Trinity Park Conservancy Builds Excitement and Momentum for Dallas’ Harold Simmons Park

It’s an exciting time in the city of Dallas as we watch the next generation of philanthropists lead our city into the future. On a recent evening, Catalina Gonzalez Jorba and Bela Cooley brought together an intimate group of community advocates at the home of Marguerite Steed Hoffman to discuss the excitement and momentum of Trinity Park Conservancy’s plans for Harold Simmons Park. 

Trinity Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, serves as the steward of the 10,000 acres of the Trinity River, which is Dallas’ largest public green space. With tremendous momentum and excitement, the Conservancy is currently designing and constructing Harold Simmons Park, a  250-acre urban park along the Trinity River. The Conservancy believes the Trinity River “is the natural gathering place for all Dallas residents and is committed to creating a park that unites the city and uplifts every community it touches.”

Guests enjoyed cocktails and canapés in Hoffman’s magnificent art gallery. “This home has always been a place for art, conversation, and bringing interesting people together, so it feels especially fitting to gather here tonight around a project that is itself creative, ambitious, and deeply connected to the future of Dallas,” Hoffman said, before introducing Jorba, who shared why the park matters to her. 

“I became involved because this is a project with the potential to shape how people experience our city for generations. It will be a place where children grow up, families build traditions, communities come together, and people who might not otherwise cross paths share the same space,” Jorba said. “That long view is especially meaningful to me. The Dallas we know today reflects decisions and investments made by people who came before us. Now, we have the opportunity — and, I think, the responsibility — to help shape what comes next for generations to come.”

Jorba then introduced her son, Santi Jorba, a high school student and the eldest of her four sons. During the summer, Santi, an aspiring architect, completed an internship at Trinity Park Conservancy. He eloquently shared about his experience working across the organization’s departments.

“To me, that is one of the most exciting things about Harold Simmons Park,” Santi said. “We aren’t simply building a park that young people will inherit someday. We are inviting the next generation to learn from it, contribute to it, and see themselves as part of its story right now. On behalf of the young people who are already benefiting from these opportunities — and the many more who will in the future — thank you for believing in this project and helping make it possible.”

The guests in attendance, including Trinity Park Conservancy’s newly appointed President and CEO Brian Kilpatrick, were blown away by the 15-year-old’s poise, confidence, and charisma. Kilpatrick joined Cooley for a conversation about the organization’s future. The most exciting update that Kilpatrick shared is that they recently completed horizontal work on the park. This means that vertical construction on Harold Simmons Park will begin in January, with construction completed by the end of 2028. 

“What excites me most is that Harold Simmons Park sits at the intersection of so many things that matter to Dallas: connection, nature, health, economic opportunity, and the chance to create a shared civic space that truly belongs to everyone. We are not simply building a beautiful park. We are creating a place that can change how people experience the Trinity River and how different parts of our city connect with one another,” Kilpatrick closed by saying. 

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