Strategic Plan

Community Safety Plan 2.0

Deep Ellum Foundation  |  Launched 2026

Building a safer, more welcoming Deep Ellum — the next chapter in our strategic vision for the district.

Read the Full Community Safety Plan 2.0 →
Deep Ellum Foundation task force discussing the Community Safety Plan 2.0

In 2026, the Deep Ellum Foundation launched the Deep Ellum Community Safety Plan 2.0, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen public safety and support a safe, welcoming, and thriving cultural district. Building on the groundwork laid by the 2019–2025 Deep Ellum Public Improvement District Strategic Plan, Community Safety Plan 2.0 introduces updated strategies and collaborative efforts developed with input from local stakeholders, business and property owners, and residents.

Our Foundation: The 2019–2025 Strategic Plan

To develop the Deep Ellum Public Improvement District Strategic Plan 2019–2025, the Deep Ellum Foundation conducted a yearlong outreach and exploratory process, engaging business owners, property owners, residents, and visitors to understand community concerns, unearth emerging needs, and anticipate future challenges facing the district.

“A yearlong, community-driven process shaped every action item in the plan.”

With both overarching themes and specific action items, the plan served as a roadmap that shaped the Foundation’s priorities, partnerships, and initiatives, supporting Deep Ellum’s continued growth and vitality through 2025.

How We Got Here: Community-Driven Process

Our strategic planning has always been shaped by the community it serves. Outreach methods have included:

Roundtables and workshops
Public chalk walls
Online surveys and social media
Individual interviews
Community mapping
Focus groups

Throughout each process, the Deep Ellum Foundation works closely with its Strategic Plan Task Force and Board of Directors to synthesize, hone, and refine community input into an actionable plan.

Thank You

The Deep Ellum Foundation’s (DEF) strategic work for the Deep Ellum Public Improvement District has been shaped by the input of many. Neither the Foundation’s daily work nor the continued evolution of these plans would be possible without the voluntary contributions of the incredible range of DEPID Strategic Plan stakeholders who invest in this neighborhood every day.

We are thankful for your willingness to serve, learn, and create within and for this community. We are grateful for the time and talent shared by so many, and we look forward to continuing to engage with you as we carry this work forward.