 |
| The Entrance to the Midway for the Summer Opening |
 |
| Plastiki on display in front of the Hall of State Building |
 |
| The new Top O'Texas on the left of the Texas Star.Actually, it's behind the Texas Star. |
 |
| The Cotton Bowl with a crane still in place from my last trip to Fair Park. |
 |
| One of the many Art Deco Buildings at Fair Park. |
 |
| Swan paddle boats at Swan Lake on the lagoon. |
Fair Park, this Friday night, May 3rd, kicks off something it has never done.It will open the midway for the summer on Saturday, May 4th.. The new ride, Top O' Texas, the 500 foot observatory up and down wheel will give a view of Fair Park and surrounding areas, including downtown Dallas.
It has long been an unanswered question why the City of Dallas has quasi-turned its back on Fair Park in favor of the Trinity River Corridor Project. Sure, they have pumped a few million bucks into Fair Park upgrades, when the place could be drawing in tons of convention dollars nearly year round and there is so much more to Fair Park than just the Cotton Bowl. Don't get me wrong. I have etchings on my heart for the Cotton Bowl, the old parades that were a Thanksgiving-- or was it Christmas-- tradition. It was the emerald of the jeweled crown that the city had with Fair Park.
Many years ago, Elitch Gardens in Denver, was a fun summer place to go. That was, before the original EG moved from its historic home of 38th and Tennyson Street. It was between the old Stapelton Airport and downtown. At approximately 70 acres, the park was a major attraction when you visited Denver. You had not been to Denver unless you went to Elitch Gardens. Long story short, with many ownership changes over the years including an ownership under the Six Flags brand, it has managed to survive with a 20 acre water park but not like the crowds of the old park. By-the-way folks, Elitch Gardens opens its 2013 season on May 4th also.
Yesterday, I walked the entire length of Fair Park's approximately 177 acres down one side and back along the lagoon and IMAX building to the parking area east of gate entrance no.5 which is across from the Texas Discovery Gardens. I'm thinking to myself, Music Hall is full for a performance, a flea market is going on, the Old Mill Restaurant has a good size crowd, people are coming out of the Discovery Gardens. The city ownes water parks. Why don't they have one at Fair Park? Amid all the questions that were left unanswered was the most pressing question: Will Fletcher's be selling their corny dogs,too?
