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It has been, though I assume Dix is being designed to take the mantle. Umstead is my preference however.
Raleigh is fortunate to have a state park within its limits in Umstead, but it doesn't function as a city park. Dix Park's master plan includes a land bridge across Western Blvd that connects it to Pullen Park.
For now, however, Pullen is the premier city park, and its future combination with Dix that adds over 300 more acres is really going to bring the combination of the two to a new level.
Portland, Oregon has Washington Park in the close in West Hills of Portland. Here you'll find the Rose Garden (site of many an iconic photo of downtown), Japanese Garden (a supposedly World Class Japanese Garden), zoo, arboretum and lots of nature trails. Forest Park is adjacent and linked to Washington Park. Forest Park is one of the the largest city park in the US. It is almost entirely nature. I can recommend both highly.
Indianapolis has White River State Park (not an actual state park despite the name). It includes the Indianapolis Zoo, botanical gardens, NCAA Hall of Champions, Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum of Native American and Western Art, and a concert amphitheater.
Cedar Hill State Park at Joe Pool Lake & White Rock Lake come to mind in Dallas.
But those aren't really iconic in that they are "signature" features. For a metro of its stature, Dallas really lacks that major park, ironic given the "everything's bigger in Texas" slogan. The Metroplex is just dotted with small to medium-sized parks like those two examples. There's no Hermann Park or Memorial Park equivalent like you have in Houston, and Buffalo Bayou is even more prominent than the Trinity River park, and then there's the huge Bear Creek Pioneers Park just west of the city.
And White Rock Lake is just a natural feature and outside the Arboretum & Botanic Garden, most of the perimeter is open to private development. Mountain Creek Lake and Lake Arlington are similar with small public spaces surrounded by lots of private development. I'd wish that some of the sprawl could be removed to make way for a nice, Olmstead-style park with urban-style nodes surrounding it to become a real showcase for that metro.
But those aren't really iconic in that they are "signature" features. For a metro of its stature, Dallas really lacks that major park, ironic given the "everything's bigger in Texas" slogan. The Metroplex is just dotted with small to medium-sized parks like those two examples. There's no Hermann Park or Memorial Park equivalent like you have in Houston, and Buffalo Bayou is even more prominent than the Trinity River park, and then there's the huge Bear Creek Pioneers Park just west of the city.
And White Rock Lake is just a natural feature and outside the Arboretum & Botanic Garden, most of the perimeter is open to private development. Mountain Creek Lake and Lake Arlington are similar with small public spaces surrounded by lots of private development. I'd wish that some of the sprawl could be removed to make way for a nice, Olmstead-style park with urban-style nodes surrounding it to become a real showcase for that metro.
We have Fair Park. It just needs to be renovated and updated.
It's huge and the common areas are indeed packed. But it's so big that you'd have to drive between most of those places unless you're hiking the mountain separating them. Maybe I shouldn't have said that it's not a premier park, but it's not the urban gathering place like many of the others listed in the OP. I guess it's just not my ideal. I go maybe once per year but drive through often as a shortcut from the 5.
It's unique but it's definitely a premier park. Much hillier than most parks but all the amenities are there. As a city resident I use it alot.
Beautiful parks may not come to mind when one thinks of Newark, NJ, but Branch Brook Park has the largest collection of cherry trees in the nation, and in Springtime, it draws crowds.
But Point State Park is our signature park dont you agree? Even though it has very little in the way of amenities it is one of the defining places in Pittsburgh.
Point State Park is a state park, which I guess ranks it above the city parks. It's also a significant historic site, and a launching point for events on the rivers. It does need more amenities, though. Market Square and Gateway Center are just far enough away from the park to be inconvenient.
As for the city parks, I agree that Schenley Park is the city's crown jewel. Frick Park, Highland Park and Allegheny Commons are all good too, but not on the level of Schenley Park.
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