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Dallas Prepares Development Call for About 40 Acres at Fair Park
The Park and Recreation Department expects to open the call this week, seeking hotels, entertainment, dining, retail and structured parking on lots 10, 11 and 12.
The City of Dallas is preparing to invite private development proposals for about 40 acres at Fair Park, a step city officials describe as the first in opening the historic campus to revenue-producing projects. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department said in an Oct. 29 bulletin that its open Call for Concepts was expected to be released the week of Nov. 10. The release had not been confirmed as of Nov. 11.
The call covers surface parking lots 10, 11 and 12 along with the planned Fair Park Community Park. Developers, businesses, nonprofits and others may submit concepts. The city lists sports and recreation, entertainment venues, restaurants, retail, hotels and structured parking among the uses it wants to see.
Private investment and year-round use
According to the city, the goals are to revitalize Fair Park, attract private investment, increase year-round activity and create new revenue for the park. Development should connect Fair Park with nearby Southern Dallas neighborhoods and support long-term maintenance and historic preservation. Fair Park is a National Historic Landmark, and designs will be expected to respect that status.
City leaders presented the expected timeline at a Nov. 2 town hall at Vista Bank on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, hosted with Councilmember Adam Bazaldua. The bulletin does not give a submission deadline. At an earlier town hall in May, city staff said submissions would be open for roughly four weeks and would then go to the Park Board and City Council for review.
Parking, revenue and campus operations
The lots sit on the east side of the 277-acre campus and are largely empty outside the 24-day State Fair of Texas, according to Senior Deputy Director Ryan O'Connor. Structured parking would replace lot space lost during the fair. The city has divided Fair Park into six districts, and the lots fall in the area planned for lodging, leisure and entertainment. Ideas discussed in briefings include a western-themed venue for rodeos and small concerts, reuse of the Coliseum and a hotel.
Development would be paid for with private money rather than direct city funding. Lease and revenue-sharing income would stay in Fair Park to fund upkeep. "The revenues generated from this development would stay in Fair Park," O'Connor said at the May town hall. Developers would be expected to offer local hiring and small-business opportunities. City staff estimate critical deferred maintenance at about $45 million, with total campus needs approaching $600 million.
The city took over Fair Park operations after ending its contract with nonprofit Fair Park First. Under the new model, city crews maintain the grounds, private operators run daily operations and a third party would run the Cotton Bowl. Staff have said they aim to start development in 2027.
Separate from the Community Park project
The call is separate from the city's $20 million Community Park at Fair Park, a 10.5-acre project registered with the state with construction listed to start Dec. 29. Park Director John Jenkins said at the May town hall, "This time, we have it right."
