Parks director outlines priority‑based budget, seeks board guidance on efficiencies and Fair Park needs

Director John D. Jenkins and city director Rachel Berry presented a budget briefing to the Dallas Park and Recreation Board on April 3, asking the board to help prioritize core services and agree on potential efficiency measures the department could use to self‑fund enhancements such as safety and security and operating and maintenance at Fair Park.

Jenkins said the department’s current operating budget is approximately $121,827,252 and described a priority‑based budgeting process in which service areas are separated into more granular programs. He said the department is seeking ways to reduce duplication, right‑size vacant positions and explore outsourcing for non‑core services (for example, event center operations and some reservation management) as a way to free resources for core maintenance and safety needs.

Rachel Berry summarized two proposed enhancements that the department is prioritizing for funding: safety and security investments (including mobile camera trailers and technology) estimated at roughly $750,000, and an operating and maintenance enhancement for Fair Park. Jenkins said the department’s longer‑term target is to secure roughly $2.2 million by fiscal 2026–27 to sustain safety and Fair Park needs; he said some elements of that total would be self‑funded through internal efficiencies while other elements would require city support.

Board members pressed for more concrete fiscal detail. Board Member Hammond said the presentation lacked a single consolidated ledger showing current costs and proposed savings, and requested the department provide specific numbers so board members can make informed prioritization decisions. Board Member Dickey asked about Samuel Farm and whether consolidating management at multiple sites would reduce personnel costs; staff said the proposal relies mainly on filling vacant positions differently rather than eliminating filled jobs.

Several board members raised Fair Park liabilities and requested clearer figures. Jenkins and Berry said some utility liabilities at Fair Park are outstanding and that a figure of about $1.3 million was discussed in the meeting as an illustrative amount for certain urgent utility costs; they also said mediation and the ongoing legal/administrative review limit the detail that staff can publicly discuss at this time. Jenkins emphasized that regardless of mediation outcomes, the department plans to address visible maintenance and critical repairs at Fair Park.

The board repeatedly asked staff to provide the budget office’s program allocation numbers when they become available; staff said the new priority‑based budgeting tool is being populated and the department expects to receive program allocation numbers within the coming days and will provide them to the board in advance of the next meeting. Jenkins reiterated that no decisions about closing pools or removing core services will be made before the department completes the master plan for pools and returns to the board.

Board members broadly supported funding safety and Fair Park repairs but asked for more precise cost allocations and an implementation plan. Jenkins said staff will return with the budget office’s allocated program numbers, additional detail on proposed efficiencies and a timeline for follow‑up. The board scheduled continued budget discussion at the next meeting, April 17 at the Dallas Zoo.