Kyle Ogden, president and CEO of the Thanksgiving Foundation, presented a design and fundraising request to the Dallas City Council on Jan. 15 for an expanded Thanksgiving District around Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas.

Ogden described a proposal developed with Gensler that would open the square to adjacent streets, add a stoa (a shaded colonnade), new overlooks and an amphitheater, create pop-up retail and a restaurant venue, and install an ADA-compliant entrance to the Hall of Thanksgiving. He said the design preserves views to Philip Johnson's chapel while making the square more accessible and pedestrian friendly.

Ogden asked the council for a "loud, enthusiastic, and public endorsement" to support fundraising, and he described a regional funding prospect: the North Central Texas Council of Governments has approved $10 million for a related project contingent on a two‑for‑one philanthropic and other match and has advanced $500,000 toward engineering.

Why it matters: Ogden said the district would increase downtown walkability, support tourism and convention visitors, and generate additional property, sales and hotel occupancy tax revenue. He framed Thanksgiving Square as a civic asset that hosts civic gatherings and memorial events and said an expanded public realm would connect to surrounding destinations including Clyde Warren Park and the convention center.

Council members said questions remain and requested follow-up information; the mayor indicated questions could be compiled and returned to the foundation in writing or in a subsequent briefing. No endorsement vote occurred at the Jan. 15 meeting.