[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6671860,"mediaKeyId","2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5","parentId",2144252,"title","Dallas parks highlights contract instructor program, seeks more vendors and streamlined onboarding","audioSeconds",848,"startMs",5889000,"endMs",6737000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5&start=5889&end=6737","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5/thumbnail_5889000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671860/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-parks-highlights-contract-instructor-program-seeks-more-vendors-and-streamlined-onboarding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671860-f5506c9d8f99b67c74a1b650ca5d15d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164229&Signature=CW4H6h-rdsJoCWpIVHM7qgdSEDHkdgYRN2Lm5dpODVVepNF5-CHfUwptAMwNEzfdw2dnYY~5KW7Ed2V2I10wHWglYK1WWwkfNj3pYLbnLVoCAe7HXp8FLJ6g5q5LoELlUXs1P66CUW5DoZNOGGNPAdxz7TnFF-UnTu3SKII59fsXegd52Ny~uhGKNHHbV~ox~ScjR5Qrfh5w-k0tSeyC8GVMHLD6I0ke7Ua4Zj74PGWLo390MolBZ-A2xsa7MC~5J6U9iCClUk7ARQI0kKbN40IRzwVKczEyKYruuX2rwipUvstJ-gsNu2iuCmGsyBeRq~6ZZfhDTFcXKQo7MtjIBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Department staff on Thursday provided a briefing on the Park and Recreation Department’s contract fee instructor program, which allows independent instructors and small businesses to provide classes and activities at city recreation centers under annual service agreements.

Steve Baker, assistant director for Recreation Services, told the board the program helps expand recreational offerings without adding full-time staff and provides small-business opportunities. Instructors apply through the department website, complete background checks and required certifications such as CPR/AED, and enter one-year service agreements the city can terminate with 30 days’ notice. The department collects 100% of registration fees and remits 70% monthly to instructors, retaining 30% to cover administrative costs.

Baker said the program supports a broad set of activities — martial arts, gymnastics, soccer skills, dance, senior fitness and more — and reported roughly 64 instructors working across about 26 locations with 24 program types. He told the board that post-COVID historical revenue trends show growth: staff cited an increase in instructor and city revenue in recent years and discussed the city’s portion for the most recent reporting period.

Board members recommended streamlining onboarding, noting the first-year paperwork can be time-consuming. Staff said the process has been smoothed by electronic forms and closer coordination with risk management and procurement, and that renewals require less paperwork once an instructor is in the system. The department plans outreach and a spring recruitment fair to attract more instructors and expand coverage across rec centers.

Questions from board members focused on program sustainability, program locations, multi-year contracting for high-investment programs (staff said multiyear relationships for programs such as gymnastics are being pursued via separate procurement processes), and a request for more targeted outreach to recruit classes requested by constituents, such as senior chair yoga.

What to expect: Staff will continue recruitment efforts, launch a vendor fair in spring, and refine onboarding steps with the city’s risk management and procurement teams. Staff also said they will explore ways to increase multi-year opportunities for programs that require larger up-front investment.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dallas - Dallas Park and Recreation Board - Jan 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Park department staff briefed the board on a contract instructor program that lets small businesses and independent instructors run classes in recreation centers; staff said the program has grown post-COVID and uses a 70/30 revenue share model.","taxTitle","Dallas, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2781,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671865,"Park Board approves multiple contracts, sets public hearings for parkland use",215,232000,447000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5&start=232&end=447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5/thumbnail_232000.jpg","/articles/6671865/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Park-Board-approves-multiple-contracts-sets-public-hearings-for-parkland-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671865-81073c24c24c544692476d840e0ccd23/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164229&Signature=YRFwBzvRuFU9JXnmFr~oyAs1gduIKu3f6VIF~g5rGxc61Mje7pBB5ubxzf5UcTj9gOWjc4dEDQJt8n2WGJ8EJ7Bo9azBFX4VEunoDshnepgWwBs65c10OFhCcfq6AYGUQCsTAX2foG0jKLuK29Lv7vrgh1ikMIYjB0DDW~1hCcXnEbBHYAInM8S7~06kjY-rczyYiKLA67QdhvcO0kx6dtMdVQGj1RJpV5oR6etoxz8l~5U75960V69fsPthRAeLvAM25allC16iaA1NAUmFZxS~J1CtU009aLaSO9FW3hZe8sDaRgE380yTiUy-cqiA4I-8514BGRRCrmeIaWsdHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dallas Park and Recreation Board on Thursday approved a slate of agenda items including licensing for Red Cross training materials, a five-year food and beverage concession contract, construction contract changes for the Trinity Strand Trail, and public hearings on proposed parkland uses.

The board voted to authorize a five-year license allowing the city to use American Red Cross training materials for water safety courses; the contract was described in the packet as a sole-source agreement with a total award not to exceed $150,000 and subject to annual appropriations.

