September 3, 2024 was a big day for Dallas County Parks & Open Space (DCOS). During the regular meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, the Dallas County Open Space Master Plan, two years in the making, was officially accepted by the commissioners. The previous plan was created over 30 years ago.
Lenny Hughes of Halff Associates, Inc., the company hired by DCOS to help create the strategic plan, did a great presentation showing how public opinion and desires were merged with cultural and ecological studies to create a master plan that:
- 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, and
- makes the preserves more appealing and accessible to a wider range of people.
Dallas County Parks and Open Space is comprised of 21 preserves located 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 three Garland Preserves are owned by Dallas County Parks and Open Space, DCOS has a long-standing agreement that the city of Garland Parks and Recreation Department is the first line of 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 hard-working volunteer group – Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association (DORBA).
Amy Martin, Trail and Preserve Program Board, District 1 Member (1 of 2), summarized the meeting:
Ed Koppman, the superb chair of DCOS Trails And Preserves Program (TAPP) board – where Amy Martin serves for Commissioner Theresa Daniel to represent her Dallas County district 1 – spoke to commend the work of Halff Associates, Inc. and the DCOS staff, and shared how proud the board is of them.
Amy also 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 386-page report created by the DCOS team gives them a massive data document they can use to seek grants and corporate support, convince our partner cities to take a more active role, and much more. This is especially big news for the most popular preserves: Cedar Ridge, Goat Island, and Spring Creek Forest and Park Preserves (Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest) and Rowlett Creek Preserve (DORBA).
Over the next few months, Amy will share aspects of the master plan on the Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth Facebook page.
Congratulations to the team that made it happen! Photo left to right:
- Jade Affleck, Open Space Coordinator
- Elizabeth Allen, Assistant Director of Dallas County Planning & Development Department
- Mia Brown, Open Space Administrator
- Amy Martin, TAPP board member
- Kendall Howard, Team Leader at Halff Associates, Inc.
- Lenny Hughes, Halff Associates, Inc. Principal in Charge
The Court Order and Plan (386 pp., 56 MB) can be found here:
