Partnership helps pave way for ‘park within a park’
Development timeline remains on track
DALLAS (Nov. 26, 2024) – Fair Park First, the nonprofit that oversees and manages the revitalization of Dallas’ Fair Park, has selected The Dallas Foundation to manage current and future donations and related giving for the organization. This arrangement is effective immediately.
Fair Park First was formed in 2019 and is charged with transforming Fair Park into a year-round, public, vibrant space with culture, educational, and recreational programming for the community. The Dallas Foundation, established in 1929 as the first community foundation in Texas, has almost $600 million in assets under management and a well-established history of serving as a trusted liaison to North Texas civic, nonprofit, and philanthropic groups.
“The Dallas Foundation’s track record and standing in our community make them the ideal partner for us,” said Veletta Forsythe Lill, Fair Park First’s board president. “We are stronger together and having them onboard allows us to focus on stewarding the campus and delivering the Community Park.”
Fair Park First aims to deliver an enhanced and improved Fair Park along with a new community park in 2026. Fair Park covers 277 acres in South Dallas and is registered as a Dallas Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
“This is a community-first development,” said Alyssa Arnold, Fair Park First’s acting chief executive officer. “With this partnership and support finalized, it gives us the time and ability to focus on fulfilling and producing a project that our neighbors and all of Dallas can be proud of and enjoy.”
The Dallas Foundation plays a crucial role in fostering philanthropy within the Dallas community, facilitating connections between generous donors and local organizations, and leveraging its philanthropic expertise to ensure organizations like Fair Park First can reach its full potential and community impact with a strong fund stewardship in their partnership circle. The Dallas Foundation serves as a catalyst for positive change, facilitating collaboration and providing both the financial and strategic resources that drive lasting social impact in the region.
“The Dallas Foundation’s role provides an additional level of oversight and stewardship, since our primary goal remains to do what’s best for the city and people of Dallas. For almost 100 years, we’ve focused on strengthening Dallas, and a dynamic Fair Park is essential to that mission,” said Julie Diaz, The Dallas Foundation’s president and chief executive officer.
The Dallas Foundation has worked with similar ventures, including Southern Gateway Park, a deck park over Interstate 35 now known as Halperin Park; Bonton Farms, an urban farming community in South Dallas; and the Innercity Community Development Corporation for revitalization around Fair Park; and scores of other meaningful North Texas projects.
With the Fair Park First Board and key partners and consultants at the table, now including The Dallas Foundation, the Community Park at Fair Park is primed to become a renowned destination. The 10.5-acre park will be designed as the front porch of the surrounding community, with easily accessible nature, all-abilities all age play, usable outdoor recreation areas, and year-round programming.
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About Fair Park First
Fair Park First’s mission is to restore, revitalize, and renew the 277-acre National Historic Landmark through transformative improvements, increased attendance, and improved tenant relations, ultimately sustaining Fair Park for generations to come. In partnership with the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department, the Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit’s priority is to reestablish Dallas Fair Park as one of Dallas’s premier performance and recreation venues so that it is accessible and enjoyed by all.
About The Dallas Foundation
The Dallas Foundation, established as the first community foundation in Texas in 1929, brings together people, ideas, and investments in Greater Dallas so individuals and families can reach their full potential. Over the course of the Foundation’s history, it has granted over $1B to the full spectrum of community-centered causes.
