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Call Us Today: 214-526-2800
Email: Info@turtlecreekassociation.org
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As we reflect on this season of gratitude, the Turtle Creek Association extends our heartfelt thanks to you—our members, sponsors, corporate supporters, and community partners. Your unwavering commitment and generosity have made 2024 a transformative year for Turtle Creek, enabling us to achieve remarkable progress. | |
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Together, we’ve enhanced the beauty and health of the Turtle Creek Corridor, advancing sustainability and fostering a thriving ecosystem. Your support has been pivotal in addressing challenges like storm recovery and invasive species to maintaining and restoring the natural charm of our shared spaces. These efforts wouldn’t have been possible without your contributions, whether through financial assistance, volunteer hours, or active engagement in our mission.
As we give thanks, please know how deeply appreciated you are. You’ve helped preserve and enhance this treasured resource for all who cherish Turtle Creek, and we hope you feel proud of the positive impact we’ve created together.
We at the Turtle Creek Association wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving.
With gratitude,
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President|CEO
Turtle Creek Association
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Kickoff of the TCA Annual Campaign: Join Us in Transforming Our Corridor | |
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Today, we officially launch the 2024 Annual Campaign! This is your chance to play a vital role in preserving and enhancing Turtle Creek and its vibrant corridor.
Over the past year, we’ve made remarkable strides in transforming this cherished space. Guided by our master plan, we’ve expanded our services to serve the environment and our community better. Some of our 2024 highlights include:
- Clearing Overgrowth: Large areas of brush and undergrowth have been cleared, improving safety and accessibility.
- Combating Invasive Species: We’ve initiated the eradication of invasive Chinese privet to protect native plant life and trees.
- Boosting Creek Cleanliness: Increased manual cleaning efforts have removed trash and organic debris, improving the waterway’s health.
- Graffiti Remediation: Graffiti along the Turtle Creek Trail has been removed, restoring the area’s natural beauty.
- Storm Recovery Support: After two severe storms, we assisted the city with cleanup and recovery, ensuring the corridor’s swift rehabilitation.
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We’re looking ahead to 2025 with ambitious plans to expand our work along the creek’s waterway and throughout the corridor. To achieve this, we’ve set a goal of raising $70,000 through this campaign. You can monitor our progress by clicking on the Goal tracker.
Exciting News: Matching Gift Opportunity!
Thanks to the generosity of a dedicated supporter, all donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000! That means your contribution will have double the impact, bringing us closer to creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Turtle Creek.
How You Can Help
Whether large or small, your gift supports vital efforts to maintain and enhance Turtle Creek. With the matching gift opportunity, now is the perfect time to contribute and maximize your impact.
Let’s work together to preserve this natural treasure for future generations. Please donate today to help us reach our goal and take advantage of this matching opportunity.
Hit the Donate Button or contact us to learn more about the Annual Campaign and how your support makes a difference. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey!
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The Saga of the Trash Boom:
Breaking News (Literally!)
If you’ve been around Turtle Creek lately, you might have noticed a recurring theme: a sparkling clean creek… followed by rain, and then—snap—a broken trash boom. It’s a bit like washing your car or cleaning your windows, only for it to rain the next day. Frustrating? Absolutely. Predictable? Unfortunately, yes.
After more than two and a half years of diligently cleaning the creek, we’ve learned just how critical the trash boom is for keeping debris from piling up along the creek banks. However, thanks to the sheer force of water flowing from the outfall in front of the Kalita Humphreys Theater, our trusty boom has had a rough go of it. Designed to break free under extreme conditions to prevent flooding (a very smart feature!), it’s recently been breaking loose even when conditions are far from extreme.
Working with the City of Dallas, we’ve tried different designs, but none have held up. After extensive reviews by city engineers, we believe we’ve finally found a more effective solution. The new trash boom has been ordered and will be installed soon. Fingers crossed, this one will be up to the challenge!
Until then, we truly appreciate your patience. Keeping Turtle Creek clean is a priority, and we’re committed to finding the best tools to do the job. And if it rains right after the new boom goes up… well, at least we’ll have the humor to weather it together.
Thank you for your support, your understanding, and for rooting for our next trash boom to succeed!
