City Hall Roundup: Fair Park Initiatives, DART Elections, Budget Town Halls
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It’s been a hell of a couple of weeks at Dallas City Hall, with the fate of 1500 Marilla St. and potentially the Mavericks’ new arena hanging in the balance. But just because that storyline has been dominating headlines doesn’t mean there hasn’t been other important news coming out of the building.
New Farmers Market Launches at Fair Park
Dallasites can look forward to a new series of initiatives aimed at bringing more year-round activity to Fair Park. Among the first is the Fair Park Farmers Market, which kicked off on March 1.
Located at 3535 Grand Ave. near Leonhardt Lagoon, the market will operate Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through July. It will be operated by Good Local Markets, with some 60-100 vendors expected to sell fresh produce, prepared foods, and handmade goods.
“I can’t state enough how much I’m personally looking forward to seeing a recurring Farmers Market at Fair Park,” said Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7), who represents the area. “There’s so much demand in South Dallas for fresh foods that I’m confident the Fair Park Farmers Market will become a staple in the routine of both South Dallas neighbors and visitors alike.”
City leaders say the market is part of a broader push to make Fair Park more active and accessible outside of major events. Upcoming programming includes a monthly outdoor movie series, partnerships with Sunny South Dallas Food Park, seasonal celebrations such as an Easter egg hunt at Corona/Cotton Bowl Plaza on April 4, and a rotating schedule of cultural festivals, fitness classes, and live music throughout the summer.
Improving neighborhood access is also a priority. The Gurley Avenue gate will reopen, allowing residents from nearby Jubilee Park neighborhoods to enter Fair Park more directly without having to walk around the park’s perimeter.
“These initiatives will push Fair Park forward and enhance the experience for everyone who visits,” said Dallas Park & Recreation Director John D. Jenkins. “The city is excited about what’s going here and we want visitors to know that there are family-and kid-friendly activities happening in a fun and safe space. There’s something for everyone at Fair Park and at Dallas parks and recreational venues across the city.”
Demolition Underway at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Major demolition has begun at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, marking a key step forward for one of the city’s biggest redevelopment initiatives.
Crews have started tearing down Halls D, E, and F following months of preparatory work. Meanwhile, Halls A, B, and C will remain open so events can continue during construction. The facility is also scheduled to serve as the International Broadcast Center for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through August of this year, counting decommissioning.
Demolition will occur in phases to avoid disrupting critical infrastructure. A section of the building over Lamar Street will be structurally separated before the remainder of the halls are dismantled. Part of Hall F above the DART and Union Pacific Railroad rail corridor will remain in place to protect the tracks below, though the structure above that slab will be removed. The nearby DART Convention Center station will stay closed during construction, but trains will continue running through the area.
Officials expect demolition to be largely complete by the end of 2026, with the entire project slated for completion in 2029.
Plans call for roughly 750,000 square feet of exhibit space, along with expanded ballroom and meeting areas. City leaders say the redevelopment will also support a new walkable district linking downtown with the Cedars while opening more than 30 acres for future housing, hotels, retail, and restaurants.
It’s Always Budget Season, And Spring Town Halls Are Up Next
Officials are putting out the annual call for Dallas residents to get involved and weigh in on next fiscal year’s budget at a series of town halls across the city later this month.
“Spring Budget Town Hall Meetings begin on Monday, March 23, and end on Thursday, March 26. These meetings provide City Council Members with an opportunity to listen to residents prior to beginning work on the FY 2026-27 budget,” according to a memo.
Each city council district will host a town hall meeting that week, and there will be an expanded session hosted by Council Members Jesse Moreno (District 2), Adam Bazaldua (District 7), Paula Blackmon (District 9), and Paul Ridley (District 14). Most are planned as in-person meetings, and a handful are virtual.
While these sessions will inform officials on how to prioritize the city’s spending, staff will also be taking cues from the annual community survey when devising a proposed budget for city council to consider later this year. This year’s survey is currently underway.
Council members adopted a record-high budget for FY 2025-2026, making hard choices amid a significant increase in public safety spending. They cut state lobbying contracts, city memberships, and funding for Skillman Library. They also reduced department food, furniture, and marketing budgets.
More hard choices are expected this year, with a library system overhaul of some kind still under consideration and officials looking to realize more efficiencies where possible.
City Gets Back in Business With Fair Park First To Build Community Park
Things are finally going to get moving on the long awaited Community Park at Fair Park after council members authorized a development agreement on February 25 with the embattled nonprofit Fair Park First.
As previously reported by CandysDirt.com, Fair Park First, which used to oversee operations at Fair Park, has been under scrutiny following the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in donations by its subcontractor Oak View Group. Mismanagement and a failure to maintain the iconic city park have also been issues, leading to the cancellation of city contracts with both organizations.
