Follow-up: West Dallas neighbors ask for jobs, property tax relief as Harold Simmons Park construction begins
Construction on Harold Simmons Park officially begins on Tuesday on the West Overlook, located on West Dallas’ side of the Trinity River, off Commerce Street. This area will eventually be a hub for community activities, featuring amenities like a dog park, skate park, and venues for movie nights and concerts.
For the first year, however, the site primarily will be focused on foundational work or, as Trinity Park Conservancy CEO Tony Moore puts it, “moving dirt around.” Moore explains that substantial infrastructure work — drainage, plumbing and electrical — will take place before any visible structures emerge. The initial work should last a year before progress becomes more tangible.
“So much infrastructure has to go into the ground,” Moore says, adding that the conservancy has already raised $160 million of the $325 million budget needed for the entire park project.
“If you’re breaking ground, you have got jobs coming,” says Paula Hutchison, a longtime Gilbert-Emory resident. She recently met with Moore to discuss promoting local employment opportunities.
Hutchison notes a change in tone, saying this time, she feels like she is being heard.
“There’s a sincerity here that we haven’t seen from other groups that have bounced through and moved on” from West Dallas, Hutchison says. “Believe me, we’ve seen a lot of them come and go.”
Conservancy commits to job access for West Dallas residents
Last November, Moore met with Hutchison and other West Dallas community leaders to present final plans for the new 10,000-square-foot park. That meeting grew tense as local residents voiced frustration over their exclusion from the planning process. Hutchison, among others, criticized the lack of community engagement.
“We’ve already had to stand back and watch the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge happen to us,” Hutchison said at the time. “No one tried to ask us to participate.”
The community was clear about its two main concerns: jobs and property tax relief for the neighbors who called West Dallas home before the City and other developers decided it was worth investment. Residents feared the new park would fuel gentrification, exacerbating already rising property taxes and making the neighborhood unaffordable for its working-class families.
Although Moore acknowledged that he couldn’t stop gentrification, he did commit to ensuring local residents had access to jobs the park would create. Moore told the late West Dallas community leader Raul Reyes Jr. that he was “committed to doing whatever we need to do” to make that happen.
Promises delivered: Job fairs and workforce funds
By summer, Moore’s words began translating into action. The conservancy hosted a job fair at Dallas College West Dallas Center in June, drawing more than 500 attendees. More than 30 partners, including general contractor Beck Construction, were on hand to discuss job openings and certifications.
While job fairs can be difficult to measure solely by placements, Moore says, around 15 people were hired on the spot. Additionally, 120 people earned certifications that will qualify them for future jobs, and 130 others received professional development support.
