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Call Us Today: 214-526-2800
Email: Info@turtlecreekassociation.org
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Hello JD,
As part of The Bridges of Turtle Creek initiative, I recently took a trip to the downtown Dallas Public Library to dig into the past of the historic bridges that cross our beloved creek. What started as a simple research trip turned into a fascinating journey back in time—and it all began with the Hall Street Bridge.
Built to Last: Circa 1908
Of all eight bridges in our initiative, Hall Street is the oldest, dating back to around 1908. I came across a Dallas Morning News article dated January 1, 1910, which proudly proclaimed, “Hall Street Bridge Lately Built by the City of Dallas.” The article noted that Hall Street experienced heavy traffic and was especially dangerous due to an upgrade from both directions. The new bridge was a much-needed safety improvement and came with a price tag of $4,700—a significant investment at the time.
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A Railing Mystery (Mostly) Solved
One of the mysteries the Bridges of Turtle Creek committee has been trying to unravel is what the original railing on the Hall Street Bridge looked like. Thanks to a grainy photo that accompanied the 1910 article, we now believe the original railings are, in fact, the stamped concrete walls that are still standing today. The photo shows pedestrians on the bridge with the railings hitting them around the waist. This suggests that over time, the roadway has been raised considerably—making the original concrete walls too low by modern safety standards and requiring the installation of the current metal railing.
From Bargain Builds to Big Budgets
While researching Hall Street, I stumbled on a second gem—an article from January 21, 1921, also from the Dallas Morning News. It described the near-completion of the Fairmount Street Bridge, just north of the Katy tracks. That project had taken over a year and cost a whopping $30,000. In the same piece, the Maple Avenue Bridge was also noted as “nearly completed” at a cost of $36,000. It’s amazing to consider how bridge-building escalated in cost and complexity in just a little over a decade.
Why It Matters
As we work to restore and preserve these historic structures, it's important to understand not just their engineering but their legacy. The Hall Street Bridge isn’t just a way to cross Turtle Creek—it’s a testament to Dallas' early investment in public safety and infrastructure. Preserving its history helps inform how we restore it for future generations.
Stay tuned—there’s more bridge history where this came from!
Warm regards,
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President|CEO
Turtle Creek Association
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🎉 Save the Date! 🎉
Turtle Creek Association's
Annual Gala & Tour of Homes
Gala: Friday, October 17, 2025
📍 The Virgin Hotel
🎶 Entertainment by Emerald City’s Limelight Band – back by popular demand!
Tour of Homes: Sunday, October 19, 2025
🏡 Explore some of the most stunning homes in the Turtle Creek Corridor
Mark your calendar for an unforgettable weekend of celebration, community, and giving—all in support of preserving and enhancing Turtle Creek.
💃✨ Get ready for music, elegance, and fun—it’s going to be a fantastic time for a great cause!
More details coming soon...
#TurtleCreekGala #TCAHomeTour2025 #SupportTurtleCreek
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Why Your Membership Matters More Than Ever
At Turtle Creek Association (TCA), your membership is more than just a contribution—it’s the foundation that keeps our organization running. While our high-profile fundraisers like the Azalea Luncheon and the Annual Gala & Tour of Homes support special projects and beautification efforts, it’s your annual membership dollars that fund the day-to-day operations essential to our mission.
Memberships Keep Us Moving
Every time you see a cleaned creek bed, a beautifully landscaped median, or a cleared trail, you’re witnessing your membership at work. These basic but vital services—along with rent, utilities, staff salaries, and fixed contracts for median and creek maintenance—are funded almost entirely through our membership revenue.
Unfortunately, YTD membership revenue is down compared to last year. This shortfall puts pressure on our ability to sustain the momentum we’ve built throughout the Turtle Creek Corridor.
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Fundraisers Fuel the Extras
Our fundraising events allow us to take on ambitious projects that elevate our community, such as:
- Clearing brush and undergrowth
- Re-landscaping medians
- Enhancing lighting and safety along the trail
- Partnering with the City of Dallas on restoration projects
But none of this can happen without a strong foundation—and that foundation is your membership.
Help Us Keep Turtle Creek Thriving
If you haven’t renewed yet, we ask that you take a moment to do so today. Your continued support ensures we can maintain the beauty, safety, and vitality of Turtle Creek for everyone to enjoy.
👉 Renew today at www.turtlecreekassociation.org or call us at 214-526-2800.
Together, we can keep Turtle Creek the gem of Dallas.
| | Graffiti Be Gone: A Neighbor Steps Up in Style! | | |
As we shared previously, TCA—through our dedicated vendors and city partners—successfully cleared the ravine between Park Bridge Court and the Fairmount Bridge, removing dense brush and debris to reveal a beautiful, once-hidden stretch of Turtle Creek. But the transformation didn’t stop there.
In a shining example of community pride, neighbor Kevin Pauza decided to roll up his sleeves—literally—and take matters into his own hands. Without fanfare, Kevin painted over the graffiti-covered dam wall, turning an eyesore into a seamless part of the landscape. The results? Stunning!
