Dallas County Parks and Open Space – Master Plan Approved – Sept. 3 – At the regular meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, the Dallas County Open Space Master Plan was accepted. Lenny Hughes of Halff Associates, Inc. explained that the plan:
- respects the county’s natural resources
- enhances passive outdoor recreation for the public
- addresses concerns like security and lack of significant trails at the preserves
- makes preserves more appealing, accessible to a wider range of people.
Dallas County Parks and Open Space is comprised of 21 preserves around the county, totaling over 4,000 acres. The new plan outlines 164 preserve-specific project recommendations along with completion timeline and responsible party.
Three of the 21 DCOS-owned preserves are in the Garland Parks system
Lee F. Jackson Spring Creek Forest Preserve – Spring Creek Park Preserve – Rowlett Creek Preserve – Although the Garland preserves are owned by Dallas County Parks and Open Space, DCOS has an agreement that the Garland’s Parks and Rec Department is responsible for maintenance and security. Spring Creek Forest Preserve and Spring Creek Park Preserve are served by our volunteer group, the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest. Rowlett Creek Preserve also has a volunteer group, the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association.
Amy Martin, Trail & Preserve Program Board District 1 Member (1 of 2), summarized meeting – Amy Martin spoke to the commissioners about how through her public speaking engagements titled Wild DFW she has perceived great public support for DCOS. She stressed the need for deep nature with dirt trails that provides restorative health benefits while moderating the urban heat island effect.
The Court Order and Plan (386 pp., 56 MB) can be found here:
https://dallascounty.civicweb.net/document/1001695/Adopt%20the%202024%20Dallas%20County%20Open%20Space%20Plan.pdf?handle=575473DA03A94AA89181385D92D83CA3#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A6%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C0%2C612%2C0%5D
North Texas Giving Day – Our first year to participate was a success! Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest received $1,070.00 in donations.
City event – 8th Tri-City Cleanup – Saturday, Oct. 5 – 9 a.m. – noon – Halff Park at Ranger Drive
Volunteers from Garland, Rowlett and Dallas to clean up over 20 designated sites surrounding or connecting to Lake Ray Hubbard. Spring Creek Preserve is one of the Garland locations that will have a clean-up team because Spring Creek flows into Rowlett Creek, which flows into Lake Ray Hubbard.
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of those under 18. Everyone must sign waivers and youth under 18 must have a guardian signature on the waiver. Go to your chosen location on clean-up day dressed to work – boots, pants, sleeves, bug spray and sunscreen recommended. Bring refillable water jug!
After workday, celebrate at Hella Shrine Events Center with music, food trucks, sweet treats, petting zoo and fun! Reserve spot: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/805094FAEAF2AA7FF2-50868866-8thannual
More information on volunteering at Spring Creek Forest Preservation: 972-205-3583, Volunteer@GarlandTx.gov.
Texas Pollinator BioBlitz – Oct. 11-27 – 9th Texas Pollinator BioBlitz – https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz
- All ages and abilities are encouraged to find pollinators and nectar-producing plants and take photos to share with friends.
- Sign up for email updates during the event.
- New events added regularly by using our online events calendar.
- Post your pollinator photos during the event to Instagram, Twitter or FB.
- Follow the 2024 Texas Pollinator BioBlitz event on Facebook to see daily challenges, links of interest, share your own photos and more: https://www.facebook.com/events/387887267673175/
2nd Saturday Work Session – Saturday, Oct. 12 – 9 – 11 a.m. – 1770 Holford. Trail/prairie maintenance. maintenance – We’ll remove downed limbs or over-grown plants or remove woody growth from the meadow that is encroaching on the meadow. For last-minute info, especially if weather is questionable, check website or FB page. No one should work in the forest or on prairie if there’s a chance of lightning.
- Safety Information: Each work session begins with a safety briefing.
- BRING WATER and bug repellant.
- Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Work gloves, long pants, protective eyewear recommended for protection from poison ivy and thorns.
- If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. (No power tools.)
- All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver.
- Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of those under 18.
For Master Naturalists, this may count as volunteer hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.
Trail Monitor Meeting – Saturday, Oct. 19 – 9 a.m. – 1770 Holford Road – Anyone interested is invited. The trail monitor project is led by Rob Kaaa and Steve Boeding. We have a great group, but we need more people. If you can walk the trails about once a week, this is a great volunteer activity. Duties generally include:
- Hike your selected part of the trail weekly.
- Perform light maintenance such as litter pickup.
- Be familiar with Garland’s eAssist program that is accessed through an iPhone app and use it to report major maintenance issues such as trees fallen on the trail, vandalism, criminal activity, etc.
Photo by Vince Hale. Coral Honeysuckle, a great native vine that hummingbirds love
4th Sunday Nature Walk – Nancy Wilson – What if Spring Creek Preserve was a Nursery? Sunday, Oct. 27 – 2 – 3:30 p.m. – 1770 Holford Road – Nancy Wilson will lead the group to find trees, shrubs and other plants that are suitable for your yard. Learn about their places in a landscape and see how various plants provide food, shelter, or a place to raise young for many of nature’s wonderful creatures.
November Events
White-throated sparrow. Winters in North Texas
Speaker Series – Jake Poinsett – Wintering Sparrows – Tuesday, Nov. 5 – 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Zoom call.
Jake Poinsett will show us various sparrows that winter in North Texas. He is education manager at Trinity River Audubon Center.
2nd Saturday Work Session – Saturday, Nov. 9 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Halff Park, Ranger Drive. Clear ragweed and do trail maintenance. Enjoy the wildest part of the preserve and help keep the trail walker-ready.
4th Sunday Nature Walk – Caleb Hinojos – Wintering Strategies in the Forest – Sunday, Nov. 24 – 2 – 3:30 p.m. – Location: TBA – Caleb Hinojos received his BS and MS from the University of Texas at Arlington with a focus on genetic and genomic evolution. He has worked a variety of scientific jobs in the field and in the lab which has given him a unique perspective regarding the natural world.
Special Event – Bird Walks with Reba Collins – Saturday, Nov. 30 & Sunday, Dec.1 – 8 – 9:30 a.m. – 1787 Holford Road – What birds are in the preserve in late fall? Reba Collins is a Certified Birder and is known throughout the metroplex for her skill in identifying birds. She is a Master Naturalist and on the board of our society and Keep Garland Beautiful.
Reservations required: Groups are limited to 10 per walk. Contact Reba at rcollins20@verizon.net to reserve a spot. – Bring binoculars. – Dress for the weather.
Fall Special Events
14th Christmas is for the Birds – Date: Saturday, Dec. 7 – 10 – 11:30 a.m. – 1787 Holford – Fun event for kids preschool through elementary school.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – No Speaker – Members only holiday party at the home of Don and Barbara Baynham.
Saturday, Dec. 14 – 1770 Holford. Clear Amur honeysuckle, trail maintenance.
Become a Society member or donate – Financial support is through memberships and donations. Pay online for memberships or donations or on PayPal. Or download a membership form and send a check. Visit springcreekforest.org for information.
Monthly Announcements: To subscribe: Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com.