Fair Park

Fair Park is a big park and learning place in Dallas, Texas. It is right east of downtown and covers 277-acre (112 ha) of land. Many buildings in Fair Park were built for an event called the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936.

The park is very special and is listed as a Dallas Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. It is also called a Great Place in America by the American Planning Association. People go there to have fun, learn new things, and enjoy the beautiful spaces.

History

Fair Park started in 1886 as a fairground for the Dallas State Fair. It became Dallas' second public park and was called "Fair Park". A key person in its development was George Kessler, who made plans for the park in 1906.

A big moment came in 1936 when the Texas Centennial Exposition was held there. The park was changed into an Art Deco style by architects George Dahl and Paul Cret. Many buildings from that time are still there today. Fair Park was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It now attracts millions of visitors each year, especially during the State Fair of Texas.

Restoration and future

Many Art Deco buildings have been restored to look like they did in 1936. In 2009, the historic Parry Avenue entrance gates were restored. In 2014, a task force made plans to refresh Fair Park. In 2018, the Dallas City Council approved a plan for Fair Park First to manage the park. However, there were concerns about how money was spent.

Cultural district

Many important cultural places in Dallas are located in Fair Park. The Hall of State is managed by the Dallas Historical Society and shows exhibits about the history and culture of Dallas. The Old Mill Inn, built for an old fair, is now sometimes used as a restaurant.

The African American Museum shows artwork by famous African American artists. The Leonhardt Lagoon is a peaceful area with water, designed to help nature grow. The Museum of Nature and Science used to have buildings around the lagoon but moved most of its things to a new place in 2012.

The Cotton Bowl stadium, built in 1930, was once called "Fair Park Stadium" and can hold many people. The Music Hall at Fair Park was built in a special style and has been home to many performances. The Women's Building was changed many times over the years and is now used for special events.

Main article: Hall of State

Main article: African American Museum (Dallas)

Main article: Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Main article: Cotton Bowl (stadium)

Main article: Music Hall at Fair Park

Main article: The Women's Museum

Midway and other structures

• The Texas Star, opened in 1985, is the fourth-largest Ferris wheel in North America.
• Starplex Amphitheatre was built amid some disagreements and changes in its name over the years.
• The Texas Skyway, opened in 2007, is a fun gondola ride that takes visitors high above the ground.
• The Top o' Texas Tower, opened in 2013, is a very tall observation tower. Its base might one day hold a museum about the State Fair and a big exhibition from 1936.
• Fair Park is also home to the Texas State Vietnam Memorial.

Annual events

Fair Park is home to many special events each year. The biggest is the State Fair of Texas, which started in 1886 and happens every year for 24 days from the last Friday in September to the third Sunday in October.

Other events include the North Texas Irish Festival in March, Earth Day Texas in April, and Fair Park Fourth, Dallas's celebration for Independence Day. There were also plans for a beach-themed park called Summer Adventures in Fair Park in 2013, but it only ran for one summer.

Other notable events

Fair Park has been the setting for many interesting events over the years. In 1936, the movie The Big Show, starring Gene Autry, was filmed there, showing off its architecture. Later, in 1961, another musical film called State Fair was also filmed at Fair Park.

In July 1984, the park was changed into a race track for just one weekend to host the Dallas Grand Prix and Can-Am race. The goal was to show that Dallas was an important city, but the race didn’t do very well. A few years later, in May 1988, Fair Park hosted another race called the Trans-Am Series with a different track layout.

In March 1990, Fair Park hosted the Nintendo World Championships inside the Automobile Building. In the early 2000s, many of its cultural spots were featured on a TV show called North Texas Explorer. The TV show Prison Break also used Fair Park for some scenes in one of its episodes.

In December 2013, a fashion show by Chanel was held at Fair Park. During January 2021, Fair Park helped the community by serving as a place for COVID-19 vaccinations, organized by Dallas County Health and Human Services. FEMA also set up a vaccination site there for certain neighborhoods.

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Dallas Fair Park Circuit are listed as:

Transportation

Fair Park is easy to reach from I-30, the main road that goes east to west through Dallas. Several bus routes by DART stop near Fair Park. The Green Line train connects Fair Park to southeast and downtown Dallas, with stops at Fair Park station and MLK Jr. station. During the State Fair of Texas, DART also runs special trains from the Red Line and Blue Line to Fair Park Station.

Education

The Irma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School is located in Fair Park. This school is part of the special area known as Fair Park in Dallas, Texas.