Deep Ellum Foundation • Accessible & Interconnected Neighborhood
Connecting people.
Improving the journey.
A connected neighborhood makes it easier to reach work, discover a local business, meet friends, and take part in community life. The Deep Ellum Foundation advocates for transportation and infrastructure that serve the people who live, work, and spend time here.
We bring neighborhood needs into conversations with public agencies and project partners, helping connect big-picture planning with the everyday experience of moving through Deep Ellum.
Explore on foot • Free Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Walk through Deep Ellum’s history.
Get to know the stories behind the streets on the free Deep Ellum History Walking Tour. Join us Saturdays at 10 a.m. to discover the neighborhood’s history and connect with the places that make Deep Ellum unique.
Our role
A voice for the neighborhood.
A partner in its progress.
Street improvements affect much more than traffic. They shape access to storefronts, the comfort of a walk, and the way a neighborhood welcomes people. DEF works to bring business owners, property owners, and community perspectives into transportation planning—and to keep those conversations going as projects move into construction.
Advocacy in action
How we help Deep Ellum connect.
Shape street improvements.
DEF has advocated for improvements on Commerce and Elm streets. For the Commerce Street project, our work included block walks, stakeholder meetings, and sharing neighborhood priorities for sidewalks, landscaping, and storefront access with the City and its design team.
Keep businesses in the conversation.
During construction, DEF has helped connect businesses with contractors and City partners, communicate concerns, and troubleshoot issues. That coordination helps bring the needs of an active business district into the details of infrastructure work.
Support more ways to arrive.
Our mobility priorities include better pedestrian crossings, bicycle connections, and access to parking and transit. We advocate for a neighborhood that connects with surrounding communities and gives people options for getting here.
Care for the everyday experience.
Sidewalk cleaning, tree planting, and attention to neighborhood lighting complement transportation planning. DEF’s maintenance and public safety partnerships help make the spaces between destinations more welcoming.
See our neighborhood care work →Partnerships that move us forward
Small connections. Neighborhood-wide impact.
Coordinating rideshare access.
In 2021, DEF partnered with the City of Dallas to pilot designated rideshare pickup and drop-off zones. The initiative was designed to organize pickups, reduce congestion, and support emergency vehicle access while keeping visitors close to neighborhood destinations.
Helping people find their way.
Walking, transit, bicycles, scooters, and rideshare all play a role in how people experience Deep Ellum. DEF shares neighborhood transportation resources so visitors and workers can compare options and plan their arrival.
Our Getting Around guide brings parking, rideshare, transit, bike, and scooter information together in one place.
Find your way around →Connecting culture across Dallas
Looking beyond our own blocks.
DEF is also a development partner in the Dallas Cultural Trail, alongside the Dallas Arts District, Fair Park First, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, and Visit Dallas. The project aims to connect cultural places and stories across districts, giving people more ways to discover the city’s creative communities.
Explore the Dallas Cultural Trail project →Plan a visit. Help shape what comes next.
A better-connected Deep Ellum starts with people.
Ready to visit? Find transportation options in our Getting Around guide. Have a neighborhood access concern or an idea for improving connections? Share it with DEF to help inform our advocacy and conversations with project partners.