The City Council’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee was briefed Monday on the new steps the Park and Recreation Department is taking to ensure future events in Fair Park run smoothly. 

The changes come after the two-day Breakaway Music Festival, featuring electronic and hip-hop acts, disrupted some neighborhoods miles away on April 10 and 11. 

Brett Wulke, assistant director at the Park and Recreation Department, said the main stage – on a surface parking lot – faced north with no structures to block or absorb sound, allowing it to travel. Low cloud cover could also have allowed the sound to project farther than normal. 

For future events, stages in that part of Fair Park must face inward toward the complex, using structures such as the Cotton Bowl and Coliseum to help contain sound.

Organizers will be required to conduct decibel readings throughout the event, starting with sound checks, and to notify code enforcement in advance.

Committee members asked city staff to explore additional measures to prevent future issues with music festivals at Fair Park. 

Among their suggestions were educating out‑of‑state and traveling promoters on Dallas noise requirements and how they will be enforced, exploring retaining a sound engineer to advise the city on mitigation strategies and reviewing weather forecasts ahead of time. 

Council member Adam Bazaldua, whose district includes Fair Park, said he was glad the city was taking action to find solutions to continue providing concerts without disrupting residents’ quality of life. 

But he said he would like to see that type of quick action from the city when residents from South Dallas raise other issues. 

“Do I need to get Lakewood [residents] to start complaining about the stuff in South Dallas to be a priority for the city? Because that’s really frustrating,” said Bazaldua. 

Bazaldua said that for years, he and South Dallas residents have raised the alarm about other issues, such as random gunshots, but have not gotten any attention or action from the city.  

He also asked the parks department not to over-police these types of events to avoid killing the entertainment industry in Fair Park. 

To report issues during an event at Fair Park, residents can contact the Fair Park Command Center at 214-421-885. 

Staffers said they will come back later this year to provide an update on best practices for future events.