Historical Park board reviews Q1 finances, programming and master plan timeline
February 27, 2024 | Farmers Branch, Dallas County, Texas
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At the Feb. 22 meeting, staff presented the Historical Park’s first-quarter financial and programming report covering October through December 2023, reporting a modest decline in revenue and a decrease in expenses compared with the prior year.
Staff said year-to-date Q1 revenue fell about 4.5% from roughly $85,600 in the prior-year Q1 to just under $82,000 in the current Q1 — a decrease of less than $4,000. Rental revenue rose about 24%, from just under $4,000 in last year’s Q1 to just under $5,000 this year. Hotel occupancy-tax receipts tied to park activity generated a little over $5,000.
“...we have over 300 attendees,” staff said when describing the Day of the Dead community celebration, and they noted other programs sold out and visitation is increasing. Staff gave examples of attendance mixes: Christmas teas had 209 attendees (146 residents, 63 nonresidents); charcuterie classes had 8 residents and 17 nonresidents; Kids in the Kitchen had 12 residents and 24 nonresidents.
Expenses for the quarter decreased about 12.5% (roughly $27,000), with Q1 expenses around $189,000 compared with nearly $216,000 the prior year. Staff attributed part of last year’s higher expenses to a $57,000 rollover payment for a log cabin disassembly project that did not recur in the current year.
Staff reported the master plan to guide the park’s future, including site recommendations for rebuilt log cabins and estimates of related costs, is slated to begin this fiscal year. They said a draft will be prepared for review and an RFQ expected in April or early May to begin consultant selection and design work; no rebuild location or costing has been decided yet.
Board members asked about how rentals and photos are collected for marketing and whether Friends of the Park are included in vendor lists; staff said rental photo permissions are requested from clients before reuse and confirmed coordination with Friends leadership will be pursued. No formal votes were taken on funding or projects at the meeting; next steps are the RFQ timeline for the master plan and subsequent funding discussions once cost estimates are available.
Staff said year-to-date Q1 revenue fell about 4.5% from roughly $85,600 in the prior-year Q1 to just under $82,000 in the current Q1 — a decrease of less than $4,000. Rental revenue rose about 24%, from just under $4,000 in last year’s Q1 to just under $5,000 this year. Hotel occupancy-tax receipts tied to park activity generated a little over $5,000.
“...we have over 300 attendees,” staff said when describing the Day of the Dead community celebration, and they noted other programs sold out and visitation is increasing. Staff gave examples of attendance mixes: Christmas teas had 209 attendees (146 residents, 63 nonresidents); charcuterie classes had 8 residents and 17 nonresidents; Kids in the Kitchen had 12 residents and 24 nonresidents.
Expenses for the quarter decreased about 12.5% (roughly $27,000), with Q1 expenses around $189,000 compared with nearly $216,000 the prior year. Staff attributed part of last year’s higher expenses to a $57,000 rollover payment for a log cabin disassembly project that did not recur in the current year.
Staff reported the master plan to guide the park’s future, including site recommendations for rebuilt log cabins and estimates of related costs, is slated to begin this fiscal year. They said a draft will be prepared for review and an RFQ expected in April or early May to begin consultant selection and design work; no rebuild location or costing has been decided yet.
Board members asked about how rentals and photos are collected for marketing and whether Friends of the Park are included in vendor lists; staff said rental photo permissions are requested from clients before reuse and confirmed coordination with Friends leadership will be pursued. No formal votes were taken on funding or projects at the meeting; next steps are the RFQ timeline for the master plan and subsequent funding discussions once cost estimates are available.
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