Fair Park First CEO Brian Luallen submitted his resignation a month after he was reinstated to the position following a suspension.
Luallen confirmed his resignation to KERA in an email on Wednesday and said his last day will be Aug. 15.
The resignation comes after financial concerns following a 2022 audit into Fair Park's finances.
In a letter submitted on Tuesday, Luallen told the Fair Park First Board of Directors that his decision was made after "many months" of being in an environment that was "very difficult and uncomfortable to navigate."
"This has taken a great toll on me personally, particularly impacting my health which I must prioritize," he said in the letter.
Fair Park First is a nonprofit established five years ago to manage the park on behalf of the City of Dallas.
Board member Veletta Forsythe-Lill said the board was "sad" to announce Luallen's resignation.
"We all recognize how difficult it would be to go forward in his current role and appreciate the sacrifices he has made," Forsythe-Lill said in her letter, written on behalf of the board.
A 2022 audit of the park found OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, and Fair Park First failed to properly monitor revenue from parking, merchandise and food and beverage sales, according to documents obtained by the Dallas Morning News.
In response to the audit, Luallen submitted a letter in July 2023 which said Fair Park First would work with OVG360 to take all necessary steps to improve audit and compliance policies. He added that the Fair Park First board has a committee that annually reviews OVG360's performance.
The Dallas Morning News previously reported that Fair Park began an investigation into a possible mismanagement of funds by Oak View Group earlier this year.
In May, city official were notified that Luallen was no longer in his position, but he was reinstated in June with a performance review set for Sept. 15.
Since its founding, Luallen led the park through the COVID-19 pandemic and the completion of the 2020 Masterplan.
In his letter, Luallen said he was committed to ensuring a smooth transition of his responsibilities and intends to remain a "resource and friend" to the park going forward.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Got a tip? Email Megan Cardona at mcardona@kera.org.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you!