Some Dallas Park & Recreation Board members have been hesitant about entering into a development agreement with Fair Park First because of the previous controversy. However, the city council moved to take over the project from DPR following calls from the community to finally get the park going.
“Thank you to the residents who sent emails, letters, and spoke up during the last few months,” said Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7), who represents the area. “The Fair Park Community Park is moving forward. This milestone reflects the dedication, patience, and passion of our community. Your voices truly made a difference, and the outcome shows what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision. There is still work ahead, but today we celebrate this important step forward and the collective effort that made it possible.”
Fair Park First is now responsible for designing and building the Community Park within two years, with construction expected to commence by late August. The nonprofit will also have to fundraise to pay for the development.
“The agreement also provides for ongoing transparency, with City audit rights and required quarterly and annual financial briefings. The Park and Recreation Department Director will review and approve all design development and construction documents throughout the process,” the city said in a press release.
DART Withdrawal Elections To Proceed in Three Cities
The future of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system remains in the hands of voters, though fewer than was the case just a couple weeks ago.
City councils in Farmers Branch, Irving, and Plano recently called off withdrawal elections after reaching an accommodation that reshapes control of DART. However, some other member cities are going through with theirs. Addison, Highland Park, and University Park will be going through with their exit elections, which are scheduled for May 2.
DART has been under fire in the suburbs this past year, with local officials claiming their cities are not getting enough return on investment for their sales tax contributions. Bus and light rail services would come to an end for any city that leaves the system, however, they would still be on the hook for some DART-related debt for years.
For those jurisdictions choosing to remain a part of DART, they would enjoy a new framework that would end Dallas’ historic majority control of the organization’s board. Instead, Dallas would only get seven seats and no less than 45% of the voting share. Each member city would be guaranteed at least one seat.
Negotiations between member cities have also produced a strategic funding proposal that would return up to 25% of member cities’ sales tax contributions over six years, backed by a $75 million regional commitment through the Regional Transportation Council.
The framework would need to be approved by the Texas Legislature.
“We still have to work on service and there’s a lot of priorities within each city that we have to figure out how to bring together,” said Randall Bryant, board chair for DART, speaking with KERA News. “There are a lot of things that hinge on the legislative session and so we need to get prepared for that starting now, too.”
New Y’all Street Addition Opens Its Doors
Scotiabank opened its new regional headquarters in Victory Park late last month, marking another step forward for Dallas’ growing financial services sector: Y’all Street.
“Opening our Dallas hub is an important step in strengthening our U.S. platform and expanding our role across the North American corridor,” said Travis Machen, CEO and group head for global banking and markets at Scotiabank. “Dallas offers a powerful combination of talent, economic momentum, and connectivity, making it an ideal location for the next chapter of our growth.”
The firm moved into 100,000 square feet of space at Victory Commons One. Some 1,000 jobs averaging $135,000 in wages and over $60 million in investment are expected to stem from Scotiabank’s decision to relocate the office it previously maintained in North Carolina.
Mayor Eric Johnson and several city council members turned out for the grand opening. The mayor’s been vocal about leveraging Dallas’ new Y’all Street branding to attract more corporate relocations.
Recently, the mayor and City Manager Kimberly Tolbert were set to lead a business delegation to New York City to pitch executives on the Big D’s business-friendly environment. That trip, however, had to be postponed because of severe winter weather in the northeast. It’s unclear when the trip will be rescheduled.
“When investors look at Dallas, they see stability, they see opportunity, and they see growth, and most importantly, they see alignment, where we work together with our private sector partners to move this city forward,” Tolbert said last month. “This trip will allow us to deepen relationships with key financial leaders and demonstrate that Dallas is prepared not just for growth but for leadership on the national and international stage.”
Temporary Library To Open at Kleberg-Rylie Recreation Center
City officials are rolling out a temporary solution to make neighborhood library services available again following the temporary closure of the Kleberg-Rylie Branch in southeastern Dallas.
The library sustained significant water damage from flooding throughout the building during the January freeze. Now, Dallas Public Library and Dallas Park & Recreation are partnering to open an interim library space inside Kleberg-Rylie Recreation Center.
“This collaboration reflects what is possible when City departments work together,” said Council Member Lorie Blair (District 8), who represents the area. “The Kleberg-Rylie community relies on its library as a hub for resources, and we’re proud to provide a temporary solution that provides continued access during renovations.”
Patrons will be able to access public computers and printing services, return materials, and pick up holds. Some programming will also resume, including toddler storytime and movie screenings for seniors, depending on space and scheduling at the facility.
Some $5,000 was pledged by the Friends of the Dallas Public Library to help pay for the temporary space and children’s programming. The temporary site, which opened last week, will operate Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Officials said the full extent of the repairs is still being evaluated, and there is no confirmed timeline for reopening the permanent branch. Flooding destroyed carpeting, several feet of drywall, and more than 22,000 books.
