Greener Dallas, Greater Dallas: Building Parks and Equity with Molly Morgan

🌳 Episode Summary:
In this episode, Shawn and Ryan sit down with Molly Morgan, the Texas Executive Director of the Trust for Public Land, to explore how parks are transforming Dallas communities — one green space at a time. From her early days as a landscape architecture intern to leading multimillion-dollar campaigns, Molly shares how equitable park access is improving quality of life and advancing health, community, and sustainability across the city.Molly also offers insight into the Greener Dallas, Greater Dallas campaign, the restoration of Five Mile Creek, and the opening of Judge Charles R. Rose Park. It's a powerful discussion about the importance of community engagement, mental health, and how even a simple walk in the park can make a lasting difference.
Interview Begins @8:00

🎧 In This Episode:

• The rise of Dallas in national ParkScore rankings
• Molly’s personal journey as a new mom and the mental health value of nearby parks
• What it took to bring Judge Charles R. Rose Park to life
• How the Greener Dallas, Greater Dallas campaign is adding 18 new parks and 17 miles of trails
• Why a daily dose of nature can reduce stress, cortisol levels, and health disparities
• The critical role of community in every phase of park design and implementation

📍 Key Takeaways:

• Dallas has jumped from 54% to 81% of residents with access to a park within 10 minutes.
• Over $28M in federal funds has been raised for the Five Mile Creek Greenbelt trail.
• The campaign’s ultimate goal is to provide green space to over 250,000 residents — including 70,000 children.

🔗 Learn More:
🌐 Trust for Public Land – tpl.org
🌳 Greener Dallas, Greater Dallas – greenerdallas.com
Hosts: Shawn P. Williams & Ryan Trimble
Producer: Zach Thompson