Before Interstate 35E was built in the mid-20th century, Oak Cliff’s neighborhoods were connected by a grid of small homes and streets. The freeway cut straight through them, leaving a trench that divided the community for decades. Halperin Park — Dallas’s second major deck park — is being built to cover part of that trench and reconnect both sides.
2001 — Freeway Barrier
In 2001, I-35E formed a wide divide between Oak Cliff and the Dallas Zoo. The trench was exposed, with no sign of a deck or future park above.
2021 — Deck Construction Begins
By October 2021, construction was visible over I-35E. Concrete beams stretched across the highway, the first step toward capping the freeway and laying a base for Halperin Park.
2022 — Deck Completed
In June 2022, the deck was finished and used as a staging ground. Equipment and materials filled the new surface while crews prepared it for soil, utilities, and landscaping.
2025 — Park Layout Emerges
By March 2025, Halperin Park’s design had taken shape. Walkways, plazas, and planting areas appeared across the deck, turning the site from bare concrete into the framework of a new green public space.
What’s Next for Halperin Park
Halperin Park is on track to open its first phase in April 2026, just ahead of the World Cup. If the city can pull it off, the deck will do for Oak Cliff what Klyde Warren Park did for Uptown—bring people, events, and investment. The difference this time is the setting: southern Dallas hasn’t seen a project of this scale in decades. Whether it becomes a true community connector or just another high-profile attraction will depend on how well the promises match the reality.
Last Updated on August 28, 2025 by F.E.M