The Bridges of Turtle Creek - Blackburn Street Bridge, circa 1930

Original watercolor by Jen Russell-Smith

Greetings!

November is the perfect time to pause and reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.

At Turtle Creek Association, our successes are made possible by a dedicated community that believes in preserving and enhancing one of Dallas’s most cherished natural areas.

We are deeply grateful for our engaged members and board of directors, whose commitment and leadership continue to guide TCA forward. This year marked Turtle Creek Association’s 40th anniversary — and we celebrated in a very big way! Our record-setting Gala and Home Tour not only honored four decades of preservation and progress but also helped fund critical projects such as manual creek cleaning and the ongoing Bridges of Turtle Creek restoration.

It was also a record year for donations, highlighted by our largest gift to date — $165,000. This incredible support allowed us to maintain the areas restored last year, expand beautification efforts, and strengthen collaborations with the City of Dallas. Together, we’ve made meaningful progress in addressing illegal encampments, improving safety, and keeping the corridor vibrant and welcoming. While there’s more to do, the results are visible, lasting, and inspiring.

As we launch our Annual Campaign, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Your support ensures that our progress endures — from maintaining restored bridges and creekside areas to advancing the initiatives that make Turtle Creek a true urban treasure. Every contribution matters, and together we can keep Turtle Creek thriving well into the future.



With heartfelt gratitude,

President|CEO

Turtle Creek Association

Preserving Beauty, Protecting Legacy: The 2025 Annual Campaign Begins

Today, we officially launch the 2025 Turtle Creek Association Annual Campaign — and we invite you to be part of something truly special.

Turtle Creek isn’t just a beautiful stretch of water and greenery — it’s the heart of our community. It’s where neighbors walk at sunrise, where families gather on weekends, where the city slows down just long enough to breathe. Keeping this haven clean, safe, and thriving takes care, commitment, and the support of people like you.

Over the past year, thanks to your generosity, we’ve made remarkable progress. Guided by our master plan, we’ve worked to preserve the historic charm of Turtle Creek while elevating its natural beauty for everyone to enjoy.

Your Donations in Action

Bridge & Trail Enhancements

Six historic bridges — Stonebridge, Blackburn, two Lemmon Avenue bridges, Fairmount, and Maple — have been beautifully restored through a $350,000 investment. New fencing, pavers, lighting, and even 128 tons of rip rap (really large stones) now make the Turtle Creek Leisure Trail safer, brighter, and more beautiful than ever.

Corridor Beautification & Gateway Projects

The first impression of Turtle Creek is about to get even better. Our two-block median between Gillespie Street and the Katy Trail Overpass is undergoing a complete transformation with irrigation, native plantings, and elegant signage. Fully funded at $160,000, this gateway will stand as a proud welcome to the Turtle Creek Corridor.

Art in the Corridor

Soon, the Crow 1 Sculpture will take flight — adding a touch of whimsy and sophistication. Its $67,000 landscape plan (entirely donor-funded) has now been approved by Parks and Recreation and will soon bring a fresh artistic flourish to the area.

Creek Cleaning & Median Maintenance

This year, more than $155,000 went toward keeping Turtle Creek pristine — clearing brush, raising canopies, removing debris, managing invasive growth, and maintaining the lush medians that define our corridor. Regular plantings of seasonal color ensure these spaces stay vibrant year-round, while ongoing maintenance keeps the creek sparkling and the landscape thriving — a true reflection of the care and commitment of our entire community.

Community & Collaboration

Our partnership with the City of Dallas and Parks & Recreation continues to make a difference. Together, we’re addressing illegal encampments, improving safety, and protecting the natural beauty that defines Turtle Creek. Progress takes persistence — and we’re seeing results.

Looking Ahead

As we step into 2026 and beyond, we carry our mission forward — to preserve Turtle Creek’s natural beauty, protect its restored spaces, and enhance this urban treasure, ensuring its beauty endures as part of Dallas’s living legacy.

Your support is what makes this possible. Every light that shines along the trail, every bridge brought back to life, every stretch of creek that sparkles — it all happens because you care.

Together, we can keep Turtle Creek a place where beauty, history, and community come together — a living reflection of what makes Dallas truly special.

