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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
The legal battle over access to rowing facilities at White Rock Lake has intensified again<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a city memo last week, Dallas officials formally accused the nonprofit operating the facilities of violating its contract with the city, allegations the organization denies while promising to press ahead with its lawsuit.<\/p>\n A long-ago photo of a man fishing from the old White Rock Lake boathouse on the T&P Hill..<\/p>\n Louis DeLuca\/Staff photp<\/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 The dispute over management of the rowing facilities has simmered for years.<\/p>\n Related: Dallas mayor\u2019s budget blueprint: Reduce taxes, shrink bureaucracy<\/a><\/p>\n But 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 In a July 23 memo to the Park and Recreation Board, Parks Director John Jenkins said the city told White Rock Boathouse it was in breach of its contract after determining the nonprofit\u2019s code of conduct violated its agreement with Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city said the code of conduct had never been submitted for the department\u2019s approval, and that its provision allowing the organization to deny access to coaches and volunteers affiliated with other rowing programs conflicts with the agreement. The contract requires that the publicly owned facility remain accessible to the broader community, according to the memo.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The city gave White Rock Boathouse 30 days to remove the policy from its website and submit a revised version for review.\u00a0<\/p>\n White Rock Boathouse disputed the city\u2019s findings, saying it has not violated its contract or improperly restricted public access to the city-owned facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a statement, the nonprofit said its code of conduct is consistent with industry standards and that city officials \u201chave been well aware of\u201d the policy for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n The organization also disputed the city\u2019s assertion that the code of conduct was never properly approved, arguing it has remained in compliance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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