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In late January, council members, led by Adam Bazaldua, whose district includes Fair Park, rescinded the park board’s authority over the community park.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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