The Dallas Arts District has taken years of planning, fundraising and implementing on the part of some of the most dedicated members of this city.

The most recent addition is the Strauss Square, which was dedicated Thursday to the former mayor, Annette Strauss, an avid advocate of the arts.

The ceremony included speeches from the former chair of the board for the performing arts center, Howard Hallam, Mayor Tom Leppert, SMU’s President R. Gerald Turner and Strauss’ husband Ted. All shared fond memories of Strauss’ vivacious personality and her unwillingness to give up on the arts.

“The arts are for everyone,” Hallam said. “Annette was the kind of person who understood that economic struggles pass, but the arts are forever.”

It is this mentality that the square is meant to reflect. The area’s main feature is the Shannon and Ted Skokos Pavilion, which serves as the stage for the amphitheatre.

Although the square sits a bit too close to the highway, hopefully the installation of the park over Woodall Rogers will decrease the sound of traffic. At Thursday’s dedication, the noise failed to detract from the touching ceremony.

Because Strauss was such a firm believer in the importance of art, the dedication would not have been complete without a performance, which featured Meadows vocal and dance students.

Vocalists Laura Smolik and John Campione sang a beautiful duet titled, “Because of You,” while the female dancers from the class of 2014 performed a piece that culminated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. The accompanying pianist was the 14-year-old piano prodigy, Lewis Warren Jr.

The upcoming events taking place in the square include a screening of “Casablanca” on Oct. 16 and a live simulcast of the opening night of the Dallas Opera’s “Don Giovvani” on Oct. 22.