To secure Fair Park’s future, more investments and community work need to be done in surrounding South Dallas, community members said Saturday at a listening session hosted by The Dallas Morning News.
The event, held at Cornerstone Baptist Church in South Dallas, brought about 30 people from the community together to discuss the future of Fair Park and the surrounding area with journalists of The News and its partner, Texas Metro News. It was part of The News’ continuing effort to build trust within the community by providing an opportunity for direct engagement with its journalists.
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A panel discussion with city reporter Devyani Chhetri, city columnist Robert Wilonksy, southern Dallas reporter Aria Jones and Texas Metro News publisher Cheryl Smith opened the session, followed by smaller group sessions.Sitting at round tables, employees of The News joined members of the community in discussion on issues facing Fair Park and the surrounding community and how the city and community can work to revitalize the area.
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Dallas Morning News city columnist Robert Wilonksy speaks during a listening session at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Panelists Texas Metro News publisher Cheryl Smith and Morning News’ southern Dallas reporter Aria Jones listen.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Community members said they came to the session to express their opinions and hear the thoughts of others on Fair Park and South Dallas. Karen Morrison, 71, said she has been going to the State Fair of Texas for years and loves Fair Park, though she said the state of the park, particularly the buildings, has been deteriorating.
“It breaks my heart, because these are buildings that should be brought back to life,” Morrison said.
Morrison said she supports year-round use of Fair Park, with events she said could bring in more revenue and thus lower costs at the State Fair. She also said she has seen the fair cater more to adults over the years, with more booths selling alcohol, at the expense of fewer booths catering to families and children.
Matt Wood, 60, is the president of the advocacy group Friends of Fair Park. He said he came to the listening session to hear the neighborhood’s thoughts on the future of the park.
Like Morrison, he said Fair Park needs to embrace year-round events, but mostly the city needs to let people know that the park is open year-round.
“I love telling people to go to the fair, but I also love telling people to go when it’s not the fair,” Wood said.
Wood said many people don’t know the park is open year-round, leaving the park to often be empty during non-fair times. He said something like a coffee shop or other things to do during non-fair times could help bring more visitors to the area.
During the panel, Smith said while Fair Park is a good jumping-off point for revitalization, the areas around the park in South Dallas need more jobs and more investments in education and infrastructure. Wilonsky questioned the number of promises from the city on South Dallas investments that have fallen through, something community members also focused on during the discussion.
“If our city leaders really want this place to thrive, they’d be doing a whole lot more and doing a better job, and putting some of those resources and calling in their favors,” Smith said.
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Lubbock Smith III, senior vice president and director of community development and Vista Outreach at Vista Bank, speaks during The Dallas Morning News‘ listening session at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Lubbock Smith III, an attendee of the session and a senior vice president of Vista Bank, said infrastructure, like more grocery stores, is needed in the community, but ultimately, he said people who live in South Dallas need to come together and advocate for their community. He pointed out how at the listening session, only about six people who came said they actually lived in South Dallas.
“We need to live here, work here, serve here, worship here, and fellowship here,” Lubbock Smith said. “If we can’t do those five things collectively, we don’t create impact.”
Pointing to broken promises from the city, Lubbock Smith said economic development in South Dallas should come from people who actually live there, not only from city government.
Attendees of the session said collaboration between the various entities who represent South Dallas, such as small businesses, nonprofits and residents, is needed to not only focus on needed improvements in the area but also to celebrate achievements and progress..
Mike Richman, vice president of public relations with Broadway Dallas, said he sees the organization’s stewardship of Music Hall as a way to give back to South Dallas. He said the music hall brings people from all over the city to South Dallas and employs people from surrounding neighborhoods, in addition to providing educational opportunities to South Dallas schools.
Ultimately, South Dallas and Fair Park have a symbiotic relationship, attendees said, and neither can thrive without the other.