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Call Us Today: 214-526-2800
Email: Info@turtlecreekassociation.org
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A Gateway Through Time: The 1926 Birth of
Turtle Creek Park Subdivision
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Hello JD,
During recent research into the history of the bridges of Turtle Creek, I came across a fascinating find in the Dallas Morning News from 1926—an original advertisement showcasing the newly opened Turtle Creek Park Subdivision. What stood out immediately was the image of the Stonebridge Drive Bridge, featured prominently as the gateway into a wooded, hillside neighborhood that still exists today.
The 31-acre subdivision officially opened to the public on April 11, 1926, offering Dallas residents the rare chance to live in what was then described as “heavily timbered, with natural hills, and overlooking both the city’s finest boulevard and Turtle Creek.” It was marketed as a place for “unusually fine residential conceptions”—a poetic way of saying it was destined for thoughtfully designed homes, in harmony with the land.
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Divided into just 43 lots spread across three curving streets—Stonebridge Drive, Arrowhead Drive, and Rock Creek Drive—the neighborhood was created with a deep respect for the natural terrain. That same Stonebridge Drive Bridge, now nearly a century old, still welcomes residents and visitors, standing as a testament to the lasting charm and intentional design of the area.
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Today, Turtle Creek Park Subdivision remains a quiet gem along the creek, defined by its mature trees, rolling hills, and unique architectural character. It’s remarkable how much of the original vision endures—and how relevant it still feels as we continue working to preserve, protect, and enhance the Turtle Creek corridor.
The past lives here, in concrete bridges and leafy canopies. And thanks to the stewardship of those who call it home, so does the future.
Warm regards,
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President|CEO
Turtle Creek Association
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You're Invited: TCA Member Mixer at Salum Restaurant
Celebrating 40 Years of
Turtle Creek Association!
On Monday, August 18th, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, celebrated local chef Abraham Salum will graciously open the doors of Salum Restaurant exclusively for TCA members. Enjoy a specially curated selection of complimentary appetizers that showcase Chef Salum's renowned culinary expertise. A cash bar will also be available.
This festive Member Mixer also marks a special milestone — TCA's 40th Anniversary! Join us as we celebrate four decades of stewardship, community, and commitment to preserving the beauty of Turtle Creek.
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Whether you're a long-time supporter or new to the organization, we warmly invite you to connect with fellow members and enjoy an evening of delicious food and shared purpose.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, August 14th by calling Sharon Ballew at 214-526-2800 to secure your spot. Space is limited, so we encourage you to respond promptly.
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Tickets On Sale Now! | Sponsorships Still Available
🌟 Turtle Creek Association’s 2025 Gala & Home Tour 🌟
Don’t miss our most anticipated event of the year! The Gala & Home Tour is more than just a fabulous evening and a peek inside some of the most beautiful homes in Dallas — it’s your chance to directly support the care and beautification of the iconic Turtle Creek Corridor.
Your participation helps fund:
- Manual trash removal from Turtle Creek
- Trimming and clearing the creek banks
- Raising the tree canopy to prevent trash buildup
- Replacing dying or underperforming median shrubs
- Removing invasive species like Chinese Privet
- Annual color (i.e. The Fall Pumpkin displays) and much more...
If you’ve ever enjoyed a scenic drive down Turtle Creek Boulevard, this is your moment to help preserve and enhance it.
- Buy your tickets today
- Become a sponsor and make a lasting impact
Together, we’re keeping Turtle Creek beautiful — one project, one event, one supporter at a time.
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🎄 Save the Date: TCA Patron Christmas Party – December 3rd 🎄
We are delighted to announce a TCA Patron Christmas Party will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd, and you won’t want to miss it!
Our gracious hosts, Diana and John Foster, will open their stunning home in Regent’s Park, just across from The Mansion, exclusively for TCA Patrons. Christmas is Diana’s favorite time of year, and it shows — their home is professionally decorated from top to bottom... quite literally four floors of holiday magic.
Prepare to be in awe as you're transported into a winter wonderland that captures the joy and beauty of the season. This festive evening will be the perfect way to kick off the holidays with fellow Patrons in an atmosphere filled with warmth, sparkle, and community cheer.
This is a Patron-only event, so mark your calendars now and stay tuned for your official invitation.
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit?
