Dallas, TX
Council should approve new agreement with Fair Park First
Any city project mired in bureaucratic dawdling can easily make residents skeptical that local government can get anything done. Add a dose of historical racism, and that skepticism can harden into cynicism about the reasons behind the delay. That’s why the Dallas City Council should vote Wednesday to allow an existing nonprofit to oversee development of a long-awaited, 10-acre community park at Fair Park. Residents of nearby neighborhoods deserve to see progress.
The torturous saga behind the community park spans decades. In the late 1960s, Dallas officials used eminent domain to seize homes in neighborhoods adjacent to Fair Park. The plan was to add thousands of new parking spaces while also eliminating the urban blight that made some Fair Park visitors uncomfortable.
A new, community-designed park can’t erase such a bitter legacy by itself. But more delays could compound the distrust.
The struggle to build the community park is intertwined with the city’s effort to privatize management of Fair Park’s 277 acres. In 2018, the council chose a fledgling nonprofit, Fair Park First, to oversee the fairgrounds.
Fair Park First subcontracted with Spectra, later called OVG, an experienced, for-profit venue manager, to handle daily operations. The hope was that a professional management company could attract bigger events and generate the revenue needed to maintain the Art Deco landmark.
The plan fell apart in 2024. City leaders learned that OVG wasn’t generating the revenue it had promised and $5.7 million in donations had been mis-spent on operating expenses. Last year, Dallas cancelled its contract with Fair Park First and OVG’s subcontract was terminated.
Fair Park First already had raised more than $30 million for the community park.
Since last fall, the Dallas Park and Recreation Board and Dallas City Council have fretted about how to proceed with the community park. Park Board President Arun Agarwal has argued against placing Fair Park First in charge, saying the nonprofit failed in its previous oversight duties. But the park board never offered an alternative arrangement that could keep the community park’s development moving forward.
In late January, council members, led by Adam Bazaldua, whose district includes Fair Park, rescinded the park board’s authority over the community park. The council is now in charge. It was a controversial action, but about $13 million promised for the park will be revoked in mid-March if the city can’t show progress, according to staff.
Wednesday, council members must decide whether to accept a park development agreement with Fair Park First. The agreement spells out responsibilities, has strict deadlines and provides for city audits and reviews.
Fair Park First has lost trust based on the mismanagement of the OVG agreement. Its role should rightly be limited to this project. But setting aside the nonprofit entirely now would do more harm than good.
South Dallas has waited for its park long enough. Council members should approve the agreement.
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A large fire destroyed an apartment complex in Dallas after crews responded to reports of a gas leak. Authorities say at least three people, including a child, were killed. Other residents are unaccounted for.
Published On 29 May 2026
Lauren Drewes Daniels
Arguments about the best doughnut shops can get heated. We have our own personal top 10 favorites. And we have issues with DoorDash’s list below. So, let’s dive right into this sweet, round confection with a hole in the middle.
For National Donut Day, which is Friday, June 5, for all those who celebrate, DoorDash has a roundup of the top 100-rated small and medium-sized donut shops on DoorDash. The list includes local businesses across 86 cities and 25 states.
To be considered for the Donut Day Dozens list, the bakery must be small or medium-sized, have fewer than 10 stores, and have at least 1,000 reviews. The shops with the highest average consumer ratings from April 2025 to April 2026 were chosen.
Of the 21 donut shops chosen across Texas, 13 are located in North Texas.
North Texas bakeries named best doughnuts
- Morning Donuts – Dallas, TX
- Baker’s Dozen Donuts – Cross Roads, TX
- Busy B’s Bakery – North Richland Hills, TX
- Donut House Plano – Plano, TX
- Donut King #3 – Fort Worth, TX
- Eagle Donuts – Crowley, TX
- Earnest Donuts – Lewisville, TX
- Four Seasons Donuts – Irving, TX
- Jin’s Donuts – Farmers Branch, TX
- Master Donut – The Colony, TX
- Stacy Donuts – McKinney, TX
- TWISTY DONUTS MANSFIELD – Mansfield, TX
A few misses
There are some obvious big misses here. Like La Rue in Trinity Groves, which apparently was left off because it has fewer than 1,000 reviews. We awarded this chef-driven shop Best Doughnuts in 2025 for pushing out top-tier confections every morning and a seasonal menu that will both win you over and break your heart. They’re also using only beef tallow in the fryers now.
And no Jarams? The shop on Preston Road has a 4.7 average rating on DoorDash, and it appears 4.8 was the cutoff. The family-owned Jarams is one of the best shops in Dallas.
As is Detour Donuts in Frisco. This is run by an ambitious young baker who draws long lines for themed doughnuts and a rotating menu.
Beyond North Texas …
The rest of the awarded donut shops were mostly located in Houston, with a sprinkle in San Antonio. Shops were listed in alphabetical order, and not with any sort of numbered ranking system.
- Best Donuts – Humble, TX
- Southern Maid Donuts – Humble, TX
- DAWN DONUTS – League City, TX
- Max Donuts – Houston, TX
- Nom Donuts – Houston, TX
- Snowflake donuts – Houston, TX
- ST Donuts – San Antonio, TX
- Mom’s Donut Shop – Gainesville, TX
- The Donut Palace – Lufkin, TX
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