Parry Avenue Entrance, 1936

Lang and Witchell

This symbolic entrance to Fair Park (made obsolete by parking expansion during the 1980s) is the largest of four entry gates designed by Lang and Witchell.  A singularly striking 85-foot high pylon greeted the pedestrian hordes upon disembarkation at the streetcar terminus on Parry Avenue. The base of the pylon displays a sculptural frieze by Texas artist Buck Winn. The plaza surrounding the pylon has been altered, although the secondary Grand Ave. and M.L. King, Jr. Blvd. Entrance Gates, are still intact.  Nearby is the Texas Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Martratt/Garmon, 1990.

Credits: Excerpts taken from The American Institute of Architects Guide to Dallas Architecture, published in 1999 by the American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter. The editor of this book was Larry Paul Fuller. The Fair Park Introduction and entries were written by Willis Winters, AIA.

Permission to publish these excerpts was granted by The American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter, in October 2002.