By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-907655.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Attorney General of Texas is warning the Dallas Park Board it will be sued if it proceeds with plans to sell Samuell Farm. KERA's BJ Austin says the Park Board is set to talk about a sale at tomorrow's meeting.
The Park Board is likely to face another round of huge budget cuts this year, as the city grapples with a 130 million dollar shortfall.
At its Thursday meeting, the Park Board will discuss selling the 600 acre Samuell Farm Park near Highway 80 and Beltline, just outside the city limits.
The Attorney General's office has sent the city notice that the property doesn't belong to the city or the Park Board. It belongs to a charitable trust. And the terms of that trust require that the property be used as a park for the benefit of the public. The Attorney General says if a court amended the trust terms, and the city were able to sell the park, the money would not go to the city. It would go into the W.W. Samuell Permanent Foundation and be restricted to maintenance and upkeep of all Samuell park properties.
The Park Board will also look at selling three other parks, including Elgin B. Robertson on Lake Ray Hubbard. Board members may vote on calling a November election to get voter approval to sell.