Dallas City Wire

Super PAC Coalition for a New Dallas is calling for the Dallas Parks and Recreation District Board to delay voting for a new director due to a lack of transparency in the selection process. It asks community members to reach out to the parks and rec department and make the same request.

The organization wrote in a March 27 Facebook post, “In times of crisis, we must be vigilant to ensure that our government, elected officials, and appointed representatives continue to be transparent. Unfortunately, the process for appointing the next Director of Dallas’ Parks Department has been anything but.”

The post refers to the selection committee, which is comprised of several members of the board, and notes the committee's vote was not public but should be. The committee has also expressed concern regarding public participation.

“It remains unclear when the public will even have an opportunity to weigh in on this critical decision affecting the future of Dallas’ parks system," the organization wrote on their Facebook page. "The Coalition calls for an immediate delay of the final vote until transparency is provided on the process and the public has the opportunity to meaningfully participate in this decision.”

In a March 27 D Magazine article, online managing editor Shawn Shinneman notes that he spoke with parks and rec commissioner Jesse Moreno about the search for a new director, following the retirement of director Willis Winters in October 2019. Shinneman reports that Moreno shared the board's unease over lack of public input.

Moreno did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

When the board makes its decision on hiring, it will have three choices: John Jenkins, the current interim director of the department; Gordon Robertson, the director of planning for Denver Parks and Recreation; or Daniel Betts, the director of recreation in Cincinnati.