Landscape Architect Articles

LASN November 2010 Stewardship: Sequesting CO2 in the CBD of Dallas: Gateway Forest Park11-01-10 | News

Sequesting CO₂ in the CBD of Dallas: Gateway Forest Park

By Lara Moffat, MLA, Director of Marketing, Lambert?EUR??,,????'?????<

Located in the largest arts district in the country and east of the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park, is a carbon sequestration site that joins in on Dallas most recent age of park building. Led by Lambert?EUR??,,????'?????<

Connecting uptown to downtown, in the northeast corner of the central business district, is a pie shaped 6.5 acre lot owned by the Texas Department of Transportation. In that space exists a planting of approximately 800 trees developed as an urban forest by Texas Trees Foundation (TTF) as an honorarium to Trammell Crow: a Dallas developer, a philanthropist, an advocate of the arts and environment, and was named by George H.W. Bush as a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Contemplative seating areas through the geometric plantings of the Art Walk will be sited for relaxation and enjoyment of the installations.

TTF is focused on education and creation of ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Arts, People and Environment
The partnership between state and non-profit was conceived as a research site for sequestering of CO₂ and pollutants/particulates. As an urban sequestration forest, the residents, PIDs, council members, and local firms have supported the concept. However, with the growth of the Arts District, and due to the prime location between uptown and downtown, it is an ideal site for research, recreation and connectivity. Two Dallas firms, which have aided the project since outset, Lambert Landscape Company and Moore Tree Care, have been instrumental in further developing this green space into Gateway Forest Park. When completed, the project ?EUR??,,????'?????<

A performance stage, walk/run paths, and 2 dog parks, for small and large canines, will provide exercise opportunities for local residents and pets.

Function and Form in Balance
The area where Gateway Forest Park sits is an urban heat island, with extreme volumes of traffic generated from 3 interstate systems. Currently the plantings lower the surrounding area?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lambert?EUR??,,????'?????<www.lamberts.net