikes, but there’s a lot of people that are going to drive. We know that. … They have a place where they can go and that will make our economic development more vibrant in District 4, and all of that success helps the ships all rise together.”
