Kevin Spath, interim director of the Office of Economic Development, and Ryan O’Connor, deputy director of Dallas Park and Recreation, briefed the Economic Development Committee on Roland Parrish Park Phase 1 and a funding gap the park department asked the economic office to cover.

Spath said the Park and Recreation Department completed design in September and selected a best-value proposer; the proposed construction services contract the park board will consider on Thursday is for an amount not to exceed $8,008,297. Because of available funding shortfalls, Economic Development is recommending $3,000,000 from the Infrastructure Investment Fund to cover the gap and deliver the project without scope reductions.

Ryan O’Connor described the scope of work planned for Phase 1: site preparation, demolition, grading, tree preservation, stormwater, water and wastewater improvements, an athletic field with track and lighting, bleachers, a basketball court, picnic pavilion, playground, walking trails, off-street parking, landscaping, irrigation and pedestrian-scale lighting along the park perimeter and adjacent streets.

“This project has been a rather lengthy project, but as Councilwoman Arnold will describe, it’s going to be hugely impactful,” O’Connor said. He told the committee the consolidated scope amounts to “about a $10,000,000 project,” and that the park did not have a neat, single funding source such as a bond allocation; the department had assembled council-specific equity funds and a significant private donation from Mr. Parrish.

Spath explained the proposed $3,000,000 would come from the Infrastructure Investment Fund, which is funded annually as part of the council budget and draws on amounts equivalent to expired Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. “The amount of funding that gets appropriated with the council’s approval of the budget every year into the infrastructure investment fund” is approximately $6 million, Spath said.

Committee reaction

Councilmembers praised the project and described the investment as long‑overdue for the neighborhood. Councilwoman Carolyn King Arnold, whose district includes the park, said the community had been “mourning for years” and that the park’s completion would be a significant milestone. Other members noted the park is expected to catalyze surrounding economic activity and commended the coordination between economic development and parks staff.

Next steps

The Park and Recreation Department will present the construction services contract to the Park Board on Thursday; if the board takes favorable action, the item will go to City Council on January 22 for authorization. The Office of Economic Development’s memo recommends appropriation of $3,000,000 from the Infrastructure Investment Fund to close the gap so the Park and Recreation Department can deliver the planned Phase 1 scope without value engineering or cuts.