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Call Us Today: 214-526-2800
Email: Info@turtlecreekassociation.org
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As we step into 2025, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate a significant milestone: Turtle Creek Association’s 40th anniversary as a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing Turtle Creek and its surrounding corridor. This remarkable journey has been defined by your unwavering support, and we are excited to share both our reflections on 2024 and our aspirations for the year ahead. | |
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The past year was transformational for TCA, marked by national recognition and record-breaking achievements. We were honored to receive the prestigious "Changemaker Award" from Blackbaud and the recognition for leadership excellence by D CEO—both testaments to the impact of our collective efforts.
Financially, 2024 was another stellar year - (Here's a quick summary, more detail will be provided in our Annual Report):
- Gross revenue increased by 19% to $780,038, a significant achievement given that TCA receives no operational funds from the City of Dallas and does not generate income from a rental source.
- Membership revenue rose by 19%, and fundraising revenue grew by 12.5%.
- At the same time, expenses associated with these efforts decreased by 12.3%.
- And probably one of our greatest successes is securing $1 million from the City of Dallas' 2024 Bond Program for dredging of Turtle Creek.
These accomplishments allowed us to reinvest 53% or approximately $100,000 more money into our core mission, driving tangible, positive change in the Turtle Creek area. In addition to maintaining medians and providing seasonal color changes, our scope of work has expanded to include:
- Enhancing creek cleanliness with increased trash removal efforts.
- Shoreline trimming and clearing brush and overgrowth.
- Extending our trash removal service area from Avondale to Maple.
- Raising the canopy of trees and eradicating invasive Chinese Privet to safeguard our historic trees.
- Addressing the removal of homeless encampments in an empathetic and compassionate manner.
- Graffiti removal from under Lemmon Avenue bridges and along Turtle Creek Leisure Trail.
- And works underway to create a gateway entrance into the corridor at Maple Avenue and Turtle Creek Boulevard using the recently donated Arie van Selm sculpture, Crow 1.
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Coming in 2025, we’re thrilled to announce that parkland between Avondale and north of the Lemmon Avenue bridge will now be mowed weekly—no more waiting for every other week for service! Thanks to TCA’s hard-fought negotiations and our commitment to covering the additional costs, this change will bring a more polished, park-perfect look to the area. We believe this enhanced grooming will invite even more people to explore and enjoy the greenspaces. And stay tuned—we’re working tirelessly behind the scenes on a big initiative that is truly going to excite… consider this your official teaser!
As we celebrate 40 years of impact, we look forward to building on this legacy with even greater ambition. Together, let us continue to transform our vision into reality, ensuring that Turtle Creek remains a sanctuary of beauty and community for all.
Thank you for your trust and partnership.
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President|CEO
Turtle Creek Association
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Addressing Flooding Concerns: Highland Park’s Plan and Its Potential Impact on Turtle Creek | |
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Recent developments in Highland Park’s flood mitigation plans have raised questions about their potential downstream effects on the Turtle Creek Corridor. As part of the proposed solution to address flooding, Highland Park’s plan includes significant infrastructure changes such as:
- Elevating roadways by 2.5 feet.
- Constructing a weir and bridge.
- Removing the standpipe.
- Widening and maintaining downstream channel flow lines.
While these measures aim to improve capacity and reduce flooding in Highland Park, they could inadvertently exacerbate challenges in the Turtle Creek Corridor. With 4 to 5 feet of sediment already clogging sections of the creek, increased water flow capacity could lead to backups and more severe flooding in our area. This raises important questions about whether the timing of our own dredging efforts, supported by bond funds, should be reconsidered to better align with Highland Park’s plans.
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TCA reached out to Councilman Paul Ridley to share these concerns and advocate for a coordinated approach between the two cities. His office provided the following response: “Transportation and DWU are collaborating with Town of Highland Park staff, who will be providing additional details this month. While preliminary plans were not intended for external sharing, DWU is committed to reviewing the designs to ensure there is no rise in surface elevation or velocity of the water downstream. The project’s purpose is to elevate structures and address safety concerns associated with roadway flooding.”
