Dallas parks board questions Fair Park First agreement as audit and $5.8M gap loom

The Dallas Park and Recreation Board on Sept. 25 heard a staff briefing and hours of public comment about a proposed development agreement with Fair Park First to deliver a 3.5-acre community park at Fair Park, but took no final vote after members asked for more financial review and audit materials.

The community park is in design development and staff said the “current construction cost estimates for the park are 20,000,000” and that design development is slated to be complete by the end of the year, with construction documents next year and a targeted construction start in August 2026 after FIFA events at Fair Park, aiming for an opening in 2027.

The proposal has substantial private and public pledges but remaining uncertainty about liquid funds and organizational stability. Ryan (parks staff) told the board staff’s accounting review found that the project team currently reports roughly $33.3 million raised toward the community park; staff said roughly $400,000 was available in cash and identified a remaining fundraising gap of about $5.8 million to provide contingency for construction. Board members also cited that most pledged dollars are not yet collected and that several audits remain outstanding.

Why it matters: the community park has been a long-promised investment for South Dallas neighborhoods and is framed by supporters as a locally focused amenity intended to deliver playgrounds, pavilions, vendor market space and low‑maintenance landscaping. Opponents on the board urged caution, arguing the city should not enter a new legal arrangement until audits and donor files are complete; supporters said pausing would delay a project the community has asked for for years.

Staff briefing and timeline

Ryan presented the project plan and schedule, saying the park’s footprint is about 3.5 acres, reduced from earlier concepts. He described program elements as “signature playgrounds, great lawns, market groves for vendor opportunities” and said the design team is Studio Outside with Turner Construction engaged for preconstruction services. Ryan told the board the design development phase should be finished by year‑end, construction documents completed in the first quarter of 2026 and construction could begin in August 2026 after FIFA‑related activity at Fair Park.

Funding and donor status

Ryan and Heather Stevens (RISE360, fundraising lead for the project) summarized the financial picture: approximately $33.3 million in pledges tied to the community park, roughly $400,000 in cash on hand, and an estimated $20 million construction cost estimate for the park itself. Stevens said Fair Park First and its donors have remained engaged; she told the board Fair Park First has been meeting monthly with donors since March 2024 to maintain transparency.

Jason Brown, identified as chair of Fair Park First, said the nonprofit and its board are committed to finishing fundraising and delivering the park, and that donors “are ready to stand in the gap.” Brown told the board Fair Park First’s stated goal is to finish fundraising and deliver the community park under a development agreement.

Audit, contract risk and board reaction

Multiple board members urged caution. Board member Goldstein said staff had reviewed donor agreements “and they appear to be in order” but asked for more documentation, including audited financial statements. Goldstein asked specifically how much money is in the bank; staff replied cash available was about $400,000.

Several members — including Board Member [last name Goldstein] and others — said a city audit in progress covering Fair Park-related entities will probably take months because earlier fiscal years exist only as paper records. Those members urged waiting for audited financials and other due diligence before entering a new development contract.

By contrast, other board members and several public speakers argued delay would be harmful to the neighborhoods the park is intended to serve. Heather Stevens said, “The only person losing out is the community,” and Jason Brown said donors remain committed and have been regularly updated.

Staff repeatedly framed the development agreement as a time‑limited legal tool that allows a partner to fundraise and construct an improvement on city property; staff and legal counsel said any future operator or maintenance agreement would be decided separately after the park is built.

Outcome at the meeting

The board did not take a final vote on a development agreement at the Sept. 25 meeting. Instead members asked staff to return with additional documentation and to allow time for audit results and further briefing. Some members asked staff to return with a revised recommendation in October; others argued staff should move forward because the project has substantial donor commitments and the community has waited years.

Votes at a glance

Several separate, less‑controversial agenda items were approved during the meeting: - Old City Park Blumhouse and Railhouse renovation items — approved (voice vote recorded as “aye”). - Franklin Park: Moody Foundation naming opportunity — approved (voice vote recorded as “aye”). - Lake Highlands North Park: authorized renaming to “Walls in Park” — approved (voice vote recorded as “aye”).

What the board requested next

Board members asked for (1) audited financial statements and any outstanding donor documentation for Fair Park First; (2) clarification of how much actual cash is on hand vs. pledged; (3) an implementation plan that shows how the project would handle legal contingencies if donor agreements or litigation emerge; and (4) a timeline showing how a pause would affect public funding commitments and the anticipated construction schedule.

Public comment and community perspective

Public commenters included neighborhood leaders and nonprofit fundraisers who spoke both for and against pausing. Ken Smith (Revitalize South Dallas Coalition) urged the board not to feel rushed and to seek more public engagement; Jason Brown and Heather Stevens urged the board to preserve momentum and accept Fair Park First as the fundraising partner for the community park. Several community speakers said they had participated in earlier planning meetings and emphasized that the community’s repeated requests have driven the project.

Next steps

Staff said they will return to the board with more detailed materials, and several members urged the audit be expedited so the board can decide whether to authorize a development agreement. Any development agreement and subsequent construction or operations contracts would still require future board and, where required, city council approval.

Ending

The board left the meeting with no formal authorization to proceed or to reject Fair Park First’s role; members asked staff for additional documentation and for the city audit’s results before a final decision.