Friends of Bachman Lake - June
- Friends of Bachman Lake
- 17 minutes ago
- 4 min read
“A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.”
— James Dent
A Meadow-ly Walk
Every now and then, it's good to take a pause and appreciate our surroundings and the effort it has taken to achieve what seemed almost impossible not too long ago.
The Bachman Creek Greenbelt is being transformed. Formerly overgrown with privet and impassable for decades, Friends of Bachman Lake and several partners like Greenspace Dallas have worked with Dallas Park and Recreation to restore these acres to their natural state. Accessible from the eastern end of Bachman Lake (behind the Embassy Suites on Northwest Highway) and from the cul-de-sac at the end of Cochran Chapel Road, south of Northwest Highway and Midway Avenue, the Greenbelt is becoming a treasure. Enjoy this snippet of a leisurely stroll throuh the clearing, heading toward newly created paths
Thank you all!
Still more to do.
Another Trail Link In the Works?
Great news!
IEA Inc., a civil and structural engineering firm has been selected by Dallas County for a feasibility study connecting Bachman Lake Trail to the Campion Trail.
When Friends of Bachman Lake was first formed, it was imperative that Bachman Lake Park be recognized as a recreation hub for the area. Without that recognition, our area could have lost our lake as the city entertained options for doing something completely different. You showed up and raised your voices and because of that, we find ourselves in a much better place just a few short years later.
With the lake saved and a loop trail already in place, the next logical step was to advocate for connections from Bachman to nearby paths such as the Northaven Trail to the north and Campion Trail to the west in Irving. Think about this: Just a little over a year ago, we didn't have a trail along Lemmon Avenue. Now, thanks to funding from the Department of Aviation, there is a brand new trail that connects to Bachman and, as a bonus, features an aircraft observation area.
The Campion Trail connection could eventually lead to links with trails heading downtown linking to the Skyline Trail and even more connections. Ambtious? You bet. But it all starts with a vision and with this study, we're now closer to it than we've ever been.
From IEA:
Dallas County | Bachman Lake Trail Study/Connection
IEA was selected to conduct a study from Bachman Lake Trail to Campion Trail to determine the feasibility of connecting them for a multi-use trail. In this study, IEA will look at floodplain impacts, bridge crossings, community access, connections to transit, parking, and other amenities. We are excited for the opportunity to connect these trails for the Dallas community!
Our Trail Vision Can be Bolder
Extend the Harry Hines Green Corridor to Bachman Lake!
Dallas is making an important investment in the future of the Harry Hines corridor. Plans to transform the roadway with green trails, a new park, and safer pedestrian and bike infrastructure will help reshape an area long dominated by traffic into one that prioritizes people. The project promises cooler streets, better mobility, and healthier connections within the medical district.
But Dallas has an opportunity to make this investment even more meaningful: connect it to Bachman Lake Park.
Ned Fritz: Love the Land Where You Live
In May, fellow nature lover and author Amy Martin did a presentation at the Bachman Library about Ned Fritz, a special man in local environmental history. Amy has been a journalist and writer for over 40 years and is the author of Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth. One of her passion projects is a biographical website about Ned Fritz, Texas' most famous environmentalist.
The following summary reflects what we learned during Amy Martin's presentation and incorporates language adapted from published Ned Fritz Legacy Project materials to ensure historical accuracy.
Bee-ing A Citizen Scientist
You don't have to go far to learn about the nature that surrounds us. If you're so inclined