The Parks and Recreation Department will operate the soccer fields and the existing operator of Adventure Landing will manage all other facilities and amenities.
DALLAS — Dallas has purchased a 13.48-acre site including the longtime Adventure Landing entertainment center and Hildebrand soccer fields in far North Dallas for just under $14 million with a new community park at come.
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved the purchase of the 13.48-acre site near the intersection of Coit Road and George Bush Turnpike, including Adventure Landing and the soccer fields, from its longtime owners, the Hildebrand family.
Once funding for park development is secured, likely through future bond programs, the property will be developed as a community park.
The Parks and Recreation Department will operate the soccer fields and existing operator Adventure Landing will manage all other facilities and amenities until the future park is built.
Adjacent to this property to the immediate north will be the future Cotton Belt Trail, scheduled for completion in the near future.
“Adventure Landing is part of the fabric of our community,” said Dallas City Council Member Cara Mendelsohn. “It’s a 30-year-old place for families, school trips and lasting memories. We are excited to see and preserve this community treasure for Dallas residents from around the world so they can come and create happy memories for themselves.
She says the city is keeping the same operator and the park and soccer fields are expected to bring in between $500,000 and $1 million in revenue annually to maintain the park and support other parks.
Mendelsohn said the land is home to 6,700 housing units and more than 20,000 people within a 10-minute walk of the park.
“This area has become a desert park,” Mendelsohn said.
She said $5 million in discretionary bond financing for District 12 in Far North Dallas went toward the Adventure Landing acquisition.
Mendelsohn said she hopes to see the park added to the Dallas Summer Teen Pass program, allowing teens to visit certain attractions for free during the summer.
The football fields should be named after the Hildebrand family in homage to the longtime owner.
Last month, the Parks and Recreation Board unanimously approved the proposed land acquisition and recommended approval to the City Council.
“As the cost of land in the North Dallas area increases in value, we have the opportunity to secure this property to ensure residents have access to green space and new recreational amenities. It is extremely difficult to acquire land in some fully developed areas of the city for park purposes, and this acquisition represents a unique opportunity for us as a city,” said Arun Agarwal, Chairman of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board .