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Dallas — Dallas Park and Recreation leaders will brief the Dallas Park and Recreation Board on the progress and accomplishments at Fair Park since the City of Dallas assumed management of the venue one year ago. The presentation is 10 a.m. September 3 during the board’s regular meeting.
The briefing Fair Park Update: A Year of Progress will give an overview of the park’s operations that include facilities and grounds maintenance, security, Cotton Bowl Stadium, marketing, future developments, and partnerships with other city departments, Fair Park campus venues and community organizations.
Since taking over operations at Fair Park from nonprofit Fair Park First and venue management company OVG360, park leaders are proud of the milestones reached over the past year. Park Board President Arun Agarwal said the past year has shown the importance of strong public stewardship and continued investment in Fair Park.
“Fair Park is one of Dallas’ most important cultural and historic assets, and the progress we have seen over the past year reflects a renewed commitment to its future and its role as an economic driver for the city,” Agarwal said. “The Park Board is proud to support the work being done to improve the campus, strengthen operations, expand programming and build partnerships that will help Fair Park thrive for generations to come.”
John D. Jenkins, director, Dallas Park and Recreation Department, said the department has focused on keeping Fair Park open and active all year long with new events, unique programs and safety and infrastructure upgrades.
“We have made significant progress at Fair Park. We have brought in new events like the popular Lights All Night and have worked alongside other organizations and the community on bringing new programs such as the weekly Farmers Market to the park. New programs, events and partnerships have helped us stay within our $18.6 million budget. There is more to do, and the future looks bright for Fair Park,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the city’s continued investment in Fair Park is important in the venue’s revitalization and that he is excited to highlight what he sees as some of the key developments.:
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Completed $4 million in improvements to the African American Museum
- Enhanced the guest experience at the Cotton Bowl Stadium through $140 million in renovations
- Restored the iconic Spirit of Centennial sculpture at the Women’s Building
- Revitalized the historic Old Mill Inn, formerly the Old Mill Inn restaurant
- Brought new energy to Fair Park with expanded year-round programming and major new events
Dallas City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua said the city’s focus during its first year of managing Fair Park has been on supporting daily operations and building relationshipthat support the community.
“Moving to a model built on strong public-private partnerships, community-focused programming, and a commitment to transparency and accountability was the right call for Fair Park. This first year has been about getting the fundamentals right, investing in the park, creating economic development opportunities and ensuring it remains active and accessible year-round,” Bazaldua said. “I’m committed to working alongside the park department, community partners, and residents to build on this progress and ensure Fair Park remains a valuable asset for our city and our community for generations to come.”
Daniel Wood, a Dallas Park and Recreation Board member, said residents and visitors are seeing the daily improvements and new projects moving forward. “The park department stepped in to honor the contracts and commitments already made, assess the needs, stabilize operations, and build a plan for Fair Park’s future,” said Wood, who represents the Fair Park communities on the board. “As this carefully curated team continues laying that foundation, we’re beginning to see the progress - operations are improving every day, the new community park is moving forward, and Fair Park is being positioned to truly thrive for generations to come.”
Fair Park General Manager Brett Wulke said staff have spent this year getting things in place for continued success. Wulke added that the progress made in 2026 will provide a foundation for continued improvements and a more streamlined operation in 2027. "This year’s focus has centered on stabilization. Next year will be aboutstandardization, modernization, and optimization. Standardizing processes and procedures, modernizing agreements and services, and optimizing the customerexperience, revenue streams, and overall operations. I’m proud of the work our team has put in this year that will pave the way for the years ahead.”
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