Halperin Park

Halperin Park (Southern Gateway Deck Park) is a five-acre bridge park spanning Interstate 35E between Ewing and Marsalis Avenues, directly adjacent to the Dallas Zoo. This “park with a purpose” will transform the city’s southern sector and be a key catalyst for closing the opportunity gap that was created when the highway was originally built in the 1950s through the middle of Oak Cliff. Once open, the park will attract an estimated 2 million visitors annually and is predicted to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact in its first five years. In addition to native landscape and ample green space, park amenities will include: a bandshell for concerts and live events, an inclusive children’s playground, outdoor classroom space, a multi-purpose building for dining and community events, integrated history exhibits, a dedicated food truck area, interactive water features, and so much more. Together with the Dallas Zoo’s Master Plan, the collective capital investment in this area will exceed $250 million, the largest investment in Southern Dallas in decades.

Moderator

Nate Eudaly, Hon. AIA has successfully advanced the architecture and design professions through his focused, strategic, and steadfast leadership for over two decades as Executive Director of The Dallas Architecture Forum (The Forum). During his tenure, Nate has led The Forum to organize and present over two hundred twenty-five Lectures,more than one hundred fifteen Panel Discussions, and over sixty-five special events and symposia reaching over seventy-five thousand people.

Nate has had successful careers in both the for-profit and non-profit arenas. He is a Founding Board Member of the Association of Architecture Organizations and served as its Board Treasurer for a decade. He is also a Founding Board Member of the CityLab High School Foundation and chairs its Governance Committee. Nate has a bachelor’s degree with honors from Baylor and has done graduate and executive education at UTA, Duke and Wharton.

Ryan Blaylock

Ryan Blaylock is a Senior Project Manager and a Principal at HKS within the Sports practice. He has a unique love and respect for sports and how the dynamic facilities in which they are played can connect families and friends through forming lasting, lifelong memories. His experience spans a multitude of building types and has resulted in the creation of venues for work, play, and learning. Ryan is an effective project manager, leading professional teams to execute all phases of the work while satisfying multi-faceted program requirements and meeting budget goals. He is an effective communicator, building lasting relationships with peers, clients, and all levels of management.

Russell Crader

Russell Crader is Global Practice Director for Arts & Culture and a Principal at HKS, guiding the firm’s vision for cultural projects. He focuses on how civic and cultural spaces serve communities, aligning human experience with architecture. Passionate about lifelong learning, he integrates historical, social, and environmental contexts into elegant, purposeful designs that inspire reflection, connection, and engagement while honoring their surroundings.

Thomas Shepheard

Thomas Shepheard is a seasoned construction professional with over 19 years of experience delivering complex civic, institutional, and landscape projects across North Texas. He is a Senior Project Manager for McCarthy Building Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Business Administration from Texas A&M University and is a U.S. Green Building Council–certified professional. Thomas has led high-profile projects that integrate architecture, infrastructure, and public space, including parks, campus landscapes, healthcare facilities, and urban plazas. His experience spans both project management and on-site leadership roles, with a strong emphasis on constructability, stakeholder coordination, and delivering design intent in challenging environments.

Todd Strawn

Todd Strawn, PLA is a Principal at SWA Group. He brings over 20 years of experience guiding complex projects from vision through implementation, with a background that bridges design leadership, project management, and field execution across both the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and international settings. He has contributed to several of SWA’s most impactful public park projects, including Pacific Plaza, Halperin Park, and the Katy Trail, many of which were realized through strategic partnerships. His long-standing work in North Texas has given him a strong understanding of local processes and expectations, while his experience in SWA’s Shanghai studio broadened his perspective on delivering large-scale, complex projects.

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