Dallas City Council District 7

Happy Pride Month D7! 🏳️‍🌈

“History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable, it happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.” - Marsha P. Johnson.

These words ring as true for us today as they did many years ago. In a time when leaders in our very own state are working hard to strip away rights that so many people dedicated their lives to securing, we take this month to stand in visibility and recognize the lives of LGBTQ+ residents in Dallas. Here in District 7 we have always remained committed to ensuring that no matter how you choose to show up, it’s celebrated and embraced ♥️

Our hearts are heavy today as we think about what our Oak Cliff neighbors are going through. Please take the time to read this wonderful post to find out how you can help.

🚨CALLING ALL DISTRICT 7 YOUTH SOCCER TALENT: COULD YOUR SOCCER SKILLS WIN YOU WORLD CUP TICKETS? ⚽️

Dallas Cup is proud to support the upcoming Unity Cup 5v5 tournament, hosted in partnership with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, on Saturday, June 6 at Toyota Soccer Center.

What's On The Line? FIFA Tickets! 🎟️
Each age division champion will receive 12 tickets to the FIFA World Cup 26™ match between Sweden and Japan on June 25, giving young players the chance to experience the world’s biggest sporting event live and in person.

Event Details
🗓️Saturday, June 6,
⏰8:00AM - 5:00PM
📍Toyota Soccer Center

Boys & Girls (U10-U13)
5v5 action (8 player roster)

3 guaranteed matches

Registration: $400/team

REGISTER AT THIS LINK: https://www.dallascup.org/unity-cup

‼️ District 7 Investments Alert ‼️

Hey District 7, two major items approved yesterday are set to make a real impact in our community!

Agenda Item #11 approved a $16.09 million investment to move forward with Phase II of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail (The Loop Dallas), connecting Samuell Boulevard to Lawnview Park and continuing to expand access to trails, transportation, and green space in Southern Dallas.

Agenda Item #34 approved an $800,000 zero-percent interest loan to help rehabilitate The Stewpot property on South Malcolm X Boulevard, supporting expanded access to no-cost medical, dental, and psychiatric care for residents experiencing homelessness through partnerships with Parkland Health and Metrocare.

From outdoor connectivity to critical healthcare access, these investments will not only change the way our communities look, but also create new ways for residents to experience and engage with the neighborhoods around them.

If you enjoy updates like these, be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for breakdowns of Council memos, agenda items, and upcoming zoning cases.

It was an honor to celebrate the exciting improvements coming soon to the African American Museum at Fair Park - a treasured institution that has long served as a center of culture, history, and community in Dallas.
 
Over the next year, the museum will undergo major upgrades focused on preservation, modernization, accessibility, and security to help ensure it continues serving future generations for years to come.
 
Thank you to Communities Foundation of Texas, the Texas Historical Commission, H-E-B, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (administered through the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department) for investing in the preservation of this important institution and the legacy it represents.
 
For many of us, this museum also holds personal memories. Just two years ago, we celebrated our senior brunch there! The African American Museum is so much more than a museum; it is a gathering space, a cultural touchstone, and a place where generations of Dallas residents have created lasting memories.

We’re excited to share that the first-ever SMART Summer Kick-Off Party for the Dallas Public Library’s SMART Summer program is coming to South Dallas! 
 
SMART Summer is the library’s annual summer reading and learning program designed to keep youth engaged, encourage literacy, and provide fun educational opportunities for families throughout the summer. This special event will celebrate the start of SMART Summer and bring families together for a day full of fun, creativity, literacy, and community connection. 
 
Families can enjoy: 
Free Kona Ice for up to 150 attendees
Free face painting
Karaoke & dance station
“Color a Tote” activity
Games & interactive activities
Temporary tattoos & photo backdrop station
Sensory-friendly area
97.9 The Beat
Dallas Animal Services
YMCA Rec Hub
Special appearance by Miss South Dallas
…and more community partners!
 
Attendees will also be able to register for the Dallas Public Library SMART Summer Reading Challenge and earn prizes while exploring activity stations throughout the event.
 
We hope to see District 7 families, residents, and community members to come out and support this incredible initiative. Help us show how important programs like this are for South Dallas youth and families!

Join us on Thursday, May 21st, at the Park South Family YMCA from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM to discuss pedestrian improvements to Pine Street! The City of Dallas plans to widen sidewalks to improve ADA access along segments of Pine and Elsie Faye Heggins Street in South Dallas.

🗓️ Thursday, May 21, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍Park South Family YMCA: 2500 Romine Ave, Dallas, TX 75215, United States

The past couple of weeks have been big for District 7! We thought it appropriate that, with all the coverage, we spotlight some of the stories that have brought attention to important topics.

Dallas Observer’s “Fair Park advocates push to make Dallas’ ‘crown jewel’ shine year-round” (Austin Wood) features some of our most active residents’ voices while exploring the question: “What is Fair Park? What is it supposed to be?”
Included are quotes from D7 residents, Hasani Burton, Daniel Wood - District 7 Park and Recreation Board Representative, Norma Shaw, Ken Smith, and Delphine Ganious.

“I believe that South Dallas can thrive and still have an identity of being South Dallas, one that is prideful for black Dallasites of many generations that feel like the growth that they see in their community is one that came for them.” - Council Member Adam Bazaldua.

*Photo credit to Mike Brooks. Thank you to the Dallas Observer team for allowing us permission to use the photographs taken for this piece.

Dallas Observer: “Dallas approves $180,500 for new Botham Jean Boulevard street signs” (Emma Ruby)

Dallas Weekly: “Fair Park’s Future: New Strategy Focuses on Sustainable Funding and Community Engagement” (By Editorial)

Dallas Weekly: “$20 Million Thirty21 Project to Bring Mixed-Income Housing to South Dallas” (By Editorial)

Dallas Morning News: “Dallas leaders support changing highway signs to reflect Botham Jean Boulevard” (Aria Jones)

WFAA: “Fair Park prepping for the World Cup” (wfaa)

NBC-5: “Fair Park town hall focused on future of one of Dallas’ most iconic spaces” (Charles Nichelson)