Fair Park’s planned 10-acre community park could break ground as soon as December, with Fair Park First reporting Tuesday that it is about $1.8 million away from reaching the amount needed to begin construction.
Fair Park First provided the first of its mandated quarterly updates on the community park to Dallas’ Parks, Trails and Environment Committee.
Philanthropy and Strategy Officer Heather Stevens said officials are finalizing a date for the groundbreaking.
“We have groundbreaking. It’s slated for December, with the date being finalized in the coming weeks,” Stevens said.
The park is planned for about 10 acres near Exposition and South Fitzhugh avenues. Dallas Parks and Recreation Director John Jenkins said the project would bring several new amenities to the area.
“You’re going to have a fountain back there. You’re going to have green space. You’re going to have, amphitheater, an area for farmer’s market. It is going to be beautiful,” Jenkins said.
The planned park comes as Dallas continues making broader improvements to Fair Park. Jenkins said his department has completed about $160 million worth of work there over the past year.
“I think Fair Park is definitely on the upward trajectory right now. A lot of progress has been made over the last year,” Jenkins said.
That work has included improvements to sidewalks and entrances.
“We’re taking care of the sidewalks, replacing those sidewalks, creating an entryway that’s attractive,” Jenkins said.
Other work has addressed irrigation, air conditioning and plumbing problems across Fair Park.
“You’re going to see the grass. Is greener because we. Repaired all the irrigation that was not working out here. You’re going to be to walk into the buildings, and they actually feel cool because we replaced the HVAC systems out here. You’re not going to see leaks everywhere because we are. We took care of the plumbing issues and the leaks out here,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the community park could also serve as an anchor for additional development at Fair Park. The city plans to seek potential developers this fall.
“But that community park is going to be the anchor to any future development back there. And so we are we will be, putting out solicitation for potential developers this fall as well about that future development,” Jenkins said.
Improvements at Fair Park are expected to continue, with Jenkins saying the next round of bond funding is expected in the fall to keep the work moving.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
