The Hoblitzelle Foundation has donated $2 million to Fair Park First, a nonprofit organization committed to the revitalization of the Dallas landmark.
Fair Park First states that its mission is to restore, revitalize and renew the 277-acre Fair Park, a National Historic Landmark famously known as the home of the State Fair of Texas. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson took to Twitter to voice his support for the donation.
“Exciting news: Fair Park First has announced a $2 million gift from the Hoblitzelle Foundation to help fund a new 11-acre community park,” Johnson said in a June 7 Twitter post. “The park will serve as a first-rate gathering place for the people of South Dallas, and it will become the cornerstone of a new era for @fairpark.”
The $2 million gift is for the construction of the new 11-acre Community Park, which is a major component of the “Fair Park, Your Park” capital campaign, according to Dallas Business Journal.
“This step is critical to providing access to community green space for our surrounding neighbors and is the beginning of our work to put the ‘park’ back in Fair Park,” Emily Ledet, Fair Park First board member, told the Dallas Business Journal.
Authored by Texas State Sen. Royce West, Senate Bill 2181 is a sports and community revenue project bill to secure $85 million in funding for the project, according to Spectrum News 1.
“SB 2181 helps provide a path for funding and renovation of Fair Park,” West wrote in an April 29 Facebook post. “The City of Dallas and voters would have to approve the measure, but it is a step toward renovating and restoring Fair Park to its former glory.”
The renovation project also includes adding more green spaces, a biking and walking trail, a children’s area and a pavilion to host outdoor activities.
The State Fair of Texas will return to Fair Park this fall as a traditional in-person event.
The fair was previously relegated to a drive-thru event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
