Call: 214-526-2800

Email:Info@turtlecreekassociation.org

Web: turtlecreekassociation.org

What you don’t see is what matters most.

WHY STEWARDSHIP MATTERS

Every day, thousands of people walk, run, bike, or drive through Turtle Creek. They admire the towering trees, historic bridges, winding trails, beautiful landscapes, and peaceful water. It's one of the reasons so many of us choose to live, work, and spend time here.

A few months ago, I realized something.

Most people never think about everything that happened before they arrived.

They don't think about the trash that was removed after the last storm. They don't notice the cleared invasive vegetation that had been hiding the creek. They don't realize a broken light was repaired before it became a safety concern, or that someone scrubbed graffiti from a historic bridge before most people ever knew it was there.

And honestly...that's exactly how it should be.

The best stewardship is almost invisible.

When it's done well, people simply experience a place at its best. They enjoy it without ever thinking about the work required to keep it healthy, safe, and beautiful.

Over the years, I've come to appreciate that this is both one of Turtle Creek Association's greatest successes and one of our biggest challenges. The better we do our job, the less visible our work becomes.

That realization inspired an important conversation within our organization.

As TCA begins developing its next five-year strategic plan, we found ourselves asking some fundamental questions. What does stewardship really mean? Why does Turtle Creek need a dedicated steward? And what promise must we continue to keep for the future of this remarkable place?

Rather than answer those questions ourselves, we'd like to explore them with you.

Beginning this month, we're launching a new series called Keeping Our Promise. Over the coming months, we'll take you behind the scenes to share the work, the partnerships, the challenges, and the vision that guide our stewardship of Turtle Creek. Along the way, I hope you'll gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes to preserve, protect, and enhance one of Dallas' most treasured public spaces.

Because stewardship isn't simply about maintaining a place. It's about keeping a promise.

Warm regards,

President | CEO

Turtle Creek Association

ARTICLE ONE

Keeping Our Promise

Why Does TCA Exist?

Imagine Turtle Creek one year from now without Turtle Creek Association.

The creek is no longer manually cleaned.

Trash begins collecting beneath bridges after every storm.

Invasive vegetation slowly reclaims areas that took years to restore.

Historic bridges begin showing signs of neglect. Landscape beds fade. Lights go unrepaired. Encampments gradually return.

None of it happens overnight. It happens one small problem at a time.

One broken light.

One clogged creek.

One neglected landscape bed.

One piece of graffiti.

One bridge repair postponed.

Until eventually, people begin asking what happened.

The answer is simple.

Stewardship stopped.

This isn't meant to be alarming. It's simply a reminder that places like Turtle Creek don't stay beautiful by accident. They remain beautiful because someone accepts the responsibility of caring for them every single day.

For more than forty years, that has been TCA's promise.

Working alongside the City of Dallas, our volunteers, donors, members, and neighborhood partners, we've quietly stepped in wherever we're needed. Sometimes it means cleaning debris from the creek after a storm. Sometimes it means creating safer trails, or leading long-term infrastructure improvements such as creek dredging and bank stabilization that may take years to plan and complete.

The work changes.

The promise never does.

As we look toward the future, we believe it's important to share more of the story—not because we want recognition, but because stewardship only continues when a community understands its value and chooses to invest in it.

That's why we're asking for your help.

As we develop TCA's next five-year strategic plan, we want to hear from the people who know and love Turtle Creek best.

Why do you believe Turtle Creek Association exists?

There are no right or wrong answers. In less than two minutes, your thoughts can help shape our vision for the future, guide our stewardship of the corridor, and influence future editions of Keeping Our Promise.

➡ Click here to share your thoughts.

Next month, we'll share what we learned—and continue the conversation together.

Because the future of Turtle Creek isn't determined by one organization.

It's shaped by an entire community that believes this remarkable place is worth protecting.

Behind the Beauty

A Monthly Report from the Field

One of the questions we'll explore throughout the Keeping Our Promise series is, "What does stewardship actually look like?"

Clues to the answer of that question can be found in the report that follows.

Every month, our Trash Free Waterways team patrols the entire Turtle Creek Corridor—from Wycliff Avenue to Maple Avenue—documenting conditions, removing trash and debris, identifying public safety concerns, and reporting issues that require additional attention.

This monthly report offers a behind-the-scenes look at that work. This report is more than a record of what was found—it guides what we do next. Every observation is reviewed by TCA staff and used to prioritize maintenance, coordinate with City partners, and direct resources to where they can make the greatest impact. It's one of the ways we turn stewardship into action.



Some photographs aren't beautiful—but they're important. They tell the story of the challenges facing an urban waterway and the ongoing commitment required to preserve it.

Click below to view this month's complete field documentation report.

As you review these slides remember, Stewardship isn't measured only by what you see. It's also measured by what you never have to see because someone was there first.

After the Report: Your Donation Dollars in Action

Planning is officially underway for one of Turtle Creek Association's most important weekends of the year.

On July 17, committee members gathered for the official kickoff meeting for the 2026 Gala & Tour of Homes, which returns Friday, October 2, with the Gala at the Virgin Hotel Dallas, followed by the Tour of Homes on Sunday, October 4.

We're delighted to welcome Carolina Pace as this year's Honorary Chair. Carolina's longstanding commitment to philanthropy, community engagement, and the preservation of Dallas makes her an exceptional ambassador for this year's event.

Although recently retired, Sharon Ballew has graciously agreed to return once again as Chair of both the Gala and Tour of Homes. After decades of dedicated leadership, Sharon's passion for Turtle Creek continues to inspire all of us, and we're grateful she'll help lead what promises to be another memorable weekend.

The Tour of Homes is proudly presented by The Urban Team at Allie Beth Allman & Associates, whose continued support has helped make this event one of Dallas' premier home tours.

Last year's Gala and Tour of Homes raised more than $400,000 to support Turtle Creek Association's mission.

Those funds do far more than produce a successful event.

They help restore historic bridges, remove invasive species, clean the creek after storms, improve trail safety, enhance landscapes and public spaces, preserve public art, and invest in the long-term health of one of Dallas' most treasured urban waterways.

Simply put...

The Gala helps fund stewardship.

One of the things we hope you've taken away from this month's newsletter is that stewardship rarely happens by accident. It happens because a community chooses to invest in it.

Every bridge restored.

Every tree planted.

Every ton of trash removed from the creek.

Every landscape improved.

Every enhancement to the Turtle Creek Corridor is made possible through the generosity of our members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and event supporters.

We hope you'll join us this October as we celebrate another year of keeping our promise to Turtle Creek. Click below for Ticket and sponsorship information.