Concerns arise as Old City Park transitions to city management

Starting in May, Old City Park will be under the city's management. Some are worried about what that will look like. in Dallas has been managed by the same organization for more than 50 years, but that is set to change in May. The transition has some worried about the future of the park and the nearly 22,000 historic artifacts there.

Then, in 1967, the city contracted with Dallas County Heritage Society to program and manage the museum and park. Through the years, the organization has worked closely with Dallas’ park and recreation department to restore all of the historic buildings and move them to the park. They also worked together to purchase additional land for Old City Park.The Dallas County Heritage Society’s contract to run the park and museum expired on May 26, 2023.

Now, the Dallas County Heritage Society is transitioning to become a new organization with a new name that will work to advocate for and financially support Old City Park. The organization just won’t run the programming or manage any of the buildings there. “It’ll largely be a volunteer organization,” Meadows said.Meadows said before the COVID-19 pandemic, annual attendance at the park was around 50,000. About half of that was coming from school visits and another 20% from special events.

Because the park is an accredited museum, Meadows said he and his team are doing what they can to follow professional best practices in the disposition of the collections. So far, historically significant items have been offered to other museums, libraries, archives and nonprofits that plan to protect and use them for educational purposes.

Then, the city will take over management of the park later in May. John D. Jenkins, director of Dallas’ Park and Recreation Department, said in an emailed statement that the department will oversee all aspects of the park’s operations starting on May 27 and it will no longer be registered as a museum. “While Old City Park will no longer be registered as a museum, visitors can expect a museum-like experience when exploring the historic buildings on the 20-acre property,” Jenkins’ email said.

Since recent news about the park broke, much of the reaction he's seen has been disheartening to Meadows. If people care about the park, he said they should stay in contact with the park and recreation director and their representatives about it.

Old City Park Dallas City Management Concerns Historic Artifacts

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