A long-planned deck park in southern Dallas received the first signs of green ahead of its planned opening next year.

The Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, along with members of the city of Dallas and the Halperin Foundation turned shovels, marking the symbolic planting of the first trees at Halperin Park.

The first phase of the two-story park, built over Interstate 35 between Lancaster and Ewing Avenues next to the Dallas Zoo, is just under 3 acres.

April Allen, president and CEO of Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, the organization that will operate the park, toured the active construction site with reporters on Tuesday.

“When you see the vistas and the views, it’s a lot of pride,” Allen said. “Pride in what we’re doing, pride in Oak Cliff, and pride in what our community can do when we come together.”

The Halperin Foundation donation of $23 million in September 2024 included naming rights for the park.

Dave Halperin said he hopes the park can serve as a focal point for the city.

“Whether you’re from North Dallas, South Dallas, East Dallas, West Dallas, I want this to be a good congregation point right here,” Halperin said.

The first phase of the park, which will include a children’s play area, an elevated pathway and bridge, a performance amphitheater, and an enclosed indoor building, is set to open in March 2026.

A second phase, that would include decking from Lancaster to Marsalis Avenues, and an additional 2 acres of park space with connectivity to the Dallas Zoo, is still in the planning stages.

It’s a new series between Dallas and Colorado.

Despite a lopsided loss to the Avalanche on Saturday, the Dallas Stars evened the series on home ice Monday night with a 4-3 victory. Colin Blackwell scored the game-winner for the Stars with 2:14 remaining in the first overtime period.

Dallas trailed 3-2 entering the third period, but Evgenii Dadonov scored the game-tying goal with 9:47 remaining in regulation. The Stars survived a Colorado power play in the final minutes of regulation and the opening minute of overtime, and Blackwell was able to give the Stars their first win of the playoffs and snap their eight-game losing streak.

The series is now tied 1-1 as it heads to Denver for Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Here are five thoughts from the Stars’ win:

A series shifting moment

The Stars were in some trouble.

Through two games of this series, Dallas has led for just 1:02 and entered the third period of Monday’s game in a deficit.

But after Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston and Dadonov came together to force overtime, Blackwell was the hero in OT.

Just a game after he was a healthy scratch, Blackwell picked up a loose puck and went top shelf for the win.

Heading to Ball Arena down 0-2 could’ve been detrimental for the Stars. Colorado has a 26-12-3 record in its arena this year. The Avalanche also are on the verge of returning captain Gabriel Landeskog for the first time since June 2022.

His return could’ve given Colorado the energy to sweep the series. But Monday’s win means that no matter what happens in Denver, the series will return to Dallas.

Depth forwards tilt ice

During last year’s playoff run, Dallas’ fourth line was responsible for some of its most memorable plays, including Radek Faksa’s Game 7 winner in the Vegas series.

While most of the players on that line are new this season, they provided a similar spark Monday night.

Blackwell drew into the lineup for Mavrik Bourque and skated alongside Oskar Bäck and Sam Steel. The fourth line combined for four shots on goal, 10 hits in regulation, plus the second-period score with Steel and Bäck assisting on Thomas Harley’s goal to give Dallas its first lead of the series.

The line then combined for Blackwell’s game winner in OT.

Dallas also got a critical goal from its third line. Dadonov — who has played on every line this season, but spent most of his time in the bottom six — was demoted from the top line to the third line mid-game Monday. He cleaned up a loose puck off a shot by Johnston with 9:47 left in regulation to tie it 3-3.

While Dallas needs more contributions from its top scorers, its depth could be an advantage deeper in this series.

Stars’ power play goes cold

Most nights, the Stars wouldn’t complain all that much after going 1 for 4 on the power play.

Dallas opened its scoring on the man advantage with under a minute left in the first period. Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars to tie the game entering the first intermission.

But from there, Dallas’ power play went cold at a time when it was most needed.

