The Dallas Architecture Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public education about architecture, design, public space and the urban environment, completes its 2025-2026 Panel Discussion Series on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Forum is pleased to present the Panel Discussion Halperin Park – Southern Gateway Deck Park. The panel will be held at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station. This program is FREE to the Public – There is no admission charge. Check-in and pre-Lecture Reception will begin at 6:15 pm in the lobby of the Angelika. The Panel will begin at 7:00 pm.
Halperin Park (Southern Gateway Deck Park) is a five-acre bridge park spanning Interstate 35E between Ewing and Marsalis Avenues, directly adjacent to the Dallas Zoo. The eagerly anticipated park is scheduled to officially open on Saturday, May 9, 2026. This "park with a purpose" will transform the city's southern sector and be a key catalyst for closing the opportunity gap that was created when the highway was originally built in the 1950s through the middle of Oak Cliff. Once open, the park will attract an estimated 2 million visitors annually and is predicted to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact in its first five years. In addition to native landscape and ample green space, park amenities will include: a bandshell for concerts and live events, an inclusive children's playground, outdoor classroom space, a multi-purpose building for dining and community events, integrated history exhibits, a dedicated food truck area, interactive water features, and so much more. Together with the Dallas Zoo's Master Plan, the collective capital investment in this area will exceed $250 million, the largest investment in Southern Dallas in decades.