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Median Refresh in Full Bloom Along
Turtle Creek Boulevard
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A seasonal upgrade for one of Turtle Creek’s signature features.
Turtle Creek’s medians have always been a defining element of the boulevard—offering beauty, greenery, and a touch of elegance to all who pass by. This summer, those medians got a thoughtful refresh, continuing our commitment to keeping the corridor vibrant and well cared for.
All 25 medians were recently inspected to identify dead, dying, or underperforming plantings. Thanks to that detailed review, several enhancements have been made, including the addition of new dwarf crape myrtles, drift roses, and other resilient, colorful plantings. One standout addition: a stately Chinese Lace Elm now graces the triangle at Fitzhugh Avenue, adding structure and shade to a prominent corner.
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This refresh ensures that the medians remain one of Turtle Creek’s points of pride—not just for their visual appeal, but for the role they play in unifying the landscape and softening the urban environment.
Still to come: a fresh layer of mulch will be applied to each median, helping with moisture retention and weed control while giving the final polished look.
It’s all part of our ongoing effort to ensure that Turtle Creek remains as beautiful and welcoming as ever—for residents, visitors, and nature alike.
| | Bringing Beauty to Turtle Creek | |
Lacebark Elms and Red Drift
Roses Find a Home
At this year’s Azalea Luncheon, guests were greeted with stunning displays of Chinese Lacebark Elms and Red Drift Roses — vibrant symbols of renewal and natural beauty. But these weren’t just centerpieces. In a creative twist, attendees were invited to sponsor the plants for permanent placement throughout the gardens of the Turtle Creek Corridor — and the response was overwhelming.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, 39 Lacebark Elm trees were sponsored and 98 Red Drift Roses — a blooming success by any measure!
The drift roses have already been planted, bringing rich color and charm to the landscape. In recognition of each sponsor, a personalized marker has been placed beside each of the 98 rose bushes, creating a heartfelt tribute to those who helped make this initiative possible.
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As for the Lacebark Elms, we're holding off just a bit. Fall is the ideal time to plant trees in Texas, when cooler temperatures provide the best conditions for healthy root development. These graceful trees — known for their dappled bark and elegant canopy — will be added to the corridor later this year, ensuring they thrive for generations to come.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and helped us continue our mission to make Turtle Creek greener, healthier, and even more beautiful. Your support is growing something truly special.
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Making a Splash: Man Spotted
Swimming in Turtle Creek
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Just because it sparkles doesn’t mean it’s a pool.
Yes, it’s true. A man was recently seen swimming in the creek near William B. Dean Park. Full stroke. In the water. And while we admire his adventurous spirit (and apparent immunity to murky mystery), it’s a moment that had us scratching our heads and thinking: Have we made the creek look a little too clean and inviting?
Some longtime residents may remember a time when it wasn’t unusual to dip into Turtle Creek—decades ago, before the realities of urban runoff and city sprawl took hold. Back then, you might have splashed around with friends on a hot summer day without a second thought. But times have changed, and so has the water quality.
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Let’s be clear—we’ve been working hard to restore the health and beauty of Turtle Creek. The water is flowing, the wildlife has returned, and the banks are lush and green. But even with our best efforts, this is still urban runoff, not a resort pool. So, while it may look like the perfect way to beat the heat, don’t be fooled—Turtle Creek is not ready for your cannonball.
We love that people are engaging with Turtle Creek more than ever. But let’s keep the swimming to the egrets, ducks, and the occasional overly bold turtle. For humans, we recommend admiring from the bridge, enjoying the trails, or helping us advocate for the dredging and stabilization work still needed to make the creek safer—for everyone.
Until then, please keep your swimsuits dry and your admiration from a safe distance.
| | Update: New Vertical Fencing Completed Under Lemmon Avenue Bridge | | |
Safety and beautification, one bridge at a time.
Last month, we shared news about an important safety upgrade happening beneath the Lemmon Avenue Bridge—an area that, for years, has posed challenges along the Turtle Creek Leisure Trail due to persistent encampments and safety concerns. Today, we’re proud to share that the new vertical security fencing has been fully installed—and it looks great.
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As you’ll see in the photo, the sleek, vertical bars not only deter future encampments but also open up so any flood water debris can be removed and the site cleaned. This enhancement is a direct result of our ongoing partnership with Dallas Parks and Recreation, and is part of the broader Bridges of Turtle Creek initiative.
