Great Trinity River Forest

[urbanpleasure]

I am fairly new to this board and have an interst in the Trinity Forrest. I know plans for preserving the forrest are included in the overall Trinity River Corridor project, but I am curious as to what the current status is. Is the city of Dallas going to ensure the forrest is preserved, protected from development? With development inevitably shifting southward, I am hoping our city leaders are committed to preserving this great natural treasure.

[AndyIvey]

Here's a good start:
Groundwork Dallas
Ronald Kovatis, Executive Director
P.O. Box 192185
Dallas, TX 75219
Tele: 214-476-7446
groundworkdallas@yahoo.com
www.groundworkdallas.org

[trolleygirl]

Thank you so much, AdnyIvey. I don't feel so much like the lone wolf howling in the wildernes..........

[Insidetheloop]

Is the city of Dallas going to ensure the forrest is preserved, protected from development? With development inevitably shifting southward, I am hoping our city leaders are committed to preserving this great natural treasure.

How could someone develop something in the floodplain?

During rainy periods, much of that area turns into swamp. Don't worry, no one is gonna build jack squat down there.

[trolleygirl]

There's alot of forest on higher elevation too and on "geologically similar" escarpment areas. You'd be suprised but at least four developments have been on some of the elevations and have scraped hundreds of trees. The City has tried and or is still trying to buy all of the properties and there are still a few that are private and those are the ones that are in jeopardy of loosing to development.

[AndyIvey]

Fooldways and floodplains come with a built-in incentive to preserve. These areas are unsuitable for commercial or residential development, but make for great natural areas. The local, state, and federal government understands this and Groundword Dallas is leading the way on the ground. The only opponent to preservation would be flood control projects that could "protect" the area. Thankfully, government have trended away from protecting undeveloped areas.

[Lakewooder]

Caution - this may be cancelled because of the rain, but I thought I would post it - perhaps TG has a contact
?



>Subject: Operation ACT Clean-up - Final Details



>Good Afternoon, Friends of the Great Trinity Forest, We are looking forward to seeing everyone this coming Saturday. We are excited by the prospect of leaving the Rochester Park Lakes area in their best shape in many years. If you are not able to join us, we will miss you but invite you to visit the site any time your schedule allows. We will certainly invite you to participate in our future projects and keep you apprised of our future endeavors. For those of you who will be participating on Saturday, here are a few final instructions/recommendations: The registration tables will open at 8:00 a.m. at the Rochester Park pavilion. Below are driving directions. We plan to have all the work crews deployed by 9:00 a.m., but will assign volunteers right up to 11:00 a.m. Please wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants. Wear sturdy work shoes or boots (Considering the recent rains, you may want to wear galoshes since the areas in and around the Forest may still be wet.) Bring work gloves if you have them. We will have a limited number of gloves for loan. We will have plenty of water and other beverages, but you may want to bring a water bottle to carry to your work site. Lunch will be served at noon. Thank you again for offering to help us improve this wonderful area in Dallas. See you Saturday. Regards, Ron Kovatis Executive Director Groundwork Dallas (www.groundworkdallas.org)

Directions to Rochester Park



From the West: Take I75 toward Kaufman. Exit at Municipal St. Turn right onto Municipal. Park entrance is on the left.



From the East: Take I75 toward Dallas. Exit at Bexar St. Take Bexar St. to Rochester St. Turn left on Rochester. Go to Municipal St. Park entrance is straight ahead.



MAPSCO pg 56 G-H

[trolleygirl]

Geez guys! I hadn't even checked this thread! And no, it was not cancelled and we had over 100 volunteers show up in spite of the mud. A good time was had by all and we managed to remove three tons of trash and tires.

Groundwork Dallas will be planning a Fall cleanup for this year as well.

[trolleygirl]

Oh, and regretfully, I was asked to resign from the Board of Groundwork Dallas by the City Attorney's office and the City Manager's office. And I finally just went ahead and resigned from my neighborhood association for the same reasons that the City cites. I've been a bit in the dumps lately.

The good news is that, now I suddenly have all this free time. I suppose I could start some new project....