The City of Dallas has issued an update regarding ongoing work at Pioneer Park, Pioneer Plaza, and Pioneer Cemetery. These sites are part of Component 5 of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) Master Plan. This redevelopment effort has been publicly documented and is underway.
Component 5 encompasses Pioneer Park, which includes Pioneer Plaza, the surrounding open green space, and Pioneer Cemetery as a single, integrated project area. The city notes this is a distinct project within the KBHCCD Master Plan site and separate from other development discussions in the area.
The work associated with Pioneer Park aims to preserve and honor the history of Pioneer Cemetery while enhancing the park as a destination for residents and visitors. Pioneer Park is one of the most visited locations in Dallas and one of the most photographed parts of North Texas.
Any activity that has occurred in or around the cemetery to date has been coordinated closely with the State of Texas and conducted in accordance with all applicable historical preservation laws and regulations governing the site.
Surveyors on-site are conducting careful, methodical documentation of the cemetery’s gravesites, headstones, and overall topography. The city describes this as foundational preservation work that ensures every historical detail of Pioneer Cemetery is accurately recorded and protected as the project moves forward. The explicit goal is to minimize any soil-disturbing activity in the vicinity of the cemetery.
There are no plans to disturb any burial sites or remains at Pioneer Cemetery.
Throughout this process, the City and project partners have engaged directly with a range of stakeholders. These groups include individuals with family members buried in the cemetery, Pioneer Plaza advocates, local historical organizations, downtown advocacy groups, and surrounding neighborhoods. That engagement will continue as the project moves forward.
Visitor surveys conducted in the area in Spring 2025 have shown that a meaningful share of downtown visitors travel specifically to experience Pioneer Park. The feedback captured has been overwhelmingly positive. More information can be found on the KBHCCD Master Plan Website, which includes numerous Frequently Asked Questions.
