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Rowers practice at White Rock Lake on Friday, June 26, 2020 in Dallas. (Ryan Michalesko\/The Dallas Morning News)<\/p>\n
Ryan Michalesko\/Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
For years, White Rock Lake’s boathouse<\/a> has served youth rowers, college athletes and community programs.<\/p>\n Now, it has become the center of a growing dispute between residents who say the city has failed to enforce accountability and nonprofit leaders who are suing the city of Dallas and argue they are being targeted despite decades of investment in the facility.<\/p>\n The dispute centers on White Rock Boathouse, Inc., the nonprofit operator of rowing facilities at White Rock Lake, including the larger city-owned boathouse, the historic Boomerang facility and the Filter Building.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A new resident campaign and website, White Rock Lake Accountability, comes as Dallas faces pressure over proposed parks budget cuts of $14 million that could reduce recreation services citywide, slash dozens of jobs and shut down four community centers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Dallas park board pushes back on proposed rec center closures, service reductions<\/a><\/p>\n Paula Miltenberger, one of the voices behind the campaign who became involved after her sons participated in rowing programs, said the proposed cuts prompted questions about whether the city is fully enforcing agreements tied to revenue-generating facilities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have an amazing city asset generating money, but we can’t get enforcement of a contract, but we’re quickly willing to cut all these programs for our kids,\u201d said Miltenberger. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Sue Ellen Chambers, board chair of White Rock Boathouse, said it’s not the nonprofit’s fault the city is facing a budget deficit, nor is it the role of a nonprofit to solve that with its revenue. She said the group does its part by running the programs, maintaining the buildings and paying the city revenue from events at the Filter Building.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery single dollar that was spent to renovate the Filter Building and to build the boathouse was privately raised, and the city didn’t pay a dime, and they still don’t,\u201d said Chambers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pending litigation<\/p>\n The dispute over the operation of the rowing facilities has simmered for years. The conflict escalated last fall when White Rock Boathouse sued the city after disagreements over contract renewals and increased scrutiny from park officials.<\/p>\n The lawsuit centers on whether White Rock Boathouse properly renewed agreements that allow it to operate the boathouse, Filter Building and Boomerang facilities on city-owned property. The nonprofit is seeking a court declaration that those contracts remain valid through 2036.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Court records show the case is moving forward, with hearings scheduled this summer and a trial set for November. The city has challenged portions of the lawsuit and has scheduled hearings on procedural issues, including a plea to the jurisdiction.<\/p>\n Dallas Park and Recreation Department officials and council member Paula Blackmon, whose district includes White Rock Lake, declined to comment, citing pending litigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Online campaign\u00a0<\/p>\n While the case moves through the courts, coalition members said they launched the website to raise public awareness<\/a> after years of frustration with what they describe as city inaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe tipping point to me is we’re trying to work on equity and access, and the city just seems to have its hands tied, and it’s hard to understand why,\u201d said Miltenberger.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Tamber Johnson, a former rowing parent and former boathouse captain, said she first became involved in 2010 after her daughter joined a youth rowing program at White Rock Lake. Johnson said parents initially viewed the rowing organization as a growing nonprofit serving students and families.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n