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Historical Park reports higher revenue, event center finishing punch list; Bluegrass festival to move to Galleria
Summary
Staff told the board third-quarter revenue and program numbers rose year over year (8% YTD; ~60% for the quarter), the event center is finishing punch-list work and landscaping, and the Bluegrass festival will relocate to the Galleria next year under a sponsorship model.
Park staff told the Farmers Branch Historical Park Board on Aug. 22 that the park’s third-quarter revenues and program participation rose compared with the prior year and that several capital and repairs projects are nearing completion.
“Revenue for the third quarter came in 8% higher for year to date, compared to last year,” the staff presenter said, and noted the quarter itself was roughly 60% higher than the same three months a year earlier. The presenter said rental revenue is up 18% year to date and that the park recorded 14 rentals in the quarter, including nine weddings and a Cub Scout camp, generating 43 hotel-room nights that feed into the hotel occupancy tax fund.
The presenter also updated the board on the new event center, saying day-to-day construction is complete and crews are working through an extensive punch list; landscaping work and a stone walkway between the event center and the general store are in place and handicap parking has been installed. Staff said bids are in for fence repairs after storm damage and that two storage containers have been ordered to increase secure on-site storage for chairs and equipment.
On the Bluegrass festival, the city’s tourism director-designate said the event will move to the Galleria in Dallas next year and be run on a sponsorship model. Perla Tavara said the festival’s past cost was about $300,000 and that the city will pursue a $50,000-a-year sponsorship arrangement under a three-year agreement; she said hotel-motel funds have covered some city sponsorship in the past but staff time is a separate expense.
Board members pressed staff on how certain revenues are tracked (for example, income from the 1842 venue) and whether expenses such as the city arborist’s training are charged to parks operations or to the historical park budget once it transfers; staff said they would clarify reporting and return with corrected figures.
Procedural items that evening included approval of the May 16 minutes and a motion to table election of officers until the next meeting.
