Master Plans

The Park and Recreation Department maintains numerous master plans for projects throughout the City of Dallas.  The Dallas Park and Recreation Department Master Plans represent a comprehensive vision develop by citizens, businesses, city officials, and the Park Board for certain projects. The master plans listed on this page are some of the more prominent studies overseen by the Park Board and the Park and Recreation Department. Once adopted, plans further evolve, meaning that not all proposed actions in plans are implemented.

Citywide Plans

Dallas Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan


  • A Renaissance Plan for Dallas Parks & Recreation (2002) - One of the most comprehensive urban park studies ever commissioned, the Renaissance Plan marks a commitment to reestablishing Dallas as a premier park system in the country. The vision is for Dallas to be recognized by residents and visitors as a city with a great park system.

Aquatics Master Plan

Originally presented and adopted in 2012, the Dallas Aquatics Master Plan was 

updated October 2015 to determine facility types and locations and to reflect new aquatic trends, Dallas’ evolving demographics and refined site selection criteria.

Fair Park

A 277 acre complex in the heart of Dallas, Fair Park has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the United States.  Fair Park is a Dallas Landmark, a National Historic Landmark, and was designated as a Great Place in America by the American Planning Association in 2011.

Extensive renovations for the Cotton Bowl, including façade upgrades, club seating, and press box improvements.

The Fair Park Comprehensive Development Plan builds a vision for Fair Park that seeks to create a signature public park, uphold the park’s historic legacy, support the State Fair of Texas, to encourage economic vitality, and to enhance connectivity with the community and the Metroplex.

Tower Building