This assurance is encouraging, but it also underscores the need for continued communication and alignment between Dallas and Highland Park to address these interconnected issues. The Turtle Creek Association remains committed to monitoring this situation closely and advocating for solutions that prioritize the safety and sustainability of the entire Turtle Creek Corridor.
For more details about Highland Park’s flood mitigation plan, check out the following link:
Here's an animation video as well:
We’ll continue to keep our members updated as new information becomes available.
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Exciting News: Two New Partnerships Join TCA in Preserving Turtle Creek! | |
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The following is a reprint, as parts of the original article were erroneously omitted
in the previous publication.
The Turtle Creek Association is thrilled to welcome two new partners in our mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the Turtle Creek Corridor: Hanover Turtle Creek and Parkview Turtle Creek.
These partnerships mark a significant step forward in our efforts to maintain the beauty, safety, and vibrancy of this cherished area. Hanover Turtle Creek, the latest luxury high-rise rental community developed by Hanover Company in partnership with GID, is set to open its doors in January 2025. The community offers an exceptional blend of modern living and prime location on Turtle Creek Boulevard by Fairmount Street. Spanning 21 stories, Hanover Turtle Creek features 341 exquisitely designed residences, providing residents with breathtaking views of the scenic Turtle Creek neighborhood and unrivaled access to Downtown and Uptown Dallas.
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Adjacent to Hanover Turtle Creek, Parkview Turtle Creek—set to open in early 2026—will offer an additional 323 luxury units in a tranquil, park-like environment. This 20-story high-rise, developed by Hanover Company in partnership with Mitsui Fudosan America, combines premium living spaces with the serene beauty of its surrounding natural landscape. Parkview Turtle Creek provides a perfect balance of city living and suburban tranquility.
In an extraordinary show of support, Hanover Turtle Creek and Parkview Turtle Creek have donated the funds needed to immediately begin clearing the underbrush, trash, and debris in land between Fairmount and Maple Avenue. As reported last month in this newsletter, TCA had already extended the monthly cleaning services into this area. With Hanover’s generous contribution, this work will now be expedited and expanded to include lighting installation under the Fairmount Bridge, remediation of graffiti, and additional efforts to address the large homeless encampments in the area.
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Christopher Nash, Development Partner of Hanover Company, shared his enthusiasm for joining TCA’s efforts: "At Hanover, we have a strong desire to be good neighbors and support the impressive efforts being performed by the Turtle Creek Association. Their work in preserving and enhancing the Turtle Creek Corridor ensures it remains one of the most beautiful, safe, and highly desired areas of Dallas. We are proud to partner with TCA and contribute to their mission."
J.D. Trueblood, President and CEO of TCA, emphasized the importance of this partnership: "The addition of Hanover Turtle Creek and Parkview Turtle Creek to the TCA family is monumental. Hanover’s $25,000 donation not only expedites critical work in a key area of the corridor but also exemplifies the power of collaboration. This now brings three developers, each with projects underway at the south end of the corridor, into the TCA family. It’s a huge step forward for the corridor and for our organization."
With Hanover Turtle Creek, Parkview Turtle Creek, and Centurion American joining our cause, we are more empowered than ever to ensure the Turtle Creek Corridor continues to thrive as a beloved part of Dallas. Together, we look forward to creating a lasting impact for our community!
