One of Dallas’ most generous philanthropists, Lyda Hill, has put her checkbook where her vision is. It was just announced that Lyda Hill Philanthropies has donated $11.1M for Trinity Park Conservancy‘s Harold Simmons Park.
As Lyda said, “Dallas would not be where it is today without bold ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit — our city is built on seeing opportunity where others don’t. Our Trinity River is one of those opportunities. I bought in early to the idea that connection across the river would help our city grow in better, bigger ways, and this next chapter is the natural next step. If we truly embrace the Trinity, we can bring economic growth to our region, build greater access to and appreciation for nature, and seed a culture of shared experiences on par with any city in the world.”
Along those same lines, in making the announcement it was noted that, “as of 2025, 81% of Dallas residents (330,000 more people than a decade ago) now have 10-minute access to a high-quality park, one of the largest increases in any of our nation’s 100 most populous cities over the past 10 years.”
Harold Simmons Park, with its 250 acres of signature public greenspace along the Trinity River, will contribute to this progress. Thanks to Lyda’s donation the park’s development continues apace, with 12 acres of the park’s 22-acre Overlook scheduled to open at the end of 2028.
Trinity Park Conservancy Board of Directors Chair Deedie Rose said, “On behalf of our board of directors, we are profoundly grateful for the generosity of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, one of the most thoughtful philanthropic organizations in our region, led by a truly remarkable team. Their nimble and bold support embodies their energetic vision for fast, deep impact. What a joy to work with Lyda and her team of unbridled optimists, delivering a park that will make life in Dallas brighter for millions of visitors each year.”…