By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-840097.mp3
Dallas, TX – Plans to save Fair Park may be swept away in a flood of "red ink". KERA's BJ Austin says 7 million dollars -- all of Fair Park's funding -- has been cut from next year's Dallas budget.
This September, DART trains will bring passengers to the 2009 State Fair. There are two stations; one at the front gates; the other near Martin Luther King Boulevard. Last week, DART, Fair Park officials, and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, predicted light rail service to Fair Park would be a catalyst for new activities year-round. Two days later, every bit of Fair Park's annual funding was cut in the proposed city budget for next year. Councilmember Vonceil Jones Hill says no one is safe from the budget axe - as City Hall looks at ways to make up a 190 MILLION dollar shortfall.
Hill: I expect there will be extensive conversation about that particular item, as well as all others. But it is indicative of the fact that we've got to look closely at all of the services that we're providing.
At the front gates of the fairgrounds, Erroll McKoy, President of the State Fair chooses to remain optimistic. He believes Fair Park will have a summer theme park - with two dozen amusement park rides on the Midway in 2012.
McKoy: We want to be to Six Flags what Rough Rider Park is to the Texas Rangers. We will be a smaller, more bite-sized version. It'll be an economical visit. The price will be about half that of Six Flags, but it's still going to be jam packed, full of good things to do.
Dallas Attorney, longtime Fair Park supporter, Darrell Jordan says this is no time to douse new plans for Fair Park. The opera is leaving the Music Hall for the performing arts center downtown. The major museum exhibits are leaving for the Perot Museum of Science and Nature in the West End. The train museum is leaving for Frisco. The New Year's Cotton Bowl Classic is leaving for the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington. Jordan says Fair Park needs to step up its game. He hopes a proposed "think-tank" session this fall lead by Dallas Summer Musicals will chart a new future. Jordan would like to see the Park take a cue from Disney and its Epcot Center.
Jordan: where large, civic minded corporate sponsors have what would amount to exhibits - not a museum setting, but in an interactive, interesting setting where parents, and kids, and visitors would come to the park - that would be a great thing also.
Councilman Dave Neumann says Fair Park is not likely to be shuttered but it may have to operate differently.
Neumann: I'm confident that several of these proposed reductions in services will be restored. But there's going to be give and take. Clearly, we're all going to have to tighten our belts. A lot of things we've become accustomed to we may not have in this next budget cycle.
Council colleague Jerry Allen is a little more optimistic about Fair Park.
Allen: Obviously Fair Park is a jewel. So there will be ways to figure out how to trim it. It's a jewel that we've got, especially in light of the DART line opening up. So, that's a big deal.
A Fair Park official tells KERA that jewel needs to be shining in 2011 because Fair Park has just been chosen as the site of a HUGE Super Bowl party. The official NFC party could draw upwards of 100 thousand people to Fair Park.