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Rowers practice at White Rock Lake in Dallas on June 26, 2020. Park Board member Rudy Karimi writes that Dallas should regularly review public-private park partnerships to ensure accountability, including with White Rock Boathouse.<\/p>\n
Ryan Michalesko\/Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
White Rock Lake<\/a> is one of Dallas\u2019 most treasured, visible and heavily used public spaces. Protecting it, as well as other parks, requires more than maintenance alone. It requires active stewardship of public land and consistent accountability that all partnerships demonstrably serve all Dallas residents. This nonprofit manages the White Rock Boathouse and the Filter Building<\/a>, two highly valuable public assets along the lakefront. Since 2003, the city has established agreements with the organization allowing it to renovate, operate and maintain the facilities in 10-year renewal periods.<\/p>\n Like all agreements involving public parkland, the nonprofit partner must meet clear and ongoing standards: transparency and accountability, public access and alignment with the long-term interests of all Dallas residents.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n As the operator of these city-owned facilities, White Rock Boathouse Inc. is responsible for meeting the obligations under its agreement with the city. Public records raise questions about whether those obligations are being met. A 2019 city audit found the city lacked formal policies and procedures to oversee or monitor the agreement and identified gaps in financial reporting and accountability. Although the agreement was strengthened in 2022 to require enhanced financial assurance, public records indicate questions have continued regarding compliance with those requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n Public records also reflect changes to the nonprofit\u2019s governing documents and code of conduct that narrowed public access, participation in programs and membership at White Rock Boathouse while reducing the city\u2019s direct role in reviewing any concerns surrounding these points. Collectively, these findings raise important questions about whether the partnership continues to meet the standards of transparency, accountability and access expected of a publicly owned facility.<\/p>\n Given the significance of these assets, the length of time this agreement has been in place and prior public discussion and recurring questions<\/a> regarding financial transparency, access and contract structure, it is appropriate and necessary for the city to conduct a comprehensive review of whether those standards are still being fully met.<\/p>\n That review is now underway in one important respect. On July 8, the city of Dallas issued a formal notice of breach to White Rock Boathouse Inc. after determining that its 2025 code of conduct had not been submitted for the city\u2019s required review and approval and that certain membership and access provisions were inconsistent with the development agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city specifically found that provisions allowing White Rock Boathouse Inc. to deny access to coaches and mentors affiliated with other Dallas-area rowing programs conflicted with the agreement\u2019s requirement that the facility be maintained for the use and enjoyment of all segments of the Dallas community. White Rock Boathouse Inc. has been directed to remove the current code of conduct and submit a revised version.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The notice of breach is an important first step, but it should not be the last. It demonstrates that active oversight of public-private partnerships is both necessary and appropriate. The city should continue this work through a comprehensive review to ensure that longstanding agreements continue to meet the standards of transparency, accountability, public access and stewardship that Dallas residents deserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is not a criticism of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. In fact, it reflects a department and Park Board that have increasingly demonstrated willingness to evaluate and, when necessary, restructure or terminate partnerships that no longer fully serve the public interest. These actions reinforce a core governance principle: Public-private partnerships are privileges, not entitlements. Strong partnerships should absolutely be celebrated, but all agreements involving public land must continue serving the public interest first and foremost, while remaining accessible and accountable to the people of Dallas, who ultimately own them. Rudy Karimi is a member of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Board for District 14.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Have thoughts about this?<\/strong> Send a letter to the editor using our letters form<\/a> or email letters@dallasnews.com<\/a>. Letters should be no more than 200 words and include the first and last name of the writer and city of residence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rowers practice at White Rock Lake in Dallas on June 26, 2020. 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It is appropriate to take a closer look at how public land, facilities and long-standing partnerships are performing across the park system, and whether they are still delivering the public benefit they were designed to provide. This is the case of White Rock Boathouse Inc.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
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We have already seen this principle applied elsewhere in the system. At Fair Park, the city took decisive action to realign operations with public accountability standards. At MoneyGram Park, Dallas ended its agreement with FC Dallas to pursue a structure more directly aligned with broader community benefit. The Park Department also routinely intervenes in smaller cases when athletic field agreements are not followed.<\/p>\n
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That is why the agreements involving White Rock Boathouse Inc. warrant a formal, comprehensive review by the city of Dallas to determine whether they continue delivering appropriate public value relative to the scale and significance of the public assets involved.
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In an era of tightening budgets and increasing competition for public resources, anything less than full accountability is not sufficient.
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White Rock Boathouse Inc. must fully meet the same standards of stewardship, transparency, accountability and public access expected of all facilities throughout the Dallas park system without exception.
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Ultimately, this is about maintaining a consistent and enforceable standard, one that ensures all public-private partnerships remain accountable to the people of Dallas.
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Parks are for the people, and that is how we fight for them for generations to come.<\/p>\n