History
508 Park contains a multifaceted story of intersecting histories. Opening in 1930 as the Warner Brothers Exchange Building, this structure served as a distribution point for films and records. Brunswick Records was located on the 3rd floor and in 1937, producer Don Law organized a makeshift recording studio for sessions with legendary musician Robert Johnson, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and many other significant musicians of the time. In 2004, Eric Clapton recorded Johnson’s music at 508 Park, paying tribute to those special recordings and Johnson’s lasting impact on music.
Phase 1
Purchasing 508 Park Ave, creating “Birth of a City” sculpture, cultivating the Community Garden, constructing the Amphitheater
Phase 2
Restoration and Renovation of 508 Park Ave
508 Park History
Discover the rich cultural and musical history behind the property.
508 Park contains a multifaceted story of intersecting histories. Opening in 1930 as the Warner Brothers Exchange Building, this structure served as a distribution point for films and records. Brunswick Records was located on the 3rd floor and in 1937, producer Don Law organized a makeshift recording studio for sessions with legendary musician Robert Johnson, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and many other significant musicians of the time. In 2004, Eric Clapton recorded Johnson’s music at 508 Park, paying tribute to those special recordings and Johnson’s lasting impact on music.
Encore Park Phase 1
ACQUIRING 508 PARK
In 2011, the 508 property was purchased by First Presbyterian Church of Dallas to meet the growing needs of the people of Dallas - to create an integrated social impact campus for Downtown Dallas. It was meant to set the phase of downtown development by preserving important, irreplaceable historic buildings and offering new venues and cultural attractions to enhance the entire neighborhood. Importaly, it will also create investment in the last undeveloped section of downtown.
AMPHITHEATER
Encore Park widened the opportunity for adults, children, and youth to experience music. An outdoor amphitheater for public performances was built at 1900 Young. It is facilitating collaborations with FPC Dallas’ music ministry and the HawtThorns, local music groups in expanding outreach and music education. We’ve welcomed musicians and offered free concerts from Cam Cole to NOCONA, the HawtThorns, Desert Hollow, and others. It has provided a venue for local events.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
The community garden was created to foster community through mentoring, volunteer participation, education, and environmental stewardship. Stewpot clients from across the street participate in a horticultural therapy program there. Children and youth programs have learned to garden there. And plots are available for anyone wishing to participate.
BIRTH OF A CITY
The Encore Park Sculpture Wall was the first realized aspect of our commitment to our unique location at the crossroads of the past and present. In 2012 Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin created an original artwork for the exterior walls of the amphitheater. They created a lost-wax bronze sculpture wall that features iconic and lesser-known visual stories unique to Dallas. These stories are told across ten 6-foot by 4-foot bas relief panels along Park Avenue and Young Street that create the site-specific installation called “The Birth of a City.”
Encore Park Phase 2
PRESERVATION AND RENOVATION OF 508 PARK AVE
In the second phase for Encore Park Dallas, w’ere looking at the renovation and restoration of the historic 508 Park building that will allow us to fulfill our mission: to bring people together through music, art, and service to others. The construction will involve:
a Music Studio, paying homage to the rich musical history of the location
Event Space, for our community partners and Dallas neighbors to utilize.
Community Space, for people to come together over art, music, and service to others.