DALLAS — The Dallas Park and Recreation Board quickly pared back -- but did not eliminate -- a proposal to close community pools as part of a city-wide mandate to cut costs in next year's budget.
Nine pools are among the city's oldest and most in need of investment, though investment is not likely, Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins argues.
"At some point either we gotta close them or we gotta replace them," he said. "I do believe that the residents deserve better and so I would love to get them to utilize our new aquatic facilities for free."
The Park Board said it didn't want to close all nine pools, three of which are already under extended maintenance closures.
"It’s not just a pool," said Park Board Vice President Priscilla Rice. "For our communities, it’s a place to gather, it’s a safe place for children."
Instead, the board wants only half of the community pools to close and for Jenkins to find the additional estimated $500,000 cut somewhere else in the budget. He said he would bring an updated proposal to the board next week.
Park Board President Arun Agarwal suggested the city could explore philanthropic money to improve the community pools. "If we can get them to build a Klyde Warren Park, I think we can get some private funding to keep those pools alive," he said.
The proposed cuts to the parks budget amount to $2.6 million and include eliminating hiring bonuses for aquatic workers, reducing summer mowing frequency in some areas -- and reducing money the city sends to attractions like the Arboretum and the Dallas Zoo.
Several park board members asked for a closer examination of the zoo's roughly $15 million management fee paid by the city and its taxpayers, which dwarfs similar dollars dedicated to other city partners.
"We are thankful for the support we receive from the city and the park board, particularly in the form of our management fee, which covers 63 percent of the Zoo's staffing expenses," said a zoo spokesperson in a statement to WFAA. "That is our largest expense, but also our most critical expense. Our dedicated staff who are responsible for animal wellbeing, education, programming, and operations at the park are central to our ability to deliver amazing experiences for our guests."
The spokesperson said the zoo will address the challenge of adjusting its budget when asked to do so, but does not yet have final answers on the impact of budget cuts.
Fair Park drama continues
Amid the budget cuts, Park and Recreation will add $903 thousand for increased maintenance needs at Fair Park -- a pared-down amount from the initial $5 million the park's nonprofit operator requested, said Jenkins.
The money will help make up Fair Park First's budget shortfall by having city employees take on maintenance tasks like mowing and litter pickup, he said.
"Fair Park has to be maintained," said Agarwal, arguing spending the money is a necessity and can't be used to offset the need for other budget cuts.
Fair Park First has had a spring -- and now, summer -- of turmoil. On Wednesday, CEO Brian Luallen announced his resignation from the nonprofit. His departure comes after the Fair Park First board initially put him on leave and then reinstated him shortly after it began an audit -- at Luallen's urging -- of potentially misappropriated funds.
The audit's results still have not been finalized or made public, frustrating park board president Agarwal.
"I think things are falling through cracks and we cannot let Fair Park fall through cracks," he said. "It should not take that long."
Agarwal also called for the city to renegotiate its contract with Fair Park First -- and its subcontractor OVG 360.
Jenkins said the department will not give the nearly one million dollars for maintenance to Fair Park First directly. "At this particular time it is product that -- instead of giving them additional revenues -- we perform the work in-house," he said.
The audit on the potentially misspent money is due for release in August, Agarwal said.
Here are the nine pools the city is considering closing:
- Jaycee Zaragoza: 3125 Tumalo Trail, Dallas, TX 75212
- Grauwyler: 2157 Anson Rd, Dallas, TX 75235
- Glendale 1534 5 Mile Dr, Dallas, TX 75216
- Bonnie View: 2124 Huntingdon Ave, Dallas, TX 75203
- Tommie Allen: 6901 Bonnie View Rd, Dallas, TX 75241
- Martin Weiss: 3440 W Clarendon Dr, Dallas, TX 75211
- Walnut Hill: 4141 Walnut Hill Ln, Dallas, TX 75229
- Pleasant Oaks: 8701 Greenmound Ave, Dallas, TX 75227
- Everglade: 5100 N Jim Miller Rd, Dallas, TX 75227