Under the hot sun, kids in southern Dallas left a trail of footprints as they splashed in the fountains at Halperin Park and ran toward their parents, who sat in the shade.

Read more Oak Cliff community enjoys Halperin Park, Dallas’ new deck park, on opening day

“I’m soaking, because I got inside of the fountain,” said 5-year-old Cecilia Veatch. “We got popsicles!”  The treats were pineapple-flavored, 6-year-old Noelle Tirador emphasized, which made for a wonderful afternoon at the park.

The new deck park, stretching across Interstate 35E near the Dallas Zoo, opened Saturday, offering a new option for families south of downtown. They were among the hundreds who flocked to the site. Parents, from areas of Oak Cliff or South Dallas, told The Dallas Morning News the $300 million public-private development was a worthy investment, creating a place of connection for the community.

Related: Oak Cliff community enjoys Halperin Park, Dallas’ new deck park, on opening day

The site is the city’s second deck park, following Klyde Warren in Uptown, which opened in 2012. With the first phase complete, the structure is expected to eventually cap the highway between South Ewing and South Marsalis avenues.

“We’ve been watching the construction over the past couple of years,” said Ariel Aday, Veatch’s mom. “My kids have been really excited. They keep asking when the park’s going to open … It’s a beautiful day, and I always try to get them outside.”

Noelle’s mom, Meeae Dienemann, said she lives within about a 10-minute drive of Halperin. There aren’t many large parks in the neighborhood, she said, and it’s important for kids to have outlets.

“This is really important, in this day and age, to make sure that people from all sorts of backgrounds come together and have a common space to enjoy,” Dienemann said.

Both moms were among several people who came from nearby, or had ties to the zoo and its programming. Ryan Jones walked over with his 9-year-old son, Taos. Jones said the park, which was in the planning stages when he moved to the area, was a bonus he’s been anticipating. He noted Klyde Warren connected downtown to Uptown.

“I hope the same thing happens here, where (Interstate) 35 is no longer a barrier for the neighborhood,” Jones said.

Related: Halperin Park in southern Dallas opens this weekend

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LaToya Vessel watched as her 4-year-old daughter Emmah, who had a rainbow and glitter painted across her face, precariously scaled the new playground. Vessel was impressed with the design of the park and the playground, meant to resemble a treehouse in the woods, and the safety features of the park.

“We don’t hear the highway at all back here,” Vessel said. “I also like that it’s pretty enclosed.”

Vessel, who lives in the Cedars area just south of downtown, said she, her husband and three kids typically go to Klyde Warren. That park can feel “claustrophobic” at times, she said, but Halperin presents a new option.

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As an “older millennial,” 42-year-old Vessel said she and her family like living in the city. They didn’t want to move to the suburbs for amenities.

“We love the diversity, and we love to be in a space where our kids don’t have to be in the suburbs, but they can still get a green park to play in,” she said. “You can still live in a city with kids.”

Halperin kicked off its opening with a host of events Saturday. The celebration is expected to continue Sunday with a Mother’s Day celebration including a picnic, yoga and dancing. Further details can be found at halperinpark.org.

This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.

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