Dallas’ Park and Recreation Department is looking to slash $3 million from its budget by cutting positions, closing pools and reducing hours at recreation centers.
The city’s Park and Recreation Board will meet Thursday to discuss proposed cuts.
“We were asked to look for things that we needed to stop doing,” said John Jenkins, department director, adding that park officials combed through “inefficient” services. The city is crafting a budget to make up for a $36.5 million shortfall overall.
On the chopping block are aging community pools that Jenkins said had no life left in them. City leaders discussed closing the pools last summer, citing aging infrastructure, but ultimately opted to keep them open.
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“We had to make a decision,” he said, echoing the similar effort park officials led last year.
The pools, most of which are decades old, have seen reduced attendance this summer as the city cut open swim hours to three days a week.
Daily average attendance at the legacy pools for the summer of 2025 has shrunk at four of the nine community pools and grown at five pools, compared to the summer of 2023. However, because the pools are only open three days a week, total attendance for 2025 is down at all pools, according to a budget presentation from the Parks Department.
The park and recreation department has not yet decided which two pools will close, Jenkins said in a message. His staff will consider the proximity to other options such as an aquatic center or a YMCA facility, the age of the pools and attendance rates.
Park officials also plan to reduce the number of hours at recreation centers with low attendance and cut between 15 and 20 positions.
The department will propose suspending its work to remove vegetation like privet, an invasive plant, that grows in clusters in greenbelts and creeks and has been a source of heartburn for those who want to see more city investment in preserving community jewels such as the Bachman greenbelt. Jenkins said he hopes to restore the funding once the city has more funds.
The city will also try to offload its oversight of the Southern Skates Roller Rink on East Ledbetter Drive and has proposed moving the skating haunt over to a private operator.
The roller rink has been a source of frustration for city officials for over two decades. Originally built in 1999 with about $1 million, including public dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development intended for a housing project, the rink fell under the city’s stewardship after its original owner defaulted on a $400,000 loan.
The city has since then struggled to run the site, making efforts over the years to lure a buyer and an operator. Jenkins said the city will try its luck once again.