Construction underway on Harold Simmons Park’s first attraction

If you’ve driven along Commerce Street just west of downtown Dallas, you’ve likely noticed construction activity across the Trinity River.

The work marks the beginning of Harold Simmons Park — a $350 million project aimed at transforming the Trinity River corridor into a major recreational destination in North Texas.

The park’s first major feature, known as the “Play Cove,” is already taking shape, though much of it is being built overseas.

Tony Moore, CEO of the Trinity Park Conservancy, said the Play Cove will include six massive, two-story towers connected by suspension bridges, creating an immersive play space for visitors. While the site in Dallas is still in early stages, those towers are currently under construction in Germany, where designers were selected for their engineering expertise and craftsmanship.

“They’re about two stories high, connected by bridges, so you can walk from tower to tower,” Moore said. “We wanted the very best.”

Once completed, the towers will be shipped to Dallas and installed as the centerpiece of the park’s first phase.

The broader vision for Harold Simmons Park also includes a significant investment in green space. Nearly 2,000 mature trees will be added to the site, with many already selected and waiting in nurseries until construction progresses. Existing trees will also be preserved and protected.

Project leaders said the goal is to open part of the park as soon as possible, giving residents access while construction continues on future phases.

After years of planning, Moore said seeing work finally begin is a milestone moment for Dallas.

“This has been a long time coming,” he said. “Dallas has been waiting for this.”

If construction stays on schedule, the first phase, including the Play Cove, is expected to open by the end of 2028.