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Transforming the Corridor: A Strategy for Clean-Up Between Fairmount and Maple Avenue | |
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We are excited to share the progress and upcoming plans for revitalizing the area between Fairmount and Maple Avenue. This initiative, spearheaded by the Turtle Creek Association, is transforming an underutilized and unsafe space into a vibrant and welcoming park for the community. Here’s what we’ve achieved so far and what’s next:
Phase I: Clearing Underbrush and Overgrowth
Thanks to our dedicated efforts, the area has been completely cleared of brush and undergrowth, unveiling a beautiful, open space for residents to enjoy. This work has expanded usable parkland, enhanced the aesthetics of the neighborhood, and significantly improved safety. By removing the underbrush, we’ve eliminated the camouflage that once concealed homeless encampments, making the area safer for everyone. See before and after photos below:
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Stunning transformation in progress! | |
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Next Steps
Graffiti Removal
While graffiti under the bridge has been temporarily addressed with the city's standard gray paint squares, we have bigger plans. In the spring, we will repaint the bridge’s underbelly using a sustainable, neutral color. This strategy ensures that future graffiti can be easily and quickly covered, maintaining a clean and visually pleasing environment.
Lighting Installation
To further enhance safety and deter future encampments, we have secured approval to install lighting under the bridge. Improved visibility will make the area more inviting for residents and less attractive for unauthorized use.
Addressing Homeless Encampments
We’ve partnered with Miguel Rodriguez from the Parks and Recreation HART team, who have been instrumental in helping us tackle homeless encampments throughout the corridor. To provide a long-term solution, we plan to place large rocks under the bridge. This uneven surface will make it difficult to set up camps, discouraging future encampments.
Looking Ahead
This transformative work has been made possible through the generous support of Hanover Company. Their funding has been pivotal in enabling these improvements, and we are already seeing the positive impact on the neighborhood. As we move forward, we are committed to maintaining these improvements and ensuring that the area remains a safe, beautiful, and inviting space for everyone.
Stay tuned for updates and photos showcasing the ongoing transformation. Together, we are creating a brighter future for our community!
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A Stunning transformation! | |  |
A Beautiful new green space. | | |
Keeping Turtle Creek Clean: A
Never-Ending Commitment
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If it feels like déjà vu or a scene straight out of Groundhog Day, you’re not alone. Every time a heavy rain sweeps through, crews are once again called upon to tackle the mess that inevitably follows. The large pillars under the Lemmon Avenue bridge act as a catch-all, trapping much of the debris carried by the rushing waters. Recent storms brought a familiar challenge, sweeping a large tree and other materials downstream into the creek.
Even in frigid weather, our dedicated vendors braved the elements to clear the trash and organic debris, restoring the creek to its pristine beauty. Their unwavering commitment ensures Turtle Creek remains a safe and welcoming environment for the community to enjoy. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication to our cause.
As nature continues to test our resolve, we remain steadfast in our mission to preserve and protect Turtle Creek. This ongoing effort is a testament to the importance of community support and the tireless work of those who share our vision.
Thank you for standing with us to keep Turtle Creek clean and beautiful!
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A Heartfelt Thank You to
Stacie and Steve Worsham
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The Turtle Creek Association extends its deepest gratitude to Stacie and Steve Worsham for their extraordinary generosity in donating $30,000 to support our mission. Their gift is a testament to their commitment to preserving and enhancing Turtle Creek, and their belief in the power of private citizens to make a lasting impact.
Steve Worsham shared his inspiration for this contribution, saying, “The incredible work TCA is doing to transform Turtle Creek into a safe and beautiful destination is truly impressive. It’s clear that if we want to see meaningful change, it’s up to private citizens to step up and support this important mission, as we can’t rely solely on the city to make it happen.”
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This donation is more than financial support; it is a vote of confidence in TCA’s efforts to maintain and improve the Turtle Creek Corridor for everyone to enjoy. From clearing brush and undergrowth to improving safety and aesthetics, our work relies heavily on the generous contributions of individuals like the Worsham's who share our vision for a vibrant, clean, and welcoming Turtle Creek.
We are incredibly fortunate to have champions like Stacie and Steve in our community. Their generosity enables us to continue our vital work and inspires others to join in making a difference. Together, we can ensure that Turtle Creek remains a treasured destination for generations to come.
Thank you, Stacie and Steve, for your unwavering support and belief in our mission!
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