Municipal Archives

City of Dallas Parks, 1889-1995

Collection 1991-112

Overview

​Repository ​Dallas Municipal Archives
Office of the City Secretary
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201​
​CreatorDallas Park and Recreation Department 
​TitleCity of Dallas Parks
​Dates1889-1995
​Quantity2.5 linear feet 
​AbstractDocumentation of the acquisition, planning and design, maintenance, and history of City of Dallas parks and park facilities between 1889 and 1995.
​Identification1991-112
​Language ​​Records are in English

Scope and Content

The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department provides leisure, recreational and cultural activities for the citizens of Dallas and the general public and maintains more than 21,000 park acres including 4,400 surface acres of water at 17 park sites, 17,196 acres of greenbelt/park land, and 61.6 miles of jogging and bike trails at 24 locations. There are over 400 individual parks, including recreational facilities such as community centers, swimming pools, athletic fields, and a metropolitan zoo.

Collection consists of real estate abstracts and deeds, correspondence, memoranda, plans and studies, photographs, and printed materials documenting the acquisition, planning and design, maintenance, and history of City of Dallas parks and park facilities between 1889 and 1995.  Collection focuses largely on the purchase of Kiest, Stevens, Walford, Exall, Randall, and Trinity Play Parks.  Collection contains the Dallas City Charter amendment creating the Dallas Park Board in 1906.  Kiest materials include the original donation for Kiest Park signed by Edwin J. Kiest in 1934 and park naming instructions in honor of his wife, Elizabeth Patterson Kiest.

​Organization

The collection is arranged by the following subjects:

• Park and Recreation Department
• Park Board and Kiest Park
• Senior Citizen Needs Assessment
• Stevens Park and Property Acquisition
• Stevens, Kessler, Walford, and Exall Parks
• Trinity Play Park (Fretz Park) and Randall Park
• Unboxed Oversized Items

Access​

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives.  All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Citation

City of Dallas Parks, 1889-1995 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Material

Pathfinder 2—Resources for Researching City of Dallas Parks

Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Parks -- Texas -- History
Park facilities -- Texas -- History

