Oak View Group, Fair Park’s former private operator, sued Dallas Wednesday seeking more than $20 million over alleged breaches of the park’s former management arrangement, WFAA reported.
The lawsuit also names Dallas Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins, KERA reported. The demand includes $5.72 million in damages and additional lost compensation, according to WFAA.
Dallas declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.
OVG previously managed Fair Park through a subcontract with nonprofit Fair Park First, which held the city’s management agreement. The arrangement began in 2019 and covered programming, operations and maintenance.
OVG alleges Dallas failed to meet commitments
OVG alleges Dallas promised adequate funding to revitalize Fair Park but failed to fulfill those commitments and disclose the extent of the park’s infrastructure and maintenance problems.
“After stepping into its management role, OVG discovered that the City’s representations of Fair Park during the procurement process were misleading,” attorneys for OVG wrote in the filing, per KERA.
The company alleges the facilities were in worse condition than disclosed because of decades of underfunding. It also alleges Dallas reduced capital funding and left the company responsible for expenses the city should have covered.
City officials allegedly withheld or redirected millions of dollars intended for Fair Park operations in 2024 and 2025 and encouraged tenants, including the State Fair of Texas, to send rent payments away from the park’s operating account, WFAA reported.
OVG says it spent approximately $1 million of its own money on the property, increased annual park revenue by more than 200% and saved the city’s general fund more than $40 million in operating costs during its tenure, according to WFAA.
Dispute over donor funds
The lawsuit follows a separate dispute over restricted donor funds. A 2024 independent audit identified approximately $5.7 million in spending on park operations and projects that violated donors’ restrictions, KERA reported.
An initial version of the report attributed noncompliance with the restrictions to the operator. The corrected report omitted that reference after OVG objected and threatened legal action, KERA reported.
OVG has maintained that it processed Fair Park First’s accounts according to the nonprofit’s instructions. Fair Park First previously told KERA it did not receive a complete picture of the finances.
In the lawsuit, OVG also alleges Fair Park First withheld public funds and retained hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for park operating expenses, according to KERA.
Dallas took over park operations
Dallas issued notice terminating its agreement with Fair Park First on June 18, 2025, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The action also ended Fair Park First’s subcontract with OVG360. City leaders said the structure was flawed because it lacked a direct relationship between OVG360 and Dallas.
Dallas took over operations in September 2025. Jenkins said in September 2026 that the city had completed nearly $4 million in work during its first year while facing $48 million in major and deferred maintenance needs, WFAA reported.
OVG continues to manage the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Dallas City Council authorized a five-month extension of that contract despite the Fair Park dispute, according to WFAA.
