- Dallas is soliciting development concepts for 40 acres of mostly unused Fair Park parking lots, hoping a revenue-producing project will help stabilize the historic park.
- The city divided Fair Park into six districts and is eyeing parking lots in the leisure, entertainment and lodging district, while also seeking a third-party operator for the Cotton Bowl.
- Parks Director John Jenkins wants a hybrid model with the city maintaining grounds and buildings and private firms running operations, after the city ended its prior operator contract in 2025.
Dallas has 40 acres of Fair Park parking lots, mostly empty, and wants developers to tell it what to build there, The Real Deal reports.
City officials are after something that earns revenue and supports their push to steady the district, the Dallas Business Journal reported.
Get Smarter About What Matters in Texas
Subscribe to our free newsletter covering the biggest commercial real estate stories across Texas — delivered in just 5 minutes.
Six Zones, One Target
Dallas has carved the park into six zones so bidders know what’s on offer. Interest centers on the lots in the lodging, leisure and entertainment zone.
Beyond the Texas State Fair, which runs most of a month each fall, those lots go unused. The city has long had trouble finding a financially workable way to run the park.
A New Operating Model
Parks Director John Jenkins would like a hybrid: city crews maintain the grounds and buildings while private operators handle the daily work. A third-party manager for the Cotton Bowl is also part of the plan.
The old arrangement fell apart. A nonprofit, Fair Park First, ran operations with a for-profit subcontractor, Oak View Group, until Dallas ended the deal in 2025 and stepped in itself.
The split followed a dispute. Fair Park First accused Oak View of putting money earmarked for upgrades toward everyday costs, and a forensic audit found $5 million misallocated.
Zoom Out
City Hall got the same treatment. Dallas asked for ideas to remake the I.M. Pei building, and developers have responded, but nothing has convinced the city to move yet.
Redevelopment around DFW’s big venues is moving elsewhere. Our brief on Arlington redevelopment covered Trademark Property’s rebuild of Lincoln Square into Anthem, a 404,000-square-foot retail and entertainment center, and the Cowboys’ interest in a mixed-use district around AT&T Stadium.
Why It Matters
Forty acres of parking that earns money mostly during the State Fair is a lot of idle land. The call is open-ended, and the city hasn’t said what it wants beyond a revenue-generating project that fits its revitalization plans.
Responses could show how much private capital sees in the area, and whether bidders would rather build around the Cotton Bowl or away from it.
What’s Next
No deadline for pitches was reported. Watch for the Cotton Bowl operator pick and for which developers respond to the city’s call.
