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If you want to compete with those cities, you must offer the same amenities. Dallas does well with some of its museums and cultural offerings, but its outdoor amenities can't hold a candle to cities like NYC, San Diego, or even New Orleans.
Where in Dallas can you eat outside at a nice restaurant in a park on a nice day? That is common in NYC. Cultured, world class tourists demand that type of infrastructure.
I agree with what your saying, but disagree that one park will make Dallas a world class tourist destination. I think the pocket park push will make more of a difference to it's citizens than a huge park that has limited accessibility in a flood plain.
White Rock Lake is an amazing park. It is heavily utilized by Dallas citizens. I would be willing to bet that not one person from another country ever said, "Let's go visit Dallas, I hear that White Rock Lake has great trails and park space."
I think we disagree in what context parks are useful. Parks make a city great for it's citizens. In time, when the city is great, tourists use these same parks, but they are not the destination. To be a destination - there needs to be some cultural event or amazing architecture or something that is the draw. New York is a financial super power, has amazing architecture, has an absolutely amazing food scene and is walkable. This is what makes NYC a travel destination. The parks are just icing on the cake.
I agree with what your saying, but disagree that one park will make Dallas a world class tourist destination. I think the pocket park push will make more of a difference to it's citizens than a huge park that has limited accessibility in a flood plain.
White Rock Lake is an amazing park. It is heavily utilized by Dallas citizens. I would be willing to bet that not one person from another country ever said, "Let's go visit Dallas, I hear that White Rock Lake has great trails and park space."
I think we disagree in what context parks are useful. Parks make a city great for it's citizens. In time, when the city is great, tourists use these same parks, but they are not the destination. To be a destination - there needs to be some cultural event or amazing architecture or something that is the draw. New York is a financial super power, has amazing architecture, has an absolutely amazing food scene and is walkable. This is what makes NYC a travel destination. The parks are just icing on the cake.
Brian
When I visited NYC in May a few years ago, Central Park was one of my "bucket list" items. Yes, it is a tourist attraction in its own right.
If you want to compete with those cities, you must offer the same amenities. Dallas does well with some of its museums and cultural offerings, but its outdoor amenities can't hold a candle to cities like NYC, San Diego, or even New Orleans.
I really dont consider San diego or New Orleans "world class cities" maybe "american class" but most people outside of the US have never heard of san diego (from the places ive been asia, europe, africa, latin america) I was acually really suprised that will living in europe many people knew of Dallas, and actually favored Texas (i lived with a friend from cali in spain)
WHAT I THINK... I know we already have the Fort Worth stock yards, but a version in west end or some where with access to DART would allow tourists to see our "cowboy" culture. I know fort worthians probably hate that idea but I havent met a single person outside of texas thats been to fort worth. (not hating i love funky town)
Another concept is one that im kinda stealing from another thread. I dont know how many of you know this but North Texas is actually the soccer capital of USA. WE have more soccer players/fans/fields/leagues than anywhere else in the nation. How many of you guys remember going to a burn game at fair park? it was awesome! now i haven't even gone to a FC Dallas game cause im not driving out to pizzahut park. BUT Imagine if FC Dallas relocated to downtown with access to DART, Bars, and other close by venues. I THINK that Forginers would love to come catch a soccer game and get a feel for dallas and be able to get drunk/have good time without having to worry how am i getting to my hotel? (this goes for other sports venues aswell)
What's lacking in dallas is that the city is not pedestrian friendly. I go to new orleans, austin, SF and just walk down the street meeting girls, looking at performers, walking to and from different bars. I Feel that Dallas Needs a "strip" or a Bourbon street (revival of deep ellum?) where people could come to our city and just hangout and meet people out on the street.
One problem with Dallas becoming a destination is that people in the metroplex hate Dallas, so they never recommend it, no matter what it has.
Another problem is the cheap land. This creates a lack of connectivity. Look at Uptown for example. In another city, one does not purchase the entirety of land that makes up the West Village or say Harwood's huge swath of land surrounding Harwood St. You get a building here. A building there. The individuals have the right parts, but they never come together. Same with Victory Park. I dunno, its an attitude about this area. Everyone wants their huge Las Colinas or Granite Park or Harwood Centre as opposed to block to block development. That really spreads things out. Great for living in the suburbs. Makes for a disjointed singular experience. I think Woodall Rogers has a chance to bring a little of that lacking connectivity. But anyways, this is probably the largest obstacle to having a pedestrian friendly Dallas. Its almost a suburban development mentality in our inner city.
