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Open Space Program
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.
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DALLAS COUNTY OPEN SPACE SYSTEM
PRESERVE | LOCATION | ACREAGE | YEAR ESTABLISHED | |
1 | LORCH PARK | Cedar Hill | 82 | 1976 |
2 | ELM FORK PRESERVE | Carrollton | 22 | 1983 |
3 | NORTH MESQUITE CREEK PRESERVE | Mesquite | 22 | 1983 |
4 | TRINITY RIVER-MOUNTAIN CREEK PRESERVE | Irving | 52 | 1984 |
5 | CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE | Dallas | 301 | 1984 |
6 | McCOMMAS BLUFF PRESERVE | Dallas | 111 | 1985 |
7 | ROWLETT CREEK PRESERVE | Garland | 97 | 1985 |
8 | TENMILE CREEK PRESERVE | Lancaster | 125 | 1985 |
9 | JOPPA PRESERVE | Dallas | 307 | 1986 |
10 | LEE F. JACKSON SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE | Garland | 69 | 1987 |
11 | COTTONWOOD CREEK PRESERVE | Wilmer | 220 | 1989 |
12 | SPRING CREEK PARK PRESERVE | Garland | 33 | 1990 |
13 | GRAPEVINE SPRINGS PARK PRESERVE | Coppell | 16 | 1991 |
14 | RIVERBEND PRESERVE | Unincorp | 518 | 1992 |
15 | FISH CREEK PRESERVE | Grand Prairie | 37 | 1992 |
16 | WINDMILL HILL PRESERVE | DeSoto | 75 | 1993 |
17 | POST OAK PRESERVE | Seagoville | 335 | 1993 |
18 | PALMETTO-ALLIGATOR SLOUGH PRESERVE | Unincorp | 268 | 1993 |
19 | GOAT ISLAND PRESERVE | Unincorp | 501 | 1993 |
20 | CEDAR MOUNTAIN PRESERVE | Cedar Hill | 123 | 1993 |
21 | MUDDY CREEK PRESERVE | Wylie and Sachse | 205 | 1996 |
TOTAL | 3519 |
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 call Rose Adame at (214) 653-6653.
Please also use Twitter (@DallasCoTrails) and Facebook (Dallas County Trails and Preserves) for additional special feature information.