Container List

Box Folder Title, Date
   Park Board and Kiest Park
11Establishment of the Park Board, charter amendment section 62A, 1906
 2Land donation for Kiest Park by Edwin J. Kiest, 1930
 3Land donation for Kiest Park by Edwin J. Kiest, 1933
 4Land donation for Kiest Park by Edwin J. Kiest, 1934 (includes name designation for Elizabeth Patterson Kiest)
 5Warranty deed to Edwin J. Kiest-Simmons survey, land adjacent to Kiest Park, 1934
 6Deed of trust,  David A. Hughes, et. al. to C. J. Stewart trustee, benefit of C. L. Maillot, 1924
 7Extension agreement,  David A. Hughes and J. Huey Hughes to C. L. Maillot, 1928
 8Title abstract, Hamilton McDowell survey, 1914
 9Title abstract, McDowell survey, 1920
 10Title abstract, Simmons and McDowell surveys, 1930
 11Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1889
 12Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1907
 13Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1913
 14Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1923
 15Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1925
 16Title abstract, Simmons survey, 1934
 17Original pocket folder, undated (not in box)
   Stevens, Kessler, Walford, and Exall Parks
21Stevens Park, American Trust Company property liens, 1928
 2Stevens Park, deed, 1923
 3Stevens Park additional trust, 1925
 4Stevens Park, title abstracts, 1925 and 1927
 5Stevens Park, American Trust Company, Inc. deeds and releases, 1923 and 1927
 6Stevens Park, title abstract,  first installment of Kessler Park, 1924
 7Stevens Park, title abstract, William Myers survey, 1925 -1927
 8Stevens Park, warranty deed, Annie L. Stevens, 1928
 9Original pocket folder (not in box)
 10Walford Park, title abstract, 1905
 11Walford Park, title abstract, 1930
 12Walford Park, letter concerning title abstract, 1930
 13Walford Park, trustee deeds, 1926
 14Walford Park, donation of property, 1930
 15Exall Park, Contract J. F. Thomas and Son and land transfer, 1915
 16Exall Park-Dallas German Ladies Aid Society Land transaction with City of Dallas, 1914
 17Original pocket folder for Walford and Stevens Parks
   Trinity Play Park (Fretz Park) and Randall Park
31Title abstract, Cotton Mills property, Trinity Play Park (Fretz Park), 1908
 2Title abstract, Cotton Mills addition, resolution by stockholders of Dallas Cotton Mills, 1910
 3Original envelope, undated
 4Original pocket folder for Exall Park and Trinity Play Park, undated
 5Randall Park, title abstract,1894
 6Randall Park, part of Robert Moore Survey, 1896
 7Randall Park, part of Robert Moore Survey, 1900
 8Randall Park, part of Robert Moore Survey, 1907
   Park and Recreation Department
41Memo regarding inventory of park files, 1963
 2Park and Recreation Department information booklet, 1974
 3Dallas Zoological Society pamphlets, undated
 4Keystone Award for the Restoration of the Majestic Theatre, 1983
 5"Naturally Speaking", Dallas Natural Science Association newsletter, 1979
 6Plan for development of Elgin B. Robertson Park, 1968
 7Plan for the cooperative recreational development of  Lake Ray Hubbard, 1976
 8Certificates of adjudication and permits for Lake Ray Hubbard, 1959-1985
 9Dallas Park Opportunities pamphlet, 1977
 10Juanita Jewel Craft Park and Recreation Center dedication, 1974
 11Dallas Park and Recreation Department facility information brochure, 1970
 12Old City Park brochures and report, 1974, 1976
 13"D-PARD-Mental News", Dallas Park and Recreation Department employee newsletter,
1983-1986
 14Invitation to Historic Preservation League first annual cemetery picnic in Pioneer Park Cemetery, 1986
 15Dallas Park and Recreation Department, "The Winter Outlook", 1977
 16Dallas Museum of Natural History nature guides for L. B. Houston Park and Elm Fork Nature Area, undated
 17Samuel Farm brochure, 1991
 18Seniors Active in Life (SAIL) brochure, 1985-86
 19Dallas Zoo Report, published by the Dallas Zoological Society, special edition Fall/Winter 1985
 20Dallas Park and Recreation Department recreation manual, 1959
 21Dallas Park and Recreation Department recreation manual, 1962
51Dallas Park and Recreation Department golf manual, 1976
 2Dallas Park and Recreation Department golf manual, 1976
 3Dallas Park and Recreation Department golf manual, 1971
 4Dallas Park and Recreation Department golf manual, 1967
 5Dallas Park and Recreation Department swimming pool manual, 1969
 6Park improvements report, fiscal year 1972-1973
 7Dallas Park and Recreation Department Management Study, Volume I, 1991
 8Dallas Park and Recreation Department Management Study, Volume II, 1991
   Senior Citizen Needs Assessment
61Dallas Senior Citizen Needs Assessment survey report, 1985, copy 1
 2Dallas Senior Citizen Needs Assessment survey report, 1985, copy 2
7 Photographs (relocated to collection 03-002, Dallas Park Department Photographs)
   Oversized Items
8 1Dallas Zoo master plan, 1981
   Stevens Park and Property Acquisition
91King Property-Turtle Creek, undated
 2King Property, 1915, 1928-1930
 3Stevens Park, title abstract, 11 acres-Meyers Survey (Merrifield property), 1922
 4Stevens Park, title abstract, A. McCracken property, 1919
 5Stevens Park, title abstract, part of Anson McCracken survey, 1925
 6Title abstract, part of A. McCracken survey, 1922
 7Stevens Park, title abstract, 25 1/4 acres out of Wm. Myers Survey, 1924
 8Stevens Park, warranty deeds, Mrs. R.S. Stemmons, Southwestern Land & Loan Company, 1928
 9Stevens Park, title abstracts, Wm. Myers survey, 1926-1927
 10Stevens Park, title abstracts, Anson McCracken Survey, 1927
 11Stevens Park, title abstract, part of Anson McCracken survey, 1891
 12Stevens Park, title abstracts, A. McCracken survey, 1922
 13Property acquisitions and improvements, 1939-1958
   Park and Recreation Department
101Thank you letters from Dallas businesspersons for complimentary passes to Dallas municipal golf courses and swimming pools, 1968 (?)
 2Lee Park curfew, 1971
 3Summary of parks in North Dallas area, 1971
 4Land management, 1972
 5Appraisal reports of proposed park site-City Park, 1978
 6Appraisal reports of proposed park site-City Park, 1978
 7East Dallas-Washington Park Recreation Center, 1979
 8Park Services ten year performance plan (1979-80 through 1989-90), 1979
 9Long range physical development plan for parks and recreational facilities, Phase I-Philosophy and standards, c. 1979-80
 10Handwritten 3x5 cards on park lands, undated
 11Administration affiliation manual-graduate interns, 1983
 12Dallas Park and Recreation Department delayering plan, 1995
111Park insurance coverage, 1966-1972
 2Harry S. Moss Park, 1972
 3Specifications for recreation center at Harry Stone Memorial Park (formerly Matterhorn Park), 1956
 4Park lighting specifications for Dallas parks, 1973
 5Specifications and contract documents for landscaping at Oak Cliff Portal Park, 1974
 6Environmental impact study of the Elm Fork region of the Trinity River, 1972
   Unboxed Oversized Items
  Framed Frank Rodgers photograph, Trinity Play Park, c. 1925
  Various posters (transferred to collection 1995-020, Posters)