Carpenter Park

Carpenter Park is located on the eastern edge of Downtown Dallas, Texas, near Deep Ellum and East Dallas. Spanning 5.75 acres, it is the largest park in the urban core of Dallas. The park opened to the public on May 3, 2022, after a significant renovation and expansion project.

The park's design incorporates various elements to create a versatile public space. A notable feature is a hill that provides visitors with an elevated vantage point to observe the park and its surroundings. This addition is particularly significant in Dallas, a city known for its predominantly flat terrain.

Carpenter Park showcases two important pieces of public art. The first is Robert Irwin's "Portal Park Slice," which was reconceptualized and repositioned from its original 1981 installation. The second is a refurbished statue of John W. Carpenter by Robert Berks, now placed at the park's entrance at Live Oak and Pearl Street.

The park's layout includes a mixture of open spaces and designated areas for specific activities. It features generous green spaces with trees, which are expected to develop into a pleasant shaded grove over time. A "Walk of Discovery" weaves through different sections of the park, serving as a unifying element and revealing the underlying planning philosophy through its meandering form.

Carpenter Park was designed to create a strong east-west connection between Old East Dallas and downtown. It's part of a larger initiative to develop a network of urban neighborhood parks in Downtown Dallas, aiming to enhance the experience of residents, businesses, office workers, and visitors.

The park's development was a collaborative effort between the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Parks for Downtown Dallas, a nonprofit organization. It represents a significant investment in public space, part of a broader plan that has created about 23 acres of new park space in Downtown Dallas over the past 20 years.