Please give today and help us keep Turtle Creek shining.

TCA Patron Holiday Event

Hosted by John & Dr. Diana Foster

Wednesday, December 3 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Step into four stories of holiday magic! Join us for an evening of festive cheer in the stunning Foster residence, where holiday attire is encouraged, bite-sized delights await, and signature cocktails and spirits will be flowing all night long.

This is one soirée you won’t forget — a night of sparkle, laughter, and holiday spirit that’s sure to be the talk of the town. Invitations coming soon, space is limited, so don’t wait!

RSVP today: sharon@turtlecreekassociation.org

If you’ve driven along Cedar Springs Road between Gillespie and the Katy Trail overpass lately, you’ve probably noticed something exciting happening! Our gateway entrance from the south is getting a major facelift—a project that comes with a $160,000 price tag and a whole lot of excitement.

Over the past few weeks, the two-block-long median has been getting a complete refresh with new irrigation, topsoil, and a colorful mix of native and adaptive blooming plants—giving drivers, walkers, and cyclists a vibrant welcome into our beloved corridor. Soon you will see a stunning display of Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mexican Feather Grass, Dwarf Palmetto, Berkeley Sedge, Purple Winter Creeper, Black-eyed Susans, Russian Sage, and a Vitex Chaste tree creating texture, color, and movement through the seasons.



And just when you think it can’t get any prettier—this coming spring, watch for cheerful yellow daffodils popping up across the median, a sure sign that Turtle Creek will be in full bloom!

But the real star of the show? Gateway signage! According to TCA President and CEO J.D. Trueblood, both the original and revised master plans recognized the need for identification signage—because let’s face it, without it, how does anyone know they’ve officially entered the Turtle Creek Corridor? Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we’re able to create a sign that’s as special as our neighborhood itself.

As seen in the rendering below, the new gateway sign will feature a stone veneer base, a metal cabinet with cut-out lettering and translucent acrylic, and internal lighting to make it glow beautifully day and night. It’s a timeless design that captures the charm and sophistication of the Turtle Creek Corridor.



With plantings underway and concrete footers in place, this striking new landmark will soon offer a bright, beautiful, and unmistakably Turtle Creek welcome to all who pass by.

Back in June, we shared a tantalizing tale: mysterious footprints spotted along Turtle Creek that had imaginations running wild. Could a Texas dinosaur—or some prehistoric creek-dweller—have been taking a leisurely stroll through our urban oasis?

Well, thanks to our friends at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, we now have a definitive answer.

It turns out our “prehistoric footprints” are actually the result of past utility work! The ancient Austin Chalk under Turtle Creek may be fossil-bearing, but the only fossils likely to be preserved here are shell, fish, and marine reptiles—not giant four-legged footprints. So, while it’s unlikely a dinosaur left us a calling card, the creek still holds its own kind of ancient history.

Even so, the discovery was a delight—and a little lesson in geology! Once we learned the truth, I couldn’t help but think of my home state of Indiana, famous for its limestone quarries, where core drilling and cutting marks sometimes play tricks on the eye, looking like footprints. So in a way, these “prints” brought a touch of Hoosier home to Dallas…with just a little extra Lone Star flair!

Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep imagining what might have been. Our boots may have been on the ground investigating left-right depressions spanning about 45 feet, but our imaginations were soaring into the Cretaceous period!

The truth may be more mundane than we hoped, but Turtle Creek continues to spark curiosity, inspire wonder, and remind us that sometimes the journey of discovery is far more exciting than the destination.

This fall, our TCA family is receiving a little extra love from the Turtle Creek Association—customized postcards featuring the beauty of Turtle Creek itself!

Two unique cards were created from stunning photographs of Turtle Creek, each one capturing the charm, serenity, and character that make our corridor so special. Which postcard will find its way to your mailbox—Card #1 or Card #2? That’s the little surprise waiting for you! But the real magic? Every card is accompanied by a handwritten note, personally crafted to say thank you to our more than 700 members.

We thought this was a unique and personal way to connect with our members, letting you know that your commitment truly makes a difference. Whether it arrives in your mailbox as a keepsake or a little moment of delight in your day, we hope it brings a smile—and a reminder that you are part of something special.

