The mayor of Dallas says he will start a task force in 2022 to try to bring families back to the city. Eric Johnson announced the plan, called "Dallas is for Family," at a luncheon hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber Thursday.
"I want to bring in families in Dallas, parents who are raising their children, and ask 'What do you need for your kids?'" he says.
Johnson says the project will have two goals: find out what families want and how to better advertise services the city already offers. He says "All Access Passes" introduced by Dallas Parks and Recreation for teenagers this summer gave families a better opportunity to see what options are available now.
"That was immensely popular," Johnson says. "We sold out of those things repeatedly in our recreation centers."
The passes included admission to the Dallas Zoo as well as parks and museums operated by the City of Dallas. Johnson says kids may feel more isolated as a result of COVID, but the effort to provide more green space and activities for families pre-dates the pandemic.
"It's bigger than just during COVID," he says. "How do we get our kids out and about in our city period?"
Johnson says cities in North Texas work well together, but he hopes to reduce a "perception" other cities in the Metroplex are a better place to raise a family.
"We've got amazing recreation centers, aquatic centers, golf courses, tennis courts. We've got all kinds of things, and the programming at these facilities is great. We've got great arts facilities," Johnson says. "I don't think we talk about them enough."
The U.S. Census says Dallas' population increased almost nine percent over the past ten years to a total of 1.3 million. All of North Texas grew about 20 percent. Collin and Denton Counties grew by 36 percent.
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