Dear
Friends of Old City Park
We have some important news to share with you. After more than 50 years
of managing Old City Park as a living history museum and historic public park,
the Dallas County Heritage Society (DCHS) is announcing that its management of
the Park will officially end on May 26, 2024. Effective May 27, 2024, the
Dallas Park and Recreation Department (Park Department) will be responsible for
the day-to-day management, operations, and maintenance of Old City Park.
Upon
the end of our 30-year management agreement in May 2023, DCHS received a
12-month extension agreement from the City of Dallas. This extension was meant
to allow time for the Park Department to conduct a master planning process for
Old City Park. Subsequently, the Park Department informed the leadership of
DCHS that it would assume full responsibility for the management of Old City
Park after the extension agreement ends. During this extension period, DCHS and
Park Department staff have agreed to work together to facilitate a smooth
transition in the park’s operations as well as coordinate the ongoing
maintenance of the grounds and historic structures.
Although DCHS will no longer manage Old City Park after May 26,
2024, the organization’s Board of Trustees remains committed to supporting the
historic park in the future, as volunteers and donors. The Board will use the
next few months to determine the best organizational structure to accomplish
this goal. DCHS will ensure that the Park’s animals and collection of
historical artifacts continue to receive exceptional care throughout this
transition. Until the extension period ends, DCHS will continue to host beloved
events like the Candlelight celebration in December, as well as various
educational and recreational activities for the benefit of Dallas-area
residents and visitors.
The Board’s decision to continue supporting Old City Park in a
volunteer capacity comes from a place of love and admiration for Dallas’ oldest
public park and an abiding belief that it should be preserved and
well-maintained for future generations. As the Cedars neighborhood continues to
change and grow, the Board remains enthusiastic about the Park’s future as a
valuable historic asset and important green space in the heart of Dallas.
“It has been a pleasure for the Dallas County Heritage Society to
have managed Old City Park for several generations of Dallas visitors and
residents,” said Dustin Bullard, Chair of the DCHS Board of Trustees. “We
remain committed to supporting Old City Park and its legacy for future
generations to come.”
Thank you for your
ongoing support of Old City Park. We hope to see you at Candlelight and look forward to sharing additional details
regarding this transition in the months ahead.