Thank you for being part of the TCA family!

In case you have been wondering when the Crow I sculpture will take its place along Turtle Creek. Here’s the latest update.

Following completion of the concrete footer and base, we started working closely with Centurion American—who generously is covering the cost of the landscaping—and our landscape design team to create a setting worthy of artist Arie Van Selm’s striking creation. The design is now finalized and, as of Friday, officially approved by Dallas Parks and Recreation for installation.

An initial bid of $67,000 has been received, and two additional bids are currently being sought. Once that process is complete, we’ll begin the next exciting phase — transforming the site into a sculptural landscape that complements Crow I’s striking presence. Architect Mike Piering captures the vision beautifully:

“The grass berm rises gently toward the Crow, revealing it perched proudly atop the hill—like a quiet guardian watching over the Turtle Creek Corridor, ever observant and timeless.”

As seen in the video above, the base will be completely covered to form a soft, natural hill, planted with Dwarf Pampas Grass, Dwarf Wax Myrtle, English lavender, Berkeley sedge, and Creeping Mazus. Limestone blocks will serve both as a decorative element and as a protective barrier to guard against vehicle impact.

The finishing touch will be subtle lighting to illuminate Crow I at night — a dramatic enhancement that will ensure the sculpture can be admired around the clock.



We’re thrilled to see this project moving forward and can’t wait to share the finished installation with our community soon.

We hope you have noticed a little extra sparkle this season! Thanks to custom-made wreaths from Grey Ghost Design, our freshly refurbished bridges are dressed for the holidays — each lamp post adorned with beautiful vertical wreaths of cedar, bright red berries, and big, festive red bows.

These cheerful creations come from the talented hands of Lauren Summerville, owner of Grey Ghost Design (no website… yet!). Though she calls Colleyville home, Lauren’s heart clearly beats for Turtle Creek! She’s been a Home Tour docent for three years running and is a familiar face on the Gala dance floor — attending all six events with enthusiasm and style.

Lauren’s artistry brings a touch of timeless holiday charm to our bridges, spreading warmth and joy across the corridor.

And if you’ve noticed that Fairmount Street Bridge isn’t quite dressed in its holiday best — well, there’s a simple explanation: I accidentally put it on the naughty list! (In my defense, every other bridge has four lamp posts — Fairmount decided to show off with twelve!).

So yes, it’s a big whoops — but don’t worry! The extra garland is being made as we speak, and soon Fairmount will be sparkling with the rest of the crew. Consider it a fashionably late addition to the holiday lineup!

Here’s to a little extra holiday magic (and a little holiday humor) along Turtle Creek — and to friends like Lauren who make our community shine even brighter!

Turtle Creek Association is deeply grateful to the individuals whose generosity keeps our corridor thriving, beautiful, and welcoming.

Thomas Murphy

We extend heartfelt thanks to Thomas Murphy for his generous $10,000 gift supporting the beautification and preservation of the Turtle Creek Corridor. His ongoing commitment is not just a donation — it’s a vote of confidence in our community and a tangible investment in the spaces we all love.

Thanks to Thomas’s support, our shared medians, trails, and creekside areas continue to thrive, welcoming residents and visitors alike with beauty, safety, and care.

Anonymous Donor

We are also profoundly grateful to an anonymous donor whose combined contributions in 2025 total an astounding $165,000 — the largest single-year gift in TCA’s history. This extraordinary generosity is having a transformative impact on the Turtle Creek corridor, helping fund critical projects that keep the corridor vibrant year-round.

While choosing to remain unnamed, this donor’s vision and commitment speak volumes. Their generosity sets a new standard for community support, ensuring that Turtle Creek remains a beautiful, thriving, and welcoming urban oasis for all who come.

Being a member of the Turtle Creek Association means playing an active role in preserving one of Dallas’s most beautiful and historic treasures. Membership dollars directly fund the projects that keep Turtle Creek safe, vibrant, and thriving—from restoring historic bridges to enhancing landscaping, public art, and lighting. More than just a contribution, membership is a partnership that ensures this unique urban oasis will continue to inspire and welcome generations to come.