Board members also approved a five-year concession contract to operate food and beverage services at a city softball complex (contractor named in the packet) and a change order that reduced scope on the Trinity Strand Trail Phase 2 construction contract; staff said the Transportation Department removed traffic-signal foundations, added poles and pads and altered ramp work, producing a net decrease to the construction contract of $155,004 (from $6,372,766.80 to $6,217,366.80) with funding coming from street and transportation improvements and general obligation bond funds.

Other actions included: a settlement authorization and purchase of parkland in District 5 for a proposed new park (staff provided acreage and price details in the packet), a hike-and-bike trail easement with DART at no cost to the city for a planned trail segment, award of a construction contract for a pedestrian bridge connecting the Trinity Strand to the Katy Trail, and authorizations to set public hearings under Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code for proposed parkland use at West Trinity Heights Park and LB Houston Nature Area.

Several items generated short discussion. On the Trinity Trail pedestrian-bridge contract, board members raised concerns about historical change-order activity by the apparent low bidder and asked staff and the planning and design department to watch future change orders closely and to bring a briefing on pricing and contractor performance trends. On the public-hearing items, members asked staff to ensure environmental assessments and urban-biologist reviews are available for public review and to emphasize post-construction park restoration when utility work occurs on parkland.

Motions generally passed by voice vote with no roll-call tallies provided in the transcript. Where recorded, motions were made and seconded; the meeting minutes and staff packet list committee consideration dates and funding sources for each action.

","The Dallas Park and Recreation Board voted to authorize agreements with the American Red Cross and concession operators, approved trail and bridge contracts and change orders, and set public hearings on proposed parkland uses at West Trinity Heights and LB Houston Nature Area.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671870,"Dallas Park Board discusses renaming College Park after longtime neighborhood organizer",1573,1756000,3329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5&start=1756&end=3329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144252-c991bb2b525feaf913bbb42dd8d63af5/thumbnail_1756000.jpg","/articles/6671870/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-Park-Board-discusses-renaming-College-Park-after-longtime-neighborhood-organizer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671870-21a4167ad32f8f8b127b895eea8b0fd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164229&Signature=mouu9MazEfO1YX-57y7fsqSDL0lA~Ak3KfBCpsdQkasGtvZVS3LGJBxHlltwAdmNYOpiLRc0q2OWzMKSemX~1bXPXfcbzmWehEpnFH03Dq7YzoU2Kfqty~dICazXMOlTLj7pmEri273R9OTRjiqPxKYPsi9kgN2M9MQjrUgDWpJAMcA7g9qHKdW9IvxxSoMwTHz7izzU5kOUVWCKQO5L8KWNT2qGu2OYhok0kLPqcdPpFwHwxO5yPuusRMMXPhTvU2nzm3veFlH5wsyx-wFgTj6J-fSoLPmlWRVy-cg72UQNIOr1FNhy0yjk9iuimOJVYomLGVfVfqbaApmr67aeBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Park and Recreation Board members on Thursday heard several hours of public testimony in support of a proposal to rename College Park in South Oak Cliff to honor longtime community leader Faheem Minka and signaled they want staff to bring the proposal to the full board for a vote.

Supporters described Minka as a neighborhood organizer, youth mentor and founder of community programs including African American Men Against Narcotics and Southern Skates. Speakers said his work in the 1970s and later decades helped reduce violence, provided youth programming and created jobs; several speakers described him as a rehabilitated leader whose later work outweighed earlier legal troubles.

Board members said the matter is a community-driven request and discussed procedural and policy issues before moving the item toward a vote. Several members, including Park Board member Slaughter, said they supported advancing the request directly to the full board rather than routing it through committee. Staff confirmed the item has followed the board’s naming policy and that petition materials and background were included in the board packet for today’s discussion.

Public comment included eight speakers who described Minka’s community work, his role as a youth coach and organizer, and the persistence of community advocates who have sought the renaming for years. Some board members acknowledged that records include contested items in Minka’s past — including a business default and earlier convictions referenced by speakers — but said the policy allows the board to weigh a person’s whole record and community impact when considering a renaming.

City staff and the city attorney’s office also spoke at the meeting to explain the naming policy and the board’s discretionary authority. Staff noted the naming policy is guidance and that the park board “shall use a collective judgment” in determining whether a renaming serves the city’s best interest.

After discussion, a majority of board members present indicated they favored taking the request to the full board for a final vote at the next available meeting. No formal board vote to rename the park occurred at this meeting; the item was presented as a discussion only under a five-person memo and the board provided direction for next steps.

What happens next: Staff will prepare the item for the full park board agenda for a formal vote. If approved by the board, the naming would follow the department’s standard implementation steps for signage and notification.

","The Dallas Park and Recreation Board heard public comment and discussed a five-person memo to rename College Park in South Oak Cliff for community leader Faheem Minka; board members signaled support to bring the item to the full board for a vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dallas parks highlights contract instructor program, seeks more vendors and streamlined onboarding

Park Board approves multiple contracts, sets public hearings for parkland use

Dallas Park Board discusses renaming College Park after longtime neighborhood organizer