DALLAS – Pioneer Cemetery is part of Component 5 of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) Master Plan, a redevelopment effort that has been publicly documented and underway for some time.
Component 5 encompasses Pioneer Park, which includes Pioneer Plaza, the surrounding open green space and Pioneer Cemetery together as a single, integrated project area. This is a distinct project within the KHBHCC Master Plan site and separate from any other development discussions in the area.
More information can be found on the KBHCCD Master Plan Website including numerous Frequently Asked Questions.
The work associated with Pioneer Park is aimed at preserving and honoring the history of Pioneer Cemetery while enhancing the park as a destination for residents and visitors alike. Pioneer Park is one of the most visited locations in Dallas and one of the most photographed parts of North Texas.
Any activity that has occurred in or around the cemetery to date has been coordinated closely with the State of Texas and conducted in accordance with all applicable historical preservation laws and regulations governing the site.
The surveyors observed on-site are conducting careful, methodical documentation of the cemetery’s gravesites, headstones, and overall topography. This is foundational preservation work that ensures every historical detail of Pioneer Cemetery is accurately recorded and protected as this project moves forward.
The explicit goal is to minimize any soil-disturbing activity in the vicinity of the cemetery. There are no plans to disturb any burial sites or remains at Pioneer Cemetery.
Throughout this process, the City and project partners have engaged directly with a range of stakeholders, including individuals with family members buried in the cemetery, Pioneer Plaza advocates, local historical organizations, downtown advocacy groups and surrounding neighborhoods. That engagement will continue as the project moves forward.
Visitor surveys were conducted in the area in Spring 2025 have shown that a meaningful share of downtown visitors travel specifically to experience Pioneer Park, and the feedback captured has been overwhelmingly positive.