Dallas Looks to Development Revenue to Fund Fair Park Repairs

City leaders aim to emulate Brooklyn Bridge Park's model to address $55 million in deferred maintenance.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:34pm

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An isometric 3D digital illustration depicting a miniature, stylized business environment with new hotels, restaurants, and parking garages floating on a pastel background, representing the vision for revitalizing Dallas' Fair Park through development-driven revenue.A conceptual rendering of the proposed development projects that could help fund critical repairs and maintenance at Dallas' historic Fair Park fairgrounds.Dallas Today

Dallas park officials plan to fund $55 million in deferred maintenance at Fair Park through new development projects inspired by the revenue model of New York's Brooklyn Bridge Park. The city has taken over operations at Fair Park and is seeking to activate the venue year-round through events, sports, and transit-oriented development around the MLK Station.

Why it matters

Fair Park, a historic landmark in Dallas, has fallen into disrepair with $55 million in needed HVAC, plumbing, and roof repairs. By pursuing a development-driven revenue model similar to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dallas hopes to preserve Fair Park's iconic art deco architecture while generating the funds necessary for critical infrastructure upgrades.

The details

Dallas park officials plan to fund the $55 million in deferred maintenance at Fair Park through new development projects on roughly 50 acres of empty parking lots on the northeast side of the campus. The development would replace lost parking with garages, while preserving Fair Park's historical aspects. The city is also working with Visit Dallas to activate Fair Park's venues year-round with events, high school sports, and Cotton Bowl games. Additionally, Dallas wants DART to utilize the MLK Station for a transit-oriented development project.

  • In the past six months, the city of Dallas has taken over operations at Fair Park from a previous company accused of misusing funds.
  • Dallas park officials have until August 25 to raise the remaining $7 million to break ground on a long-awaited community park at Fair Park.

The players

John Jenkins

The director of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, who is leading the effort to fund Fair Park's repairs through development projects.

Fair Park First

The organization responsible for raising the remaining $7 million to break ground on a new community park at Fair Park.

Visit Dallas

The organization working with the city to activate Fair Park's venues year-round with events, sports, and other programming.

DART

The regional public transportation agency that Dallas hopes will develop a transit-oriented project around the MLK Station at Fair Park.

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What they’re saying

“This hasn't been an easy road, but guess what? It is going to be something all of us are going to look back at two years from today and say it was well worth it.”

— John Jenkins, Director, Dallas Park and Recreation Department

“Success looks like in a year from today, hopefully, if the community supports it and the council and board supports it, hopefully, in a year from today we can have a groundbreaking.”

— John Jenkins, Director, Dallas Park and Recreation Department

“It looks like more high school sports. It looks like more games in the Cotton Bowl. It looks like a year-round operation. And it looks like spreading to the outside of the park. I'm talking about as far as opportunities for the small businesses in the community to thrive with better sidewalks, additional patrols, better traffic flow. That is what success looks like to me in this two to three year range.”

— John Jenkins, Director, Dallas Park and Recreation Department

What’s next

The city has an agreement with Visit Dallas to help activate Fair Park's venues year-round, and is working with DART to utilize the MLK Station for a transit-oriented development project. Fair Park First also has until August 25 to raise the remaining $7 million to break ground on a new community park at Fair Park.

The takeaway

By pursuing a development-driven revenue model similar to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dallas hopes to preserve Fair Park's iconic art deco architecture while generating the funds necessary for critical infrastructure upgrades. This strategy aims to transform Fair Park into a year-round destination that benefits the surrounding community through new events, sports, and economic opportunities.