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TCA Expands Trash Remediation Service to
include Fairmount St and Maple Ave
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TCA announces the expansion of its trash remediation service to include the parkland between Fairmount Street and Maple Avenue. This decision aligns with TCA’s ongoing commitment to preserving and enhancing the Turtle Creek Corridor for the benefit of neighbors and visitors alike.
Recently, TCA unveiled a new partnership with Centurion American to develop a vibrant leisure park (see conceptual rendering in above insert) at the intersection of Fairmount Street, Turtle Creek Boulevard, and Maple Avenue.
For years, TCA has invested in the maintenance of this greenspace, financing the addition of annual flowers and shrubs to beautify the area. Three years ago, TCA funded the installation of new azalea shrubs, further enhancing the lush landscape.
With the announcement of this exciting redevelopment, the association has decided to take its commitment a step further by expanding trash remediation services to this critical stretch of parkland.
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The creek area between Fairmount Street and Maple Avenue (highlighted in yellow on map insert) has faced challenges recently, including significant overgrowth and an increase in homeless encampments, particularly beneath the Fairmount Street Bridge. By expanding our services to clear underbrush and remove trash, TCA aims to positively impact the environment and improve safety for everyone who enjoys the area.
This expansion represents a significant step forward in TCA’s mission to protect and beautify the Turtle Creek Corridor. With the support of our community, we look forward to transforming this greenspace into a welcoming, vibrant area that all can enjoy.
A Special Note:
TCA and Hillwood are not the only organizations cleaning the creek. Other groups, volunteers, and private individuals also contribute to these efforts, helping to supplement and extend the impact of our work. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and commitment to preserving Turtle Creek's beauty.
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Seeing is Believing: The Incredible Volume of Trash Removed from Turtle Creek | |
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The photos below represent some of the trash collected during this week's cleaning of Turtle Creek, and they speak for themselves—month after month, an astonishing amount of trash is being removed from Turtle Creek.
This effort not only clears the waterway but also has a ripple effect of positive impacts:
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Healthier Creek Ecosystem: Removing debris prevents pollution, allowing wildlife to thrive in a cleaner, safer environment.
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Community and Human Impact: A clean creek makes the area more enjoyable for those who live, work, and play there.
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Property Value Boost: Cleaner waterways increase property values, enhancing the overall appeal of the Turtle Creek corridor.
Every piece of trash removed is a step toward a healthier, more beautiful Turtle Creek—and that’s something we can all celebrate!
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| Did you know Turtle Creek is actually 3 connected ponds? | | | |
Turtle Creek Trivia: A Hidden Network of
Ponds and Structures
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Did you know that Turtle Creek isn’t just a natural waterway but an interconnected system of three ponds, hydraulic structures, and a natural stream that flows into an underground pressure sewer? Here’s a closer look at this fascinating system, as outlined in the Turtle Creek Master Plan Update:
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Hall Street Dam and Reservoir (Pond 1): Located at the intersection of Turtle Creek Blvd and Hall Street, this pond is bounded on its downstream end by the Hall Street Dam and Blackburn Bridge upstream. The Hall Street Dam, standing 16.9 feet high, sits about 130 feet upstream from the Hall Street Bridge and serves as the southern boundary for Pond 1. The creek transitions into a natural stream south of the Hall Street Dam.
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Blackburn Reservoir (Pond 2): Bounded by the Blackburn Street Dam on the downstream end and the Stonebridge Dam approximately 1,425 feet upstream, this pond is the heart of the creek’s hydraulic system.
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Stonebridge Dam and Reservoir (Pond 3): This reservoir is defined by the Stonebridge Dam, which is constructed under the Stonebridge Drive Bridge. It stretches approximately 1,400 feet further upstream to the culvert at Fitzhugh, where it transitions into the natural stream flow.
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Interestingly, the entire system feeds into an underground pressure sewer (pictured above), with its entrance located at Park Bridge Ct. This clever mix of natural and engineered infrastructure keeps Turtle Creek flowing and functional.
The next time you’re strolling along Turtle Creek, you’ll know a bit more about the hidden network of dams and reservoirs that make this iconic waterway possible!
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