By Ayesha Hana Shaji
Texas Metro News Team
The City of Dallas and Abounding Prosperity, Inc. honored the late Irene H. Trigg-Myers, Wednesday on what would have been her 80th birthday.
The 1.2 acre park, formerly named Kimble Park, will be renamed the Irene H. Trigg-Myers Prosperity Park in honor of one of the founders of Abounding Prosperity, for her contributions to the South Dallas community. Dignitaries from the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department, the Dallas Police Department Community Liaison and other officials were in attendance to mark the celebration.
Kirk Myers, the founder and CEO of Abounding Prosperity and the son of Trigg-Myers, said Abounding Prosperity was founded with the intent to address the health, social and economic disparities of African American men and their families.
“This particular park is right in the heart of new development and it is in proximity to [our] organization,” Myers said. “It’s here for the people that are already here but it’s also prepared for the people that are to come.”
Toni Bryant, from State Representative Venton Jones’ office read a resolution, while Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua issued a proclamation honoring the special occasion, on behalf of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
The event also featured performances from world-renowned gospel artists Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Tramaine Hawkins.
“I think it’s important because when we start thinking about all of the inequities and injustices and those sorts of things, I think communities such as where this is located are deserving of good clean green spaces as well,” Myers said.
The park is being designed by TBG Partners. Ross DeVault, the strategic leader, said there is no set timeline as to when the park will be available to the public as the design is in its early stages.
Myers mentioned a lot of the work TBG is doing is pro bono as well. DeVault said TBG really tries to focus on finding partners from historically underrepresented communities to make sure that they’re getting the same design services, thoughtfulness and vision that everyone in the rest of the city is getting.
“It’s a passion of ours. We love giving back in the community and finding opportunities to make sure everyone’s got access to parks,” DeVault said. “It’s something that we’ve been committed to as an office and as a firm.”
Ayesha Hana Shaji is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where she was on The Shorthorn staff.
