Fair Park-How important is it to you?

                               Bronze Door-Hall of State                                   Photo credit/Becky Rader

Teaching moment: Looking at the picture above can you tell which industry from the 1930's (remember the building was completed in 1936) is represented? Good guess. Now what other items are represented in this---look closely.  Lots to see at this fabulous building that at the time it was finished was said to be one of the three most important places for Texas History, the other two? The Alamo and the San Jacinto Monument. Come by for a tour sometime...

Dallas is known for many things and in my humble opinion one of the best places we have to offer, but admittedly most neglected maintenance wise, is Fair Park. Some call it a City jewel others distain it as a relic of the past.

But whatever your opinion is, all of that is about to change. For the first time in a very, very long time the City has chosen to place Fair Park as a separate item in the upcoming 2017 Bond. Some people though are under the misconception that the money for Fair Park, $50 Million, is to go to the group that is awarded the Fair Park Management Agreement, this is not accurate.

The money will go to the immediate needs repair for many buildings and will be under the purview of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Several buildings have major flood damage from leaking roofs and condensation issues, others have critical electrical repair needs, structural stabilization, plumbing, chiller, mechanical equipment, heat pump replacement, etc.

This list is by no means carved in stone and is only in draft form. Perhaps this can be viewed as an incentive for whomever takes over management of Fair Park so that new occupants for the vacant buildings are a little more easily acquired. And yes, we need a real park at Fair Park.

Here is an article from the DMN about this issue: 
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/fair-park/2017/06/27/fair-park-need-50m-face-lift-dallas-city-council-let-voters-decide

Below is the Aug. 17th, 2017 Draft of the proposed use of the $50 Million allocated for Fair Park

Project Description                                                                                                   Amount
1. Hall of State-Exterior wall and plaza restoration; exterior drainage 
and lighting; repair or replace exterior doors and windows; other
architectural interior and exterior repairs; repair sump pump; other                             $14,410,000
plumbing repairs; address dehumidification issues; replace heaters and 
other mechanical repairs; electrical repairs; elevator; ADA; and other
necessary repairs 
2. Music Hall-Elevator; carpeting; replace old plumbing pipes; security;
ADA improvements and other necessary repairs                                                       $ 4,300,000
3. African American Museum-Resolve water intursion; repair interior finishes; 
flush condenser water system; complete mechanical and electrical repairs                  $ 2,000,000
4. Texas Discovery Gardens-Chiller                                                                         $    300,000
5. Food and Fiber Building-Structural stabilization; repair damaged finishes;
and other necessary repairs                                                                                      $ 1,500,000
6. Coliseum-Water infiltration; flooring; plumbing; electrical/mechanical;
 restrooms; and other necessary repairs; Phase 1 Restoration                                    $ 9,500,000
7. Tower Building-Water infiltration repairs; interior renovation; plumbing;
mechanical/electrical; and other necessary repairs                                                      $ 3,500,000
8.Centennial Building-Roof repair; interior; exterior; electrical/mechanical;
mural and bas relief conservation; and other necessary repairs                                   $ 4,400,000
9. Pan American Complex-Poultry-Exterior restoration, repair interior doors;
Sheep and Goat-Renovation of concrete columns and stucco; Police Mounted 
Unit-Repair concrete, stucco, doors, columns, ventilation for electrical and 
elevator rooms; Arena-roof and louver; and other necessary repairs                          $ 3,480,000
10. Science Place 1(Phase 1)-Water infiltration repairs; conduct mold
testing; replace plumbing fixtures and water heater; replace aged mechanical
equipment; security                                                                                                  $ 5,110,000
11. Aquarium annex- Roof repairs and complete facade repairs; replace
some interior finishes; replace plumbing fixtures; upgrade fire alarm system;
provide new security                                                                                                $    600,000
 12. Magnolia Lounge-Roof replacement; repair facade; complete minor 
interior work; replace heat pumps and FCU's; replace interior lighting;
install security system                                                                                               $    900,000

Total for Fair Park-Proposition J (Bond)                                                             $50,000,000

 




 

All Gone

The book is sold out and will not be re-published at this time. Please ignore the order link. Trying to get that removed.