Next up for this area: a fresh coat of paint. Repainting the underside of the bridge and the fencing will brighten the space further and help restore a more inviting, cared-for atmosphere for all who walk, jog, or cycle beneath it.
Stay tuned for more progress as we continue to invest in the bridges, trails, and natural spaces that make Turtle Creek one of Dallas’s true gems.
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Coming Soon: Crow 1 Sculpture
Installation Underway
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Art will soon take flight at the corner of Maple and Turtle Creek.
If you’ve passed by the corner of Maple Avenue and Turtle Creek Boulevard recently and noticed stakes in the ground, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining things. That marked-off space is the future home of Crow 1, the newest sculpture coming to Turtle Creek.
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Part of our ongoing effort to bring more public art into the corridor, Crow 1 will be a striking addition to the landscape—merging natural inspiration with modern design. Up next is construction of the footer and base, which will anchor the piece securely in place. We anticipate installation to be completed within the third quarter of this year, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this project come to life.
More updates to come as Crow 1 prepares to land!
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A Grateful Thanks to Sharon and Wayne Smith: A Successful Evening of
Support for Turtle Creek
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The Turtle Creek Association extends its heartfelt thanks to Sharon and Wayne Smith for graciously hosting a recent membership drive meeting in the beautiful Conservancy Room at Plaza I & II.
The evening was a tremendous success, raising funds in support of key initiatives that directly impact the health and safety of Turtle Creek. These funds will go toward:
- Finishing the placement of large rocks under the Fairmount Street Bridge, a project designed to deter encampments and preserve the area’s natural beauty.
- Installing lighting to improve visibility and safety under the Fairmount Street Bridge.
- Offsetting monthly maintenance costs for trimming, mowing, and upkeep of the ravines between Maple Avenue and Fairmount Street, as well as the large ravine between Fairmount Street and Park Bridge Court.
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The evening began on an especially inspiring note with a $10,000 challenge match from a generous anonymous donor — a spark that energized attendees and helped propel the event past its fundraising goal.
Wayne Smith, a TCA Board Member, shared his thoughts on the evening’s success:
“We are so proud to be part of a community that steps up in such a meaningful way. These funds will make a real difference, not just in how the area looks, but in how safe and welcoming it feels for everyone. Sharon and I are honored to support the important work TCA is doing.”
Thanks to the energy in the room and the incredible support from everyone who attended, this gathering was not only a financial success, but also a reminder of the power of community action.
Once again, thank you to Sharon and Wayne for your hospitality, and to all who contributed. Together, we are making a lasting difference for Turtle Creek.
| | Thank You to Elyce and David Walthall: A Night of Generosity and Community at The Claridge | | |
The Turtle Creek Association extends its sincere gratitude to Elyce and David Walthall for graciously hosting a recent membership drive and fundraiser at The Claridge. Their generosity and dedication to the mission of TCA brought together an enthusiastic group of neighbors and friends, all united in their commitment to protecting and preserving the beauty of our shared green space.
This well-attended gathering raised funds in support of key initiatives that directly impact the health, safety, and sustainability of the Turtle Creek corridor — particularly in and around the William B. Dean Park area. The funds raised will help offset monthly maintenance costs associated with trimming, mowing, and general upkeep along the banks of Turtle Creek, including the area between the two Lemmon Avenue bridges.
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Thanks to the leadership and hospitality of the Walthall's, this event not only strengthened our financial resources but also helped build stronger connections among residents who care deeply about the long-term vitality of our beloved neighborhood.
We are incredibly grateful to Elyce and David for hosting this event in support of Turtle Creek — and to all who attended and contributed. Your support is helping us preserve the natural beauty and serenity of this treasured urban oasis.
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Host a TCA Gathering in Your High-Rise or Home!
Are you interested in hosting Wayne Smith and JD Trueblood for a Turtle Creek Association gathering in your building? We’d love to visit with you! It’s a great opportunity to learn more about what TCA is doing for the neighborhood — and especially in your own backyard.
These informal get-togethers are a fun way to mingle with neighbors, share some food and drink, provide insight, and support a great cause that benefits us all.
If you're interested in hosting, please contact us at 214-526-2800. We’d be delighted to chat!
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