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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Tasha Tsiaperas and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi.

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New 300-acre park coming to Dallas

A private donor helped make Big Cedar Wilderness Park a possibility.

News

Wildlife shelters, a rain garden, bird observatory and bike repair area could be coming to a 300-acre green space in southwest Dallas, but the final design will depend on the public&#x27;s preferences.Driving the news: The Trust for Public Land is asking North Texans to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="help decide" data-vars-click-url="https://tpltx.mysocialpinpoint.com/big-cedar-wilderness/big-cedar-wilderness-community-survey-2" data-vars-content-id="6c84ab7d-0629-42f3-b3ae-00ffe36410dc" data-vars-headline="New 300-acre park coming to Dallas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tpltx.mysocialpinpoint.com/big-cedar-wilderness/big-cedar-wilderness-community-survey-2" target="_blank">help decide</a> the amenities and final design for Big Cedar Wilderness Park.

Nathan Eovaldi to pitch Texas Rangers opener in Philly

The Texas Rangers are starting the 2026 season on the road Thursday in Philadelphia, where they will reunite with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Adolis García" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/10/27/adolis-garca-texas-rangers-world-series" data-vars-content-id="64036667-200c-4bd4-9ffc-5b4f6674fb7d" data-vars-headline="Nathan Eovaldi to pitch Texas Rangers opener in Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/10/27/adolis-garca-texas-rangers-world-series" target="_self">Adolis García</a>.Why it matters: The long, not very cold winter is over.

Dallas, Fort Worth work to break ties with César Chávez

Chávez's legacy is being reassessed after recent allegations that he sexually abused women and girls as young as 12.

Politics

For decades, schools, roads and history books have honored the late César Chávez&#x27;s contributions to the labor rights movement.<ul><li>Now, public officials are trying to remove his name from everything.</li></ul>Why it matters: Chávez, who died in 1993, has long stood as a central symbol of Mexican American identity and labor activism.<ul><li>His legacy is being reassessed after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-dolores-huerta" data-vars-content-id="a8321656-dc9a-4d9e-88f6-3b9bf3e7056c" data-vars-headline="Dallas, Fort Worth work to break ties with César Chávez" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-dolores-huerta" target="_self">recent allegations</a> from Dolores Huerta and others that he sexually abused women and girls as young as 12.</li></ul>

Plaza Premium opens swanky new lounges at DFW Airport

Order from an à la carte menu, buffet and full bar for $115.

Travel

This hot new restaurant in North Texas has green velvet banquettes, a coffee machine worth tens of thousands of dollars and an all-inclusive menu.<ul><li>Yes, but: Prepare to walk a little to get to it — because it&#x27;s inside DFW Airport.</li></ul>

Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks

Irving's parks ranked lowest among the most populous U.S. cities, per the Trust for Public Land annual ranking.

Plano has the best city park system in Texas, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/21/best-parks-cities" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/21/best-parks-cities" target="_self">new ranking</a>.<ul><li>Dallas, meanwhile, has jumped up in the annual ranking.</li></ul>Why it matters: Public parks offer greenery, shade and fresh air on hot days and a free gathering space for community groups.Driving the news: None of the biggest Texas cities landed in the Top 10 in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2025 ParkScore index" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" target="_blank">2025 ParkScore index</a>, an annual ranking from the Trust for Public Land, a pro-park nonprofit.<ul><li>The report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities&#x27; park systems relative to one another based on five categories: acreage, access, amenities, investment and equity.</li></ul>Zoom in: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Plano" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/plano-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/plano-texas" target="_blank">Plano</a> landed in the Top 25 at 17, followed by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dallas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/dallas-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/dallas-texas" target="_blank">Dallas</a> (34), Frisco (37), <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arlington" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/arlington-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/arlington-texas" target="_blank">Arlington</a> (46), <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Garland" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/garland-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/garland-texas" target="_blank">Garland</a> (67) and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fort Worth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/fort-worth-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/fort-worth-texas" target="_blank">Fort Worth</a> (72).<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Irving" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/city/irving-texas" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/city/irving-texas" target="_blank">Irving</a> was bottom ranked at 99.</li></ul>State of greenery: Dallas was ranked 53 in 2022, with 73% of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park. Now 81% of residents are within a 10-minute walk to green space.<ul><li>City leaders have prioritized <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adding park space" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/03/10/dallas-parks" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/03/10/dallas-parks" target="_self">adding park space</a>, but Dallas still lags the national median for percentage of land used for parks and recreation.</li></ul><div><figure><div id="datawrapper-embed-Ln82Q" data-datawrapper-id="Ln82Q" data-datawrapper-version="1"></div><img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Ln82Q/full.png" alt="Bar chart showing the 2025 ParkScore for Dallas. The city earned 61 points out of 100 for the overall quality of its parks system, higher than the national median of 54 points. It scored highest in park equity, at 76 points, and lowest in amenities, at 45 points."/><iframe alt="Bar chart showing the 2025 ParkScore for Dallas. The city earned 61 points out of 100 for the overall quality of its parks system, higher than the national median of 54 points. It scored highest in park equity, at 76 points, and lowest in amenities, at 45 points." hidden="" frameborder="0" height="400" id="datawrapper-chart-Ln82Q" scrolling="no" data-src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Ln82Q/1/" title="2025 ParkScore for Dallas-Fort Worth"></iframe><figcaption>Data: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trust for Public Land" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" target="_blank">Trust for Public Land</a>; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios</figcaption></figure></div>Zoom out: Mayor Mattie Parker launched the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Good Natured Greenspace Initiative" data-vars-click-url="https://goodnaturedfw.com/" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://goodnaturedfw.com/" target="_blank">Good Natured Greenspace Initiative</a> two years ago to ensure Fort Worth preserves park space as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city rapidly grows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/05/15/fort-worth-dallas-population-census-bureau" data-vars-content-id="228adf78-39ff-4ab3-a5ef-3f703878151c" data-vars-headline="Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/05/15/fort-worth-dallas-population-census-bureau" target="_self">city rapidly grows</a>.<ul><li>Fort Worth loses about 50 acres of open land every week to new development, the Trust report says. To offset that, the city has increased its parks funding from $73 million to $111 million in the past four years.</li></ul>By the numbers: In Fort Worth, 69% of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. And just 6% of the land is used for parks and recreation.<ul><li>81% of Plano residents live within 10 minutes of a park. The city scores well for its park amenities, including having 19.2 playgrounds per 10,000 children and two bathrooms per 10,000 people.</li><li>63% of Irving residents live walking distance to a park, and 5% of the city&#x27;s land is dedicated to parks.</li></ul>Yes, but: Parks are not evenly distributed among low-income and high-income neighborhoods.<ul><li>For example, in Irving, low-income neighborhoods have 31% less park space per person than residents in an average neighborhood. High-income residents have access to 47% more park space in their neighborhoods than the average resident.</li></ul>

Fall photos from around Dallas-Fort Worth

Environment

The recent rainfall may have shortened the amount of time that&#x27;s left to enjoy this year&#x27;s fall foliage.<ul><li>But, you can live vicariously through other Axios Dallas readers.</li></ul>

Environment

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