It has been more than six months since the city of Dallas assumed operations at Fair Park from a company accused of misusing funds.
Deferred maintenance at the park now totals $55 million, covering critical HVAC, plumbing, and roof repairs. John Jenkins, director of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence that the projects will ultimately be worthwhile.
Despite the park being in worse condition than before the city took over from the for-profit Oak View Group, Jenkins said the repairs could be funded without straining the city’s budget by leveraging development opportunities.
Plans for development focus on roughly 50 acres of empty parking lots on the northeast side of the campus, with all historical Art Deco features preserved. The city aims to follow a model similar to Brooklyn Bridge Park.