The Dallas City Council says Fair Park needs to be run differently after the management company reported a shortfall of $5.7 million.
The sentiment shared by several council members during a briefing at city hall with representatives from the non-profit Fair Park First and the park’s operator, OVG360, reflects what the Dallas Park and Recreation director told NBC 5 last month: the structure of the contract needs to be changed moving forward.
This comes after an accounting firm's report on Oct. 9 found that $5.7 million in donor funds were instead used to cover day-to-day expenses at Fair Park between Oct. 2020 and April 2024.
“We have disappointment for the neighborhoods that surround Fair Park and for the people who have made generous donations to support Fair Park,” councilmember Kathy Stewart said.
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The president of venue management for Oak View Group told the council that any spending was directed by previous leadership at Fair Park First.
“The issue and that shortfall is related to the fact that there have been monies that were directed by the prior leadership of Fair Park First,” Greg O’Dell said. “For those funds to be spent elsewhere, so that is why we’re in the situation we’re in right now.”
Greg O’Dell added that OVG-360 has $2.1 million in deferred earnings to ensure operations at Fair Park continue and to help third-party vendors get paid.
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In a letter sent to the council on Tuesday and obtained by NBC 5, O’Dell added that OVG360 has repeatedly expressed concerns about growing operating budget deficits and suggested moving some of the Park’s operations back to the city of Dallas or reducing services offered at Fair Park.
The city of Dallas already provides a $4 million stipend to cover staff costs for Fair Park First and OVG360.
Dallas City Council members seemed reluctant to support increasing the stipend to offset any losses OVG360 has incurred operating the venue.
“We don’t have any money, as I keep saying. I feel like I’m talking to my kids here,” Dallas City Councilmember Paula Blackmon said, invoking her recent challenge of securing $500,000 to keep a Dallas library branch open another year. “We just don’t have any money.”
Going forward, several on the council said Wednesday it’s difficult to tell where the responsibilities of one partner end and the other begin, given the current contract structure between the city, Fair Park First and OVG360.
“It was not something that was misuse of our tax dollars, which I think is also a distinction is very important for the public to know,” councilmember Adam Bazaldua said. “However, someone needs to be held responsible for the trust that has been compromised with our public, and the crown jewel of our city.”
Briefings on Fair Park First and Oak View Group will continue on Thursday during the Dallas Park Board's regularly scheduled meeting.