Thank you to all of the people who had an interest in George Boyd's exemplary nature photography and my work on our joint effort in "Nature's Images of White Rock Lake Park."

It was a pleasure to meet several of you and I know that George would have enjoyed that also. He was someone that had the ability to converse with anyone. Plus he loved to share his pursuit of the wonders of the lake. He was a dogged activist on all matters of nature and chose to use photography as his method of spreading the word.

Working with his wife, Shirley, has been one of the greatest and most enjoyable occurrences to have happened in my life. We worked together to get the book published and to find that perfect fit for our self publishing endeavor. That was an experience! Many friendships were made in the process and will continue.

It is sad to have this finished, but if we decide to get back out there in some manner YOU will be the first to know.

I will still post about my interests in Dallas, though not frequently, as you might have noticed. Lots happening...maybe you will get the short and to the point version as one of my favorite bloggers, Seth Godin, does.

Thanks again to all of you and stay tuned! Life is an adventure and we are on this road together : )

Has it really been an hour since I posted that you should go to this blog and read about my response to this article http://www.dmagazine.com/…/2…/april/six-best-hikes-in-dallas

Good grief how Facebook makes the time fly. It is all the election, street repair, neighborhood, White Rock Lake, Trinity Project news that gets me so very distracted, steamed up and more and the time gets away from me.

So back to the great article by Bill Holston, a friend and fellow lover of all things nature. He had some great walks outlined for all of you to experience and some are my favs too, especially Cedar Ridge Preserve which was the Dallas Nature Center. Great trails and views. I walked there many times when Dr. Geoffrey Stanford was alive and was introduced to so many aspects of the environment just by listening and learning from him.
audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html

Another is the Scyene Overlook where I walked first with Ned Fritz and followed with many others. Ned was amazing. The man walked and talked so fast that you literally almost had to jog to keep up with him and hear what he was saying. amazing man who defended the GTF for years and was invaluable in saving the Big Thicket Preserve in East Texas from clear cutting.
http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/may/10-top-trails-for-hiking-and-biking-in-dallas?single=1

Other places I explore are Breckinridge Park and the Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson. Wonderful diversity of native plants to see and also after rains good wildlife tracking opportunities. Both are easy to get to and are not hard to navigate.
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=39

If you have not been, you need to get down to see the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill. This is the perfect time to go, the Dogwoods are in bloom. What is so fascinating is that this is a relic population of Dogwoods that are growing out of the chalk rock. Most Dogwoods are in need of acidic soils to be healthy and grow well, not these. Plus the birding and other native plants are awesome there, a place where east meets west as far as flora/fauna are concerned. There is a fee here, but well worth it.
http://dogwoodcanyon.audubon.org/visit-us

Another fav is the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center...great boardwalk in the one of the wetland cells and  trails to Bunker's Pond too. Talk about the diversity of wildlife...wow! Beautiful place that has a lot of meaning for me. Fee here also, but go! You will be amazed!
wetlandcenter.com

Other places I walk....and you have to realize, this is not for exercise, too much distraction for me because I am always looking at plants or tracks or scat or something else that keeps me from continuing a steady pace. Anyway that other place is White Rock Lake. Off the concrete trail are some great places to really see things like the Old Fish Hatchery area, Flag Pole Hill, and Norbuck. A few other places I know of but then you would know too much and there would be more people and I will just remain quiet and let you find those places for yourself.
http://www.dallasparks.org/235/White-Rock-Lake

Enjoy the exploration.

Spring Thaw

I don't know about you but I am more than ready for the spring thaw.

