Breakup between Dallas, Fair Park operator getting messy

The Dallas Park and Recreation Department Director said he’s asked city marshals to add extra patrols at Fair Park because he’s “not sure” what OVG360 may do.

DALLAS — Breaking up is hard to do. 

The city of Dallas and the company hired to run day-to-day operations at Fair Park are learning that the hard way. 

Earlier this summer, Dallas Park and Recreation Department Director John Jenkins terminated the city’s contract with Fair Park First, the nonprofit operator of the crown jewel of South Dallas, and OVG360, the subcontractor it hired to run operations. 

The city and OVG had been at odds over over maintenance, use of funds and utility re-payments — and had spent months in unsuccessful mediation. 

Now, Jenkins said, the relationship has soured further — and he has asked city marshals to add patrols at Fair Park for the final days of OVG’s presence on property to ensure a smooth transition. 

“We’re asking for our keys back and there’s been nothing nothing but frustration,” he said. “The least amount of cooperation you can imagine.”

OVG said it has been in regular contact with the city and refuted Jenkins’ assertions. 

Jenkins said this week OVG sent a notice to people who have contracts for events at Fair Park telling them, in part, “your license agreement will terminate” when OVG’s management agreement ends this month. 

The letter from OVG said “the city has not advised OVG360 that it is electing to have your contract assumed by the city” and directed customers to reach out to a member of the city’s park department staff. 

Jenkins said he wants to get the word out that the city will honor planned events. 

“It will be smooth, they will be supported in every way,” he said.  

He said the city has been trying to get access to the contracts signed with OVG since serving them with a termination notice earlier this summer. 

“We cannot get a copy of those contracts and that is unacceptable. That is not what partners do,” Jenkins said. 

OVG said it has told the city it will turn over the contracts to the city when the contract terminates this month. It said it has given the city access to the park’s event calendar and contact information for people hosting events at the park — Jenkins said the information was insufficient. 

“That hinders our efforts to come out of the gates and be successful,” Jenkins said. “But we’re going to make sure that we’re successful because failure is not an option.” 

He said the ongoing disputes will not affect the State Fair of Texas later this month.