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Harold Simmons (1931-2013) was a world-renown, Dallas businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He made his entire fortune from humble beginnings, moving up from bank trainee to one of the world’s largest corporate investors.
In 2016, Harold Simmons’ widow, Annette Simmons, made a transformative commitment of $50 million towards the construction of a park along the Trinity River to honor her late husband. The gift is the largest private donation to a city project in Dallas history. The park will be a catalyst to reimagining the river corridor and transforming the City of Dallas. Â
Former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings helping to seed the vision for a large urban nature park in the center of Dallas. Harold Simmons Park remains a key project for current Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s dream of a greener and greater Dallas for all. This park will bridge the gap between Dallas’s historically marginalized neighborhoods in West and South Dallas and its major economic centers, positioning Dallas to have one of the top park systems in Texas.
Trinity River Corridor Local Government Corporation’s mission is to help design, build, manage, and operate future recreational projects in the Dallas floodway, including the Harold Simmons Park recreation area between the Ronald Kirk Bridge and the Margaret McDermott Bridge. These projects will be in partnership with the City of Dallas, state, and federal agency partners. The result will benefit all users of the area.
Before the Trinity Park Conservancy, there was the Trinity Trust, a non-profit organization founded by President & CEO Gail Thomas and Trinity Trust’s Board Chair Mary Cook, to support the Trinity River Corridor Project. The Trinity Trust raised private dollars and conducted public outreach to develop the river corridor’s 10,000 acres of natural green space as a safe, accessible, fun nature destination for all. It was the Trinity Trust that first embraced the transformational potential of our river as an underutilized natural asset, raised design funds for both the Margaret Hunt Hill and the Margaret McDermott Bridges for our city. Accompanying this were miles of trails, more access points for the river, and life-saving flood control improvements.
The Conservancy Community Development Corporation (CCDC) was created to foster investment and development in a way that meets community needs and reduces displacement by creating thriving neighborhoods with a path to health, stability, equity, opportunity, and connectivity.
We are thankful to local and national partners who have already made a difference in Dallas’ social and ecological fabric through their generosity. As the Campaign for Harold Simmons Park continues, we are forever grateful to all who choose to be early advocates in this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
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