The J. Dallas Dort Flint Parks system was laid out by John Nolan in the 1920 City of Flint plan and included small parks and play lots within a five to eight-minute walk of each residential area. J. Dallas Dort (pictured left), a carriage maker and auto pioneer, was instrumental in developing the parks system by creating a parks board, providing financial support, and donating land for parks. Due to Dort’s leadership, the City of Flint adopted an ordinance to name the parks system the “J. Dallas Dort Memorial Park System”.