                               My backyard Mexican Plum 2012                                   Photo by: Becky Rader

It has been cold and gray here long enough, at least for me. Ready for that sunshine to come back and with it the warm air. And yes, I am fully aware that I will change my tune soon enough, don't we all?

With the changing seasons, activities pick up and the calendar fills. Same is true this year. This weekend on Saturday, March 14, Shirley Boyd and I will be at the Bath House Cultural Center for an exhibit focusing on Birds! We were invited to attend and will have a table setup from 7-9 pm during the artist's reception to sell the book, cash or check only please. Order from the blog page if using credit cards. The book is full of photos by George Boyd, who documented the flora and fauna at the lake for 30 years. Many of the images are of birds that he captured in flight, feeding, nesting or just relaxing. Beautiful. Come by to see us and say hello.We would love to see you there.

Our next event will be at the Prairies and Native Plants Day hosted by the North Texas Master Naturalist Chapter. It will take place on Saturday, May 2 from 10-3 at the Bath House Cultural Center.

In other news, Big Spring, located in the Great Trinity Forest, now has a management plan and activity will begin on invasive species removal and planting of native milkweed that was rescued from a site that was destroyed. The NTMN and the shareholders involved with the Spring will be busy next week assisting LAERF and TWM to work in the area around the spring.

On Saturday, March 28, I will lead a walk in Richardson to view the newly purchased addition to Spring Creek Nature Area. It encompasses areas that I knew as a child and visited during Girl Scout day-camps that took place there during the summer months. Beautiful area that has changed due to spread of non-native landscape plants. We will discuss those issues and walk with Roger Scott, Asst. Director of Richardson Parks and Recreation. This is a part of a wonderful program they have called Richardson Urban Naturalist Program. Join us if you can. The walk begins at 9. See below:

                 Richardson Urban Naturalist Program sets spring calendar

Five walks are planned for the spring as the City of Richardson revives its Urban Naturalist program. Each walk is $5 for adults 18 and older plus $2 for non-residents. Pre-register by calling Heights Recreation Center (972-744-7850) or Huffhines Recreation Center (972-744-7881) or go online to www.cor.net/parksonline. 

No drinking fountains or restrooms will be available on the west side of Breckinridge Park, so plan accordingly. Feel free to bring water bottles, snacks, notebooks, binoculars or cameras. Long pants and sturdy  shoes are also recommended. Each walk is restricted to 25 participants and children are encouraged to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.

 VALUE OF NATURAL OPEN SPACE

We all recognize that a walk out-doors is beneficial to our well being in so many ways. In doing so, we have established our own individual values on open space areas for giving us these opportunities. But what is the real value of preserving natural open space areas in perpetuity in a busy urban environment? We are fortunate in Richardson that the City Council has recently approved a significant expansion of Spring Creek nature Area with the acquisition of the woods at Renner Road and Plano Road. 

Becky Rader, a natural area consultant and previously the lead naturalist for the Dallas Museum of Natural History, will lead us on a tour of the newly acquired natural space around the Spring Creek Nature Area. She will explain how the expansion will provide greater public access and increased wildlife viewing opportunities, resulting in a greater connection to our natural world here in our urban environment.

March 28, 9-11 a.m.

Course Number: 82484

MEET AT FOXBORO PARK

Here is the link for all the Spring walks planned in Richardson...bottom of first page.
https://www.cor.net/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=12328

There is also a fabulous newsletter that goes out to those interested in our natural areas, Jim's This and That.

Jim's This and That for March 1, 2015
{ National PI day on the 14th }

Jim's This and That is a personal communication to individuals interested in the natural world -- primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area.  If you have comments and questions about its content or wish to receive or not receive Jim's This and That e-mails, please e-mail to

 jevarnum@aol.com

Most of the activities are free and the list is long on opportunities and places to see things in the WILD. Shocking? Not so much if you are familiar with all that our area has to offer and it is a lot. Get out there and learn, see the beauty we have that is not fertilized or groomed to perfection, listen to the sound of birds and water in a forest with the creek flowing by.

