Photo from Dallas Historical Society. Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2011, periodical, 2011; Dallas, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth204538/: accessed July 22, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Historical Society.

Late last Thursday, the City of Dallas made the long-awaited announcement of the selection of a new, private management team to take over the operation and care of Fair Park for the next 20+ years. Working with the selected team for months to develop a draft contract, the process now moves to seek approval of that contract from the Dallas Parks Board and the City Council, a process that is expected to take until the end of September, at the very least.

The team is led by Fair Park First, a non-profit corporation that will be charged not only with the care and operation of Fair Park, but also with raising substantial amounts of private funding for desperately needed maintenance and improvements. Perhaps most importantly, however, Fair Park First will be responsible for working with the surrounding neighborhoods, neighborhoods with a long and often difficult relationship with Fair Park, to extend the benefits of the rejuvenated Fair Park to help nearby residents and businesses.

It's an exciting opportunity for the City, the neighborhoods, and for the Fair Park First team. Norman Alston Architects is proud to be part of Fair Park First and will be working hard to protect and promote Fair Park as a National Historic Landmark and the most important historic site that Dallas is likely to ever have.