The Moody Foundation Donates $2 Million to Name Moody Plaza | Klyde Warren Park

Monday, April 15, 2013

Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation continues fundraising beyond $110 million capital campaign goal

DALLAS (April 15, 2013)—The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation has surpassed its $110 million capital campaign goal with a $2 million donation from The Moody Foundation to name Klyde Warren Park’s grand plaza, Moody Plaza. The 5.2-acre deck park successfully opened in October 2012 and has since drawn more than 350,000 visitors to enjoy free, outdoor activities in the center of Dallas.

“The Moody Foundation’s milestone gift helps support a new Dallas landmark that is drawing thousands of people to the center of the city to enjoy the arts, to read, to learn and to simply have fun,” said Jody Grant, chairman of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation Board.

With this donation, The Moody Foundation, one of the largest charitable non-profits in Texas, will support Klyde Warren Park’s effort to create a town square for Dallas that builds a sense of community and is a great place for families. Moody Plaza will be a gathering space with signature fountains between the Muse Family Performance Pavilion and Olive Street. The area will be used for concerts, events and gatherings for up to 500 individuals. It will also be a major outdoor dining venue for Relish, the park’s new take-out restaurant, which will open in the late summer. Moody Plaza will be adjacent to a McKinney Avenue Trolley stop, once the trolley begins running on Olive Street later this year.

“We are thrilled to support Klyde Warren Park, which is a great fit for our mission to benefit future generations of Texans,” said Frances Moody-Dahlberg, executive director of the Moody Foundation. “The Park has already become a very popular destination for families throughout the region.”

The Moody Foundation was established in 1942 by William L. Moody Jr. and his wife, Libbie Rice Shearn Moody. The Foundation has awarded grants throughout the state, often focusing on capital projects for private colleges, such as SMU, as well as support for children’s health projects, museums, gardens, libraries and historic preservation. The Foundation is now led by the next generation of the Moody family, who are continuing the legacy of supporting projects that benefit present and future Texans.

Klyde Warren Park is privately run by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, which has raised $110.8 million in combined public and private funds to date.

“As a Foundation, we are committed to continue raising private donations to support Klyde Warren Park as a place where Dallas traditions are created and enjoyed for generations to come,” said Grant. “We hope the park’s early success during the past few months inspires people who want to make Dallas a great city to come forward and support the park as a top free destination.”