We have forgotten so much about the natural beauty that we actually have here. Time to start a new trend and get out there and enjoy it all. Pick one from Jim's list and start there. It is easy, make it a habit and join us in celebrating the arrival of Spring! : )


In memory of our crazy happy dog who passed on Monday....
Montgomery came to us as an abandoned 6 month old pup left in the backyard when his owners moved. My son named him after General Montgomery due to his look of an English Border Collie. He had smarts and talent. He was the best escape artist out there. He passed still wagging his tail at the age of 15. We will miss his happy go lucky attitude....always smiling.

More Books!

 

Another run of the book has now been proofed and ordered. This is a self published endeavor and only a few are ordered at a time. Shirley Boyd and I are learning the ropes with the help of Mary Beth Smith. It has been enlightening how it all works.

We will have 100 books available and the delivery date is Feb. 25!!! If you would like a book and missed out on the December order this is your chance! Once the shipment arrives, we will mail your book to you.

Remember that the first run sold out quickly due to the pre-order special and the book signing event at Wild Birds Unlimited, which we greatly appreciated.

We already have some orders for the next shipment. Get yours in now...order information is here. Look up on the bar...find it? Good : ) More information on ordering larger quantities can also be found there.

If you are interested in a program pertaining to the book and would like books available for signing, please contact me.

Thanks to everyone for your interest!
Becky

Re-Creating the Most Endangered Ecosystem in North America

Lawns Gone Wild

www.huffingtonpost.com

The total area of American lawns is approximately 50 thousand square miles, about the size of New York State. To keep it well watered takes about 200 gallons per person per day, and nearly a third of all residential water use...

Something to consider...
The section of the article referring to the use of lawn space as restoration possibilities for the tall grass prairie are right on, especially since the 12,000,000 acres of Tall Grass/Blackland Prairie that once existed in Texas are now less than 1/10 of 1% or <5,000 acres.

For those in the Dallas area and the massive Trinity project....let's think about restoration of that prairie component right here between the levees. It can be done.

The City and Corps, along with TPWD and other partners, could assist with the development of seasonal wet prairies that can withstand flooding and drought. There could be mowed trails, instead of concrete, for walking though the wildflowers and tall grasses, watching butterflies and hummingbirds, kestrels and hawks swooping to catch their next meal, environmental education opportunities would abound and more...can you just imagine what that would look like every spring/summer/fall? A changing seasonal palette of color. Gorgeous...who needs to drive to the Hill Country when we would have that in our own backyard? And it all would be beside the Trinity River. This would drive eco-tourism, a $16B industry in the state according to TPWD, and become an economic factor all the while improving the local environment and restoring what was here for thousands of years, but has almost disappeared.

 

                  Imagine the beauty of the prairie that the early Texans saw to the horizon    Photo by NPAT

The benefits for adding back to the most endangered ecosystem in North America would be a significant bonus. Right now TPWD is working with land owners and municipalities encouraging them to consider the enormous benefits of native tall grass prairies for water retention, drought tolerant native plants, importance for pollinators, endemic birds that require grasslands to survive and thrive, wetland birds, clean air, water filtration and so many more benefits that would justify a project such a this.

It could be that sea of grass and wildflowers, or a ribbon of it, that those first Spanish and French explorers saw when they came through this area over 500 years ago. Something to consider and just imagine the possibilities....

 Blackland Prairie remnant/Dallas         photo by Becky Rader

 

The USACE has extended the deadline for comments on the final EIS statement for the Dallas Floodway/Trinity River project. Make sure that you send in your comments before Feb. 2.

"In response to resource agency request for additional review time, USACE has prepared a 15-day extension notice for the Dallas Floodway Project Final EIS Notice of Availability." Send your response to marcia.r.hackett@usace.army.mil