The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, financial records, contracts, plans and drawings, reports and studies, photographs, and printed materials documenting the acquisition, planning and design, maintenance, and history of City of Dallas parks and park facilities between 1918 and 1976.  Included in the collection is a  January 26, 1940 WPA report on non-construction projects in Dallas, documents related to the construction and renovation of Lee Park, documents on the proposed widening of Turtle Creek Boulevard, documents related to the 52nd annual American Institute of Park Executives Meeting held at the Baker Hotel in Dallas in 1950, as well as correspondence from park directors W. Foster Jacoby and L. B. Houston.

The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department provides leisure, recreational and cultural activities for the citizens of Dallas and the general public and maintains more than 21,000 park acres including 4,400 surface acres of water at 17 park sites, 17,196 acres of greenbelt/park land, and 61.6 miles of jogging and bike trails at 24 locations. There are over 400 individual parks, including recreational facilities such as community centers, swimming pools, athletic fields, and a metropolitan zoo. The City's first two parks, City Park (purchased in 1876) and Fair Park (purchased in 1904), predate the organization of the Park and Recreation Department. In response to management issues and concerns, an administrative Park Board was created by City Charter amendment in early 1905 and the first Board members were appointed by Mayor Bryan T. Barry on May 23, 1905.  

Paper-based materials comprise the primary series.  A secondary series of oversized plans and drawings follows, comprised ofitems found in folders and separated for proper preservation due to oversized preservation needs.  

The collection was described by Mike Aday, intern