Trust for Public Land Breaks Ground on Bushmills Neighborhood Green
DALLAS, TX – Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the City of Dallas and community members, is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Bushmills Neighborhood Green, the first location in the Dallas Greening Initiative (DGI) to move into construction. The 5.4-acre site began construction in mid-August and is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Located at 10600 Black Walnut Drive, the site sits along the Jackson Branch of White Rock Creek. Once completed, Bushmills Neighborhood Green will give over 2,100 Dallas residents a welcoming neighborhood greenspace designed for reflection, recreation, and connection with nature within a 10-minute walk of home.
“I am thrilled to see the Dallas Greening Initiative move forward with the groundbreaking of its first park—Bushmills Neighborhood Green,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson. “Trust for Public Land has been working tirelessly alongside the Dallas Park and Recreation Department to fulfill my vision of every Dallas resident living within a 10-minute walk of a park. This green space is the first of 15 parks we are building across Dallas on unused city-owned property as part of our commitment to a greener and greater city,” added Mayor Johnson. “And I have no doubt that the Bushmills Neighborhood Green will be a great addition to the North Lake Highlands community, providing residents with the natural beauty and benefits of a modern green space.”
Community-Driven and Environmentally Resilient Design
Bushmills Neighborhood Green was the first DGI site selected for community engagement, beginning in November 2023. Neighborhood leaders and residents participated in three public meetings—including a pop-up park in partnership with Better Block—where they expressed a clear desire for passive, nature-based recreation where they could reconnect with nature. This feedback informed and shaped the greenspace’s design, features, and amenities.
“The groundbreaking at Bushmills Neighborhood Green is about honoring the voices of neighbors who asked for a place to enjoy the benefits of nature close to their homes. We know that access to nearby nature improves health, reduces stress, and cools neighborhoods by several degrees,” stated TPL Texas State Director Molly Morgan. “That is why this milestone matters. Together with the City of Dallas, our partners, and community leaders, we are delivering on a promise to ensure every family has a safe, welcoming greenspace within a 10-minute walk. Bushmills is the first, and it represents the hope, community connectivity, and resilience we will bring to 15 neighborhoods across our city.”
The park will feature winding trails, benches, picnic areas, lighting, and a wildlife viewing station overlooking the restored creek. Its centerpiece is a central pond, once hidden by overgrowth, that is now restored to provide scenic beauty, habitat for wildlife, and natural stormwater management thanks to Greenspace Dallas. Native plantings and a pollinator garden will further support environmental resilience and neighborhood cooling, while City-facilitated maintenance and volunteer “Friends of” groups ensure long-term stewardship. The partnership also includes Greenspace Dallas, which is leading site cleanup and environmental preparations and has already restored visibility of the central pond, making it a scenic focal point once again for the neighborhood.
“From the beginning, we listened closely to what the neighbors wanted for this park space,” said Councilmember Kathy Stewart, who is the Chairman of the Parks, Trails and the Environment Committee and Vice Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. “They asked for simple, practical amenities- like walking trails, benches and better lighting- and that’s exactly what the City will deliver.”
Dallas Greening Initiative: Health, Equity, and Climate Resilience
The Dallas Greening Initiative was launched in 2022 at the request of Mayor Eric Johnson, who called for an inventory of vacant city-owned land that could be transformed into parks. Mayor Johnson tapped Trust for Public Land to lead, develop, and deliver the program, with catalytic leadership and vision from Greening Czar Garrett Boone.
“The Dallas Greening Initiative is about elevating neighborhoods by turning overlooked spaces into community treasures,” Mr. Boone shared. “Bushmills is the first step in that vision – a place where natural beauty is uncovered, neighbors are elevated, and everyone is welcome. Together, we’re creating a space that reflects the resilience, equity, and vitality we envision for the future of Dallas.”
Working closely with the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and local residents, TPL is creating parks that are welcoming, accessible, and tailored to each community’s size and needs. Each DGI site budget is capped at $750,000, showing the affordability of the program to deliver benefits for residents. Ten percent of each site’s budget is allocated for ongoing maintenance, which will be carried out by Dallas Park & Recreation in partnership with local volunteers, with whom TPL works to form with Dallas Park and Recreation. Bushmills Neighborhood Green is part of the first cohort of five pilot sites, with 15 parks planned across Dallas over the next five years. The initiative not only expands access to nature for thousands of residents but also provides environmental, health, and equity benefits in neighborhoods that need them most.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $111 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. In Texas, TPL has preserved nearly 45,000 acres of land for public access to create several natural places treasured by Texans, including Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, the popular Palo Duro Canyon in Canyon, Eagle Mountain Park in Fort Worth, and Buffalo Bayou in Houston. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
