Griggs Park

Located in the Uptown neighborhood, this 7.4-acre, triangular-shaped park is framed by Central Expressway, Clark Street, and low-rise condominiums. Originally measuring two-and-a-half acres, it was established by the city in 1915 to serve the neighborhood’s African American population. Featuring play equipment, a baseball field, and a municipal pool (1921), the park was renamed to honor Reverend Allen Griggs in 1924. Born into enslavement, Griggs rose to prominence as a local minister, newspaper publisher, and educator. 

Landscape architects Hare & Hare prepared a plan for the park in 1944, recommending that it be extended to the southwest. The additional acreage was acquired the following year, but their plan was not fully implemented. In 1952, the park was improved with the addition of canopy trees, rejuvenated lawns, baseball fields, and play equipment. By the late 1970s, the park suffered from neglect and deferred maintenance. In 1992 the nonprofit, Uptown, Inc. (now Uptown Dallas, Inc.) was established to rehabilitate the neighborhood. In 2013, working with the city the management organization engaged landscape architects SWA Group (now SWA/Balsley) to redesign the park, which included replacing athletic fields with lawn expanses to be used as flexible gathering spaces, performances, and informal recreation. The new work also connected the park’s northeastern and southwestern edges with an S-shaped path, flanked to the north by gently sloping lawn punctuated by irregularly planted deciduous trees. Play equipment and a basketball court are tucked into opposite corners of the park, as to not encroach on lawn expanses. Primary pedestrian access points, located on axis with perpendicular streets along the park’s northwestern and southwestern edges, are distinguished by a metal pergola and modest plaza, respectively.