Community gathers to celebrate 100 years of Willis Winters Park

From left: Robert Parks, Becky Rader, Adam Medrano, Paul Ridley, Rudy Karimi, Barbara Cohen, Willis Winters, Jan Winters, Jesse Moreno, Renee Johnson, Ben Heistein and Wayne Smith cut the ribbon at the renovated soccer field at Willis Winters Park. Photo by Renee Umsted.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misidentified the historic pavilion at Willis Winters Park, which was built in 1924. 

Community members gathered Saturday to cut the ribbon on the new soccer field, learn about the park’s history and hear from stakeholders.

The centennial celebration also included a ceremonial tree planting at the park, formerly known as Randall Park, which was renamed in 2019 to honor Willis Winters, a former Dallas Park and Recreation director.

Representatives from the General Federation of Women’s Club of Texas were also at the event, marking the group’s legacy at the park. In 1924, the federation was granted two acres to plant a Memorial Grove at Randall Park. It included 75 trees, each dedicated and marked with a bronze marker. The trees have since been removed, but a new tree was planted leading up to the celebration.

Willis Winters Park sits in the middle of East Dallas, surrounded by Woodrow Wilson High School, J.L. Long Middle School, Juliette Fowler Communities, the Santa Fe Trail and the Junius Heights and Mount Auburn neighborhoods.

Here are a few quotes from speakers at the event.

“History is what leads us to make future improvements. Today, we celebrate the hard work of our community as we cut the ribbon on our long-awaited soccer field renovation.” — Barbara Cohen, president, Friends of Willis Winters Park

“Women’s clubs, largest volunteer organization in the world, are volunteering. We help things grow.” — Billie Williams, president, General Federation of Women’s Club of Texas

“We are committed to making sure this park is maintained. But we can’t just do it with us. We need your help, all the way.”  — Renee Johnson, assistant Park and Recreation director

“I’m so pleased to see that the efforts of our volunteers, the Friends of Willis Winters Park, have come together with the Dallas parks department to create a wonderful environment for soccer enthusiasts.” — Paul Ridley, District 14 City Council member 

Willis Winters Park celebration. Photo by Renee Umsted.

“The reason we’re here today is because of neighbors, because you take the time to make this an important matter to you, and you bring those to our attention, to the park department, to our city council. So I want to thank you for all the efforts that you have done from day one to today.” — Jesse Moreno, District 2 City Council member

“All those bond dollars went for a good cause. It’s going to improve and impact the community, our kids, our youth, just what everyone here is talking about.” — Adam Medrano, former Dallas City Council member 

“East Dallas hustles harder. This park hustles harder than anyone. If other parks in our city got to be prom queen or prom king, this park was the nerdy kid at home who didn’t have any friends. … Let this day serve as a reminder that you should never, ever give up on your parks.” — Rudy Karimi, District 14 park board member

“What a great day it is to be in Winters Park on the first day of winter weather in Dallas. Boy, do I feel old attending the centennial of a park named for me.” — Willis Winters, former Dallas Park and Recreation director