Another problem is that we don't have the one big entertainment areas that other cities have. In Dallas you have McKinney Ave, which is really divided into two parts. The West End/Victory area, a small piece of Main and Commerce downtown, Deep Ellum, Knox-Henderson, Lower Greenville, etc. Its cool and great for local residents that know the lay of the land, but it takes away from having the energy that a consolidated area could have. I think its a little misplaced that we put as much stock into them as being night spots. Lower Greenville and its location to me screams, neighborhood, pub type area. Nice little restaurants. Its a great area for those purposes, and it kind of has the vibe that many Austinites miss. But we use it as so much more. I think of Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts in much the same way. If anything, we need to be throwing our hat at McKinney Ave and developing that entire area. Especially the West Village area. I mean with huge encouragement of connectivity, walkable sidewalks and mixed use incentives. Its close enough to downtown that its connected, especially once the Park is finished. It has non car transportation up and down the corridor that will only be increased by a completed street car project. At one end there are world class restaurants, hotels and the Arts District. In the middle its a nice hangout. At the north is newer development thats often busy, but just needs that nice extra. This should be one of the priorities of the city to get this area completed north to south.
A big problem I think is our neglect of Fair Park. Any non-art museum type of venue needs to be pursued and sought after to the fullest extent to be at Fair Park. The Perot Museum is a loss, but they need to move on. Why the railroad museum to Frisco? The plan too bury all parking into underground garages, therefore expanding the park, needs to be done. The expansion into a year round amusement park is a worthy cause. The investment of the skytower is a good start, but I think a new wooden coaster and steel coaster would do wonders. Especially if they are big splash type of rides. Fair Park could provide the type of permant, connected and gathered type of destination where one could bring a family and spend an entire day together. It should be as nice looking as the Arboretum grounds. Its probably where the zoo should be. A Texas Sports Hall of Fame should be there.
The last I'd say is the lack of something truly unique. The stockyards are fine, but its small. We're just not really a unique place, and that is part of what makes this a great business area. Its an easy place to actually live. Its an easy place to put a business. What could set Dallas apart? Allowing casinos in an overlay portion of West Dallas? Actually building out the Trinity Park to its potential, which was simply much more than a park, but something Dallas defining and connecting us to the Trinity Forest? Disney World is not coming. Six Flags seems to think the other parks are more worthy of developing. So that says to me, maximize what you have(see above paragraphs) and realize that some of it is actually worth visiting, have some self-confidence(no one will date you if you don't like yourself). Also, utilize what's close by. Who cares if FW doesn't want to advertise Dallas. Advertise, Fort Worth and Arlington and Grapevine and Frisco. I've never seen Vegas telling people to ignore he Grand Canyon or Hoover Damn. There's a lot of good in Dallas and plenty to do, but who the heck would know it. People living here don't know about half of the things in Dallas.
rantanamo I think me and you are on the same page.
Im thinking a re-haul of Fair Park, Make it open year round and with close proximity to Deep Ellum i think the area would explode(economically). Also it would be nice to see some more teams playing at the cotton bowl, I'd love to be able to take the dart to deep ellum get off and go to a bar then hope back on and head to a game.
When I visited NYC in May a few years ago, Central Park was one of my "bucket list" items. Yes, it is a tourist attraction in its own right.
The last five times I went to NYC (not including work), Central Park was my primary destination. After having spent enough time in all parts of the city, I've decided CP is my favorite spot. Ringed with Museums, filled with treasures, great view of the skyline, lots of stuff for the kids, free concerts, and everything is free except the ice cream and the horsey rides. We used to whimsically pop on a $15 dollar bus from BOS to NYC just to spend the day in CP.
I agree a great park doesn't necessarily make a world class tourist destination, but it is a vital component. Hyde Park, Boston Common, CP - all huge factors in the quality of great cities. White Rock, though nice, won't cut it cuz like Prospect Park in Brooklyn, for all its assets it's not in downtown.
The other thing is Trinity River Project seeks to awaken Dallas to the obvious. One of the other major components of a great tourist city is natural amenities. The Charles River, the Seine, the Thames, the Danube, the Rhine ... rivers are a major major asset. Perhaps the thing I miss most most about Boston is spending quiet time on the Charles River Embankment. Besides the pleasure of a riverside park, a well developed riverfront will make the adjacent property values soar - as is obvious in every city that maintains their river. If Dallas can find a way to restore and manage the Trinity River, that would be an asset that would make a huge difference in the quality of life for the people of Dallas and surrounding communities.
The Charles in Boston
Of all the ones I mentioned above, I think the Seine is most comparable to Dallas in that the Seine is actually quite tiny through Paris. But nonetheless by developing the adjacent area, it is astonishingly fabulous, and I'm sure that could be done with Dallas (assuming mother nature can be tamed by civil engineers).
The Seine - Paris
Picture the above scenes in Dallas. Wouldn't it be nice to jog along or picnic by the river. Maybe take a little riverboat cruise seeing the sights or enjoying a boat party ... I wonder if Lake Lewisville could be connected to the Trinity...
The Siene is massive in comparison to the Trinity River with the only exception of times when the Trinity is flooding. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the vision. Wish I could, but I don't.
Moderate weather, year-round. Let's skip the 107 degree days.
Better development of the waterfront, whether that is Lake Ray Hubbard or a river. Especially since moving the proverbial mountain here will be difficult.
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