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Dallas Parks Department presents year-in-review: budgets, projects and programs
Summary
Department leaders reviewed FY highlights including a $121 million operating budget, $11 million in projected revenue, new and completed park projects and program expansions such as teen access passes and expanded aquatics scholarships.
Senior parks staff presented a year-in-review to the Park Board on Thursday, summarizing budget allocations, major construction projects, program participation and interagency partnerships.
Crystal Ross, senior deputy director with Dallas Recreation, said the department’s operating budget is approximately $121 million, with a revenue budget of about $11 million. Park maintenance accounted for the largest share of the operating budget, Ross said, occupying roughly 41% of department funds.
Ross highlighted program initiatives including a Citywide Youth Sports expansion, a Teal Access Pass program that provides free venue admissions to residents ages 13–17 (4,008 passes distributed this year), and more than $42,000 in swim‑lesson scholarships awarded through the aquatics program. She also listed completed and near‑completion capital projects, including RiverShawn Baseball Park renovations, a new spray pad and the Bachman Skate Park, and referenced the Cotton Bowl improvements as the department’s largest ongoing project.
The department described several interagency and community partnerships that support operations: expanded marshal and ranger coordination (first‑watch overnight coverage), outreach and conservation activities including a goat‑managed brush remediation pilot, and collaborations with professional sports teams on youth programming and facility improvements.
Ross said staff will continue work on comprehensive planning and on completing design for 2024 bond projects, and outlined an Executive Leadership Academy for department staff and certification achievements by employees.
Board members praised staff for program growth and for leveraging partnerships to expand park access. Several members asked for more public-facing materials to explain rules (for example, alcohol and smoking prohibitions and leash ordinances) and to connect the new data tools to neighborhood outreach and education.
The presentation did not include formal votes; staff requested feedback on rollout plans for reporting and the dashboard introduced earlier in the meeting.