We love the color choice so much—and how well it blends with the natural surroundings—that we’re even considering using it elsewhere along the corridor. Kevin’s quiet act of beautification is proof that when one person takes initiative, it inspires others to do the same.
Hat’s off to Kevin Pauza for lending his time, talent, and a can of paint to help keep Turtle Creek beautiful. We guess you could say… this transformation is contagious!
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Bamboo Beatdown at Rock Creek: Another Win for the Corridor!
It’s amazing what a little elbow grease—and a lot of bamboo removal—can do! The pocket park at Abbott and Rock Creek just got a major makeover, thanks to Turtle Creek Association’s ongoing commitment to keeping our corridor beautiful.
This latest cleanup effort stretched from the Avondale Bridge all the way to the pocket park at Rock Creek. Let’s just say… the bamboo was thriving. So much so, the street signs looked like they were gasping for air, trying to fight their way to the surface! But no more. TCA spearheaded a full-scale clearing, reclaiming this charming green space from the jungle it had become.
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Even better, this pocket park is now officially part of our weekly mowing schedule, joining the recently refreshed Fitzhugh Avenue medians in creating a cleaner, greener, and more welcoming gateway into the Turtle Creek Corridor.
We’re proud of these enhancements and grateful for the continued support that makes them possible. Because when it comes to keeping Turtle Creek beautiful, we’re not just trimming the edges—we’re transforming the landscape.
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Spring Has Sprung Along
the Creek!
If you’ve noticed a little extra pep in your petals lately, you’re not imagining things! TCA’s landscape vendors have been hard at work refreshing the hanging baskets, containers, and medians throughout the Turtle Creek Corridor with a vibrant splash of spring color.
From multi-colored petunias and bold red geraniums to lush wood ferns, sweet potato vines, and striking coleus, the corridor is now bursting with blooms. It’s a seasonal refresh that transforms every drive, walk, or jog into a mini garden tour.
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Have you spotted the beautiful red and pink drift roses? They’re thriving—putting on a show with abundant blooms in full display. We think they’re absolutely stunning, which is why we’re planning to add even more during our full spring refresh of all medians, scheduled for late May.
We’re proud to bring a bit of springtime joy to the neighborhood—and grateful to our dedicated landscaping crews for making it all look so effortlessly beautiful.
So go ahead—roll down the windows, take the scenic route, and soak in the view. Turtle Creek is blooming!
| | Addressing the Rise in Encampments Along Turtle Creek | | |
With the arrival of warmer weather, Turtle Creek is once again experiencing an uptick in homeless encampments along the creek and adjacent parklands. As a result, our area remains on the City of Dallas' “hot list” for encampments—prompting regular site visits and coordinated response efforts.
Teams from Dallas Parks and Recreation and the H.A.R.T. (Homeless Action Response Team) now visit the corridor every Monday and Friday to offer support services and assist with camp cleanups. These efforts are part of a citywide initiative to address homelessness with a balance of compassion and public safety.
Most recently, Patrick from Trash Free Waterways, one of TCA’s environmental partners, discovered a large encampment just north of the Cedar Springs Bridge. In a startling photo shown above, you can see that individuals had gone so far as to dig a cave into the creek’s outer bank. It took several hours and two full truckloads to remove the trash, debris, and structural materials left behind.
The Turtle Creek Association continues to work closely with city officials to address these situations with empathy, recognizing the difficult circumstances faced by those experiencing homelessness. At the same time, we remain committed to protecting the environmental integrity of Turtle Creek and ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire community.
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Several bridges in the Turtle Creek neighborhood are soon to get a facelift, thanks to a public-private initiative that seeks to enhance the corridor and better connect the community.
The city of Dallas along with Turtle Creek Association and Turtle Creek Conservancy are investing about half a million dollars to restore neglected bridges in the lush Turtle Creek corridor, which is just a stone’s throw away from Oak Lawn and Uptown. The area boasts many luxury apartment towers and is home to the historic Rosewood Mansion. Read more...
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May 9, 2025 5:30 PM By Jeanne Prejean
While the proverb goes “April showers bring May flowers,” the deluge of rain and wind on Wednesday, April 2, had forced the Room To Grow Luncheon organizers to move indoors at NorthPark without a hitch. On the other hand on the same time, the Turtle Creek Association‘s Azalea Luncheon at The Joule Hotel wasn’t as lucky.
Despite the “know-before-you-go” instructions, guests faced all types of challenges just getting to the reception in the hotel’s Terrace.
But luckily things improved vastly for guests including Honorary Chair Mary Brinegar, Honorary Chairs Emeritus Ann Stuart and Deborah Stanford, Sue Krider, Karen Sargent, Carole Ann Brown and Allison Brodnax at the luncheon in the ballroom with fashions presented by Betty Reiter and Pockets and an apology to all by Turtle Creek Association President J.D. Trueblood for the earlier problems.
While the post is being finished, check out the fashions and faces at MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
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