Betty B. Marcus Park to be Renamed Shirley & Bill McIntyre Park
BETTY B. MARCUS PARK TO BE RENAMED SHIRLEY & BILL MCINTYRE PARK
Dallas, Texas (April 12, 2023) – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra today announced the renaming of the Betty Marcus Park to the Shirley & Bill McIntyre Park. The initiative to improve, beautify and increase musical programming in the park is funded by a $3 million gift to the DSO from Dallas philanthropic community leaders Shirley and Bill McIntyre.
The tranquil park sits west of the iconic Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The park is the perfect setting for DSO patrons and tourists to enjoy intimate performances or gather with family and friends. The park, which is owned by the City of Dallas, is truly one of the hidden gems of the Dallas Arts District.
“We are grateful to the McIntyres for their gift to the DSO, and we look forward to highlighting the unique environment and landscape of the park to visitors across our community,” said Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony. “We are also thankful to the City of Dallas Parks Department for their approval to rename the park. Later this spring, after landscape upgrades are made, we will announce a series of park concerts and events inviting neighbors and businesses in and beyond the Arts District.”
Shirley and Bill McIntyre have been great advocates for the arts in Dallas for decades, and their support of the DSO began in 1988. Shirley McIntyre has served on the DSO League, Gala Committee, Stradivarius Patron Committee and most recently, the Board of Governors. Bill McIntyre has served on the Gala Committee and the Executive Board. Their extensive dedication to the DSO has helped the organization expand its reach and impact.
“Bill and I have enjoyed spending time in the park as it has been used more and more during concerts,” said Shirley McIntyre. “We can’t wait to welcome more visitors to the Meyerson campus and Dallas Arts District community.”
Betty Blum Marcus was a civic leader, strong patron of the arts and former president of the Dallas Parks Department. The park next to the Meyerson was named in her honor upon the opening of the hall. The DSO will continue to honor Mrs. Marcus and her strong contributions to the city by naming an area of the Meyerson Symphony Center.
ABOUT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi, presents more than 150 orchestra concerts at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s top-rated concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. As part of its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches more than 243,000 adults and children annually through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. The orchestra offers more than 200 outdoor chamber concerts in neighborhoods throughout Dallas each year, as well as continuing online music lessons to more than 700 students as part of its Young Strings and Young Musicians programs.
The Dallas Symphony has used digital and broadcast media to share music beyond its geographic boundaries and has become a leader among American orchestras in digital distribution. The DSO also captures and streams concert performances for distribution online through its Next Stage Digital Concert Series, Presented by PNC Bank. Programs are available on the DSO’s website at watch.dallassymphony.org.
The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 118-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks – the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Denise McGovern | Vice President of Communications & Media | Dallas Symphony Orchestra
d.mcgovern@dalsym.com | 214.871.4024