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A rendering of the community park planned to replace a parking lot area in Fair Park.<\/p>\n
Fair Park First<\/p>\n
Fair Park\u2019s long-promised\u00a0community green space<\/a> in South Dallas could be getting closer to breaking ground, with the project getting new funding from Deep Ellum tax revenue.<\/p>\n The Dallas City Council approved up to $3 million from the Deep Ellum Tax Increment Financing District on Wednesday for the roughly 10-acre park. Fair Park First, the nonprofit set to build the new park, has been working to close a roughly $7.5 million funding gap to reach its $40 million goal. That gap is now $4.5 million, said Heather Stevens, president of consulting group Rise360 and campaign adviser for the community park.<\/p>\n The TIF District funding, meant to support construction, will help ensure the green space is developed, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a powerful example of how Dallas can leverage innovative financing tools and strong public\u2013private partnerships to reinvest in our neighborhoods, honor our commitments, and build a more vibrant city for everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The boost comes as the city also works to attract more visitors to Fair Park. City leaders are also considering finding a developer<\/a> for retail, restaurants or lodging at the site. The historic Fair Park campus faces hundreds of millions worth of deferred maintenance.<\/p>\n The park project, which hasn\u2019t yet broken ground, faced uncertainty and delays earlier this year as the city took over management<\/a> of the fairgrounds.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Dallas to seek developer for lodging, restaurants, other uses at Fair Park<\/a><\/p>\n The new funding comes from the Deep\u00a0Ellum TIF district, which extends into the Exposition Park area next to Fair Park. The fairgrounds are not part of any district, but city staff said the funding is appropriate because of how development benefits the nearby Deep Ellum area.<\/p>\n \u201cThe simple reality is that Deep Ellum’s TIF is thriving. It’s healthy and we can afford to be able to do this and to help our neighbors south of [Interstate] 30,\u201d said council member Jesse Moreno, who chairs the economic development committee. \u201cThis is an example of how the city is working together collaboratively to benefit the city as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreno added that \u201cthis project must happen without delay,\u201d noting agreements with the city. <\/p>\n Fair Park First faced scrutiny as it worked to build momentum for the project near Exposition and South Fitzhugh avenues. For months, the community park\u2019s future was undecided, delaying its timeline as leaders assessed the nonprofit’s readiness.<\/p>\n The scrutiny came after millions in misspent donor funds and a tense split<\/a> from Fair Park First and Oak View Group, which were managing the fairgrounds. The city\u2019s park department started managing the 277-acre fairgrounds in September, scrambling to set up operational contracts and make improvements to attract visitors.<\/p>\n The community park project sat in limbo<\/a> until February, when the council approved a new contract with Fair Park First<\/a> to build the green space. That decision came ahead of deadlines for millions in funding. The contract was executed months later with several safeguards. The nonprofit, previously aiming to break ground in August, now hopes to start work by the end of this year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n