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Open Space Program

wildflower and butterfly

DALLAS COUNTY OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

Recognizing that the rapid urbanization of North Central Texas was significantly reducing the area's supply of undeveloped land and threatening some of its more environmentally unique features, Dallas County first began establishing an open space system in 1976.

This system now contains twenty-one preserves and 3,519 acres located throughout the County. Designed to resemble a national park rather than a neighborhood playground or athletic field, the County's preserves offer a variety of topographical, geological, and environmental experiences. Some are hilly and rocky, some are broad meadows, some include wetlands, some are heavily wooded, and some are historically significant to both Texas and Dallas County. The preserves set aside natural habitats where native plants, reptiles, birds and mammals can continue to thrive.

TRINITY RIVER MOUNTAIN CREEK PRESERVEblue bonnetspost oak
wildflowergrapevine springswildflowers
cedar mountainwildflowersriver locks
flowerscedar mountain

DALLAS COUNTY OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

 PRESERVELOCATIONACREAGEYEAR ESTABLISHED
1LORCH PARKCedar Hill821976
2ELM FORK PRESERVECarrollton221983
3NORTH MESQUITE CREEK PRESERVEMesquite221983
4TRINITY RIVER-MOUNTAIN CREEK PRESERVEIrving521984
5CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVEDallas3011984
6McCOMMAS BLUFF PRESERVEDallas1111985
7ROWLETT CREEK PRESERVEGarland971985
8TENMILE CREEK PRESERVELancaster1251985
9JOPPA PRESERVEDallas3071986
10LEE F. JACKSON SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVEGarland691987
11COTTONWOOD CREEK PRESERVEWilmer2201989
12SPRING CREEK PARK PRESERVEGarland331990
13GRAPEVINE SPRINGS PARK PRESERVECoppell161991
14RIVERBEND PRESERVEUnincorp5181992
15FISH CREEK PRESERVEGrand Prairie371992
16WINDMILL HILL PRESERVEDeSoto751993
17POST OAK PRESERVESeagoville3351993
18PALMETTO-ALLIGATOR SLOUGH PRESERVEUnincorp2681993
19GOAT ISLAND PRESERVEUnincorp5011993
20CEDAR MOUNTAIN PRESERVECedar Hill1231993
21MUDDY CREEK PRESERVEWylie and Sachse2051996
 TOTAL3519 

A County preserve is usually no more than 20-30 minutes from where you live. They are all open to the public with the exception of the Palmetto-Alligator Slough Preserve which will be opened at a later date once access improvements have been made.

The preservation of natural open spaces has many benefits: wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, buffer zones between developments, increased property values of adjacent land, noise attenuation, air pollution reduction, water quality preservation and improvement, and natural and cultural resource preservation.

The County has acquired its 3,519 acres using a combination of County funds, State and Federal grants, and cash donations. Some of the preserves have also been graciously donated to the County by private landowners--Lorch Park, North Mesquite Creek Preserve, Grapevine Springs Park Preserve, and Tenmile Creek Preserve are examples of the generosity of the County's citizens.

For more information about the County's open space system, please contact Mia Brown at mia.brown@dallascounty.org or (214) 653-6653. 

Please also use Twitter (@DallasCoTrails) and Facebook (Dallas County Trails and Preserves) for additional special feature information.