Klyde Warren Park is getting a two-story pavilion, a terrace overlooking the Dallas skyline and a lawn that will double as an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter, park officials announced yesterday.

Why it matters: The park was initially designed with families in mind. The 1.7-acre expansion will cater to the 20–40 age group, says Jody Grant, who chairs the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation.

Flashback: Grant says the area around Woodall Rogers Freeway was "environmentally unfriendly and unhealthy" before Klyde Warren.

• Klyde Warren opened in 2012, linking Uptown and the Dallas Arts District. The deck park has helped increase property values in the surrounding area by about $5.9 billion, per the park's foundation.

Yes, but: The park is underutilized for roughly 150 days each year because of heat, rain and other undesirable weather conditions, Grant says.

What they're doing: The park will be extended west, toward Field Street, to add a 37,000-square-foot lawn along with a glass and steel pavilion for public use and private events. The building's 8,000-square-foot terrace will overlook the Dallas skyline.

• "This gives us the opportunity to take activities indoors and we don't lose a beat," Grant says.
• The park will span 7.1 acres when the project is complete.

Follow the money: The expansion is estimated to cost $96–$111 million to construct and another $80 million for the amenities that will come with it.

• The funding will come from the city of Dallas, North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Regional Transportation Council, Dallas County, a public improvement district and private donors.

What's next: Construction is scheduled to start later this year and take around two years to complete.

Universal's first theme park for young kids and their families opens tomorrow.

Why it matters: Universal chose Frisco for its first kids resort because of North Texas' growing population and because the region sits between the company's Orlando and Hollywood resorts.

• If the new resort concept takes off, the company hopes to open parks in other cities.

Driving the news: We attended the park's media preview event to explore its offerings.

Vibe check: The resort's beachy, colorful hotel almost conceals the theme park behind it. Because the target audience is younger than the typical thrill seeker, the rides are much shorter than the ones at other Universal parks.

• The park's seven areas are themed after Shrek, Jurassic World, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minions, Trolls, Puss in Boots and the Isle of Curiosity. There are also water rides, splash pads and an indoor dance party led by an employee.
• "This is a park where people are going to ride their first roller coaster," says Page Thompson, president of new ventures at Universal Destinations and Experiences.

Friction point: While many parents who previewed the park for free have raved about their experience, the internet is abuzz with criticism over the park's theming, ticket prices and shortage of shade.

• One-day general admission starts at $70. Parking starts at $20 per car.
• Park operators say they're open to feedback and willing to make adjustments to the overall experience.

What's next: Universal plans to expand the park in the future with more themes and attractions.

Universal's hope

🧬 Genetic testing helped investigators identify a North Texas woman found in a landfill 40 years ago. (DMN)

🐶 Dallas-based Mutts Canine Cantina has abruptly closed all of its locations. (CultureMap)

💰 Lockheed Martin won billions of dollars in defense contracts in June and plans to do a significant portion of the work in Fort Worth. (Fort Worth Report)

The Viking row will take over Dallas Stadium today for the first of two Round of 32 matches in North Texas.

State of play: Norway plays Ivory Coast at noon today, and Australia plays Egypt on Friday.

State of play: Today's match is bringing another soccer superstar to Dallas Stadium. 25-year-old Erling Haaland is Norway's all-time leading goal scorer and has a large following globally.

• Playing in its fourth World Cup, Ivory Coast has advanced to the knockout stage for the first time.
• Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah is Egypt's star player, but it's unclear if he will play on Friday because he has a hamstring injury, per BBC.

Traditions to watch: For Norway's Viking row, fans make synchronized rowing motions in the stands and yell "Ro!" Students, Dallas police officers and airline travelers have caught on to the tradition.

• Egypt's fans typically chant "'Masr! Masr! Masr!" — the Arabic name for the country.
• Australia's fans call themselves the green and gold army and have been revising their chants to their perceptions of the U.S.
• Ivory Coast's team calls itself Les Éléphants, honoring the animal's importance in their country.