{"id":315,"date":"2026-05-08T22:31:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T22:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dallasrelocationhubs.com\/?p=315"},"modified":"2026-05-08T22:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T22:31:41","slug":"dallas-parks-could-close-rec-centers-cut-summer-camps-under-proposed-14-million-trim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dallasrelocationhubs.com\/?p=315","title":{"rendered":"Dallas parks could close rec centers, cut summer camps under proposed $14 million trim"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dallas park officials could shut down some recreation centers, reduce hours at others, slash summer camps and after-school programs and make other changes across the city as the department looks to trim $14 million from next year\u2019s budget.\u00a0<\/p>

Read more Sen. John Cornyn has sharp Mother\u2019s Day message for Attorney General Ken Paxton in GOP runoff<\/a><\/p><\/div>

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Department officials outlined the proposed cuts Thursday to the Park and Recreation Board at a meeting that drew immediate resistance from several members, who warned the moves could disproportionately hurt neighborhoods that rely most heavily on park services.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

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If approved, the cuts would take effect in October, the start of the city\u2019s 2026-27 fiscal year.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Among the options presented were closing four small community recreation centers, reducing mowing and park maintenance, shifting some security operations to private contractors and eliminating 20 vacant positions.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

\u201cWe know it\u2019s going to be financially challenging,\u201d but \u201crestructuring and getting innovative gives us our best chance to make sure we don\u2019t go backwards in this park system,\u201d Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins told board members.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

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The proposed reductions come as Dallas officials grapple with broader budget pressures. City staff told the City Council on Wednesday the current general fund faces a roughly $30 million gap, partly because of weaker-than-expected sales tax revenue, rising police and fire overtime and higher employee health care costs.<\/p><\/div>

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City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has already ordered freezes on most hiring, travel and some other spending.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Under Jenkins\u2019 plan:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>