Tied 2-2, the Stars spent six of the last 10 minutes of the second period on the power play. Interference calls on Joel Kiviranta and Josh Manson and a tripping call on Logan O’Connor swung the momentum in the Stars’ direction.

But even with seven seconds of 5-on-3 and plenty of 5-on-4 time, the Stars were unable to score. Instead, O’Connor came down ice and scored a stunning backhanded goal in transition with 33 seconds left in the period to shift the momentum back in Colorado’s direction.

Dallas took just two penalties in the contest and held Colorado to 1 for 3 on the power play, but Nathan MacKinnon scored on the Avalanche’s first attempt.

No answer for MacKinnon

In the six-game series between Colorado and Dallas last year, the Avalanche’s top player Nathan MacKinnon had just two goals and five points.

By three and a half periods of this year’s series, he had already surpassed his goal total with three, and he has recorded four assists.

The reigning Hart Trophy winner and candidate to repeat has scored power-play goals in both games for the Avalanche, scoring Colorado’s first goal of the night Monday.

Last year, Dallas had lockdown defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Chris Tanev to help contain him. But with Heiskanen injured and Tanev off in Toronto, the Stars need to find a new way to contain Colorado’s superstar — or return Heiskanen to the lineup fast.

Seguin shows he’s back up to speed

Tyler Seguin only played his third game back from hip surgery Monday night, but showed his return was a crucial one for Dallas.

With less than a minute left in the first period, Seguin scored a power-play goal to tie the score 1-1.

It was his first goal since Nov. 29, with his last also coming against Colorado.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer said he expected it to take a few games for Seguin’s conditioning to get back to where it was, but he delivered a much-needed play for the Stars at a critical time.

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

There are several potential scenarios for the Dallas Cowboys on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and with just a few days until the team finds itself officially on the clock, there are varying opinions on what direction the team could go.

Most in NFL circles appear to believe Dallas will target a wide receiver on Day 1.

After that, other major areas of need are running back, defensive back, and some help in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

MORE: Updated list of Dallas Cowboys 2025 NFL Draft picks entering draft week

In a final mock draft from Jon Machota of The Athletic, the Cowboys perfectly nail a three-round haul that fills the team’s biggest needs by the end of Day 2.

In the first round, Dallas lands Arizona’s massive wide receiver target Tetairoa McMillan, who can not only perfectly complement CeeDee Lamb’s skillset, but add a serious redzone threat.

MORE: NFL insider sheds light on Dallas Cowboys’ surprise NFL Draft plans

With their pick in the second round, Dallas turns to the defensive side of the ball and takes a swing on stud Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, which would be viewed as a bit of a risk with Ohio State running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins still on the board.

Rounding out Day 2 of the draft, the Cowboys finally land their running back with Tennessee Vols star Dylan Sampson, who has been compared to former Cowboys starter Tony Pollard.

“Sampson gives Dallas a player capable of being its lead back. He rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns last season,” Machota wrote.

MORE: Todd McShay NFL mock draft lands Cowboys huge WR threat, bolsters trenches

“Dane Brugler’s breakdown of Sampson in his annual draft guide also made him sound like a good fit. ‘Sampson is undersized by NFL standards and his inconsistent tempo gets him in trouble,’ he wrote, ‘but he is equal parts fast, physical and slippery as a runner and shows promise as a pass catcher. He can have a Tony Pollard-like impact for an NFL backfield.’”

If Dallas were to hit those three picks, it would be hard for Cowboys Nation to complain about the three-round haul. Let’s hope they can find similar value this week when the draft actually kicks off.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the first round on Thursday, April 24. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday, April 25, while the final rounds will be played out on Saturday, April 26.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

Todd McShay NFL mock draft lands Cowboys huge WR threat, bolsters trenches

3 best Dallas Cowboys fits in Round 1 of NFL Draft

NFL insider sheds light on Dallas Cowboys’ surprise NFL Draft plans

Cowboys insiders reveal surprising trade-down target in Round 1 of NFL draft

Meet Kelly Villares: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Rookie