I live in Dallas. Fair Park is a fine place to go if you have a reason to be going there- such as a concert or the State Fair. I can't say I'd just go wander around there for the heck of it. It's really not a very nice neighborhood surrounding it. However, the park is pretty much enclosed- so as long as you park in the lots by the gates you should be fine.

Miserable area. Unfortunatly there are many concert, theatre and sporting events that take place in this area so you have to go here or you'll miss out. Find a hotel in the Turtle Creek area and secure armored transport to get you back safely.

For anyone who appreciates Art Deco, Fair Park in Dallas cannot be beaten. Entering at Parry St. the original Lone Star pylon (minus the ticket booths) beckons visitors still. To the left is the old administrative building,now beautifully restored as the Women's Museum. To the right is the old General Motors pavilion, now a theater. Straight ahead is the esplanade, a thousand foot long lagoon. On the left is the Centennial Building. To the right is the Automobile Building. Each have nearly identical facades, with three projecting porticos and huge art deco statues representing the six flags over Texas.Under the porticos and between them are restored murals in pure art deco. At the far end of the esplanade is a huge plaza and the Texas Hall of State. The center of the HOS has a tall facade of white colums and blue tiles and a gilded statue. Inside the main hall is flanked by two huge art deco murals of the history of Texas from the conquistodors to 1936. To the right of the HOS is the former US pavilion with a tall gilded tower.Further in the park is a small lake with the art deco aquarium, science museum, natural history museum, and band shell.Other buildings are the Food and Fiber Building, the Embarcadero, the Cotton Bowl, and livestock buildings all done in art deco style. The African American Museum is modern, but built on the site of the 1936 Hall of Negro Life.
Even though you can see the modern skyline of Dallas in the distance, walking through Fair Park is like going back in time. Here it is easy to believe it is still 1936.Don't go on a Monday as most things are closed. I was there in July and there seemed to be quite a few people enjoying the park, although it is reputedly in a "bad" part of the city. Entry to the park is free and there was plenty of free parking available too. A great place to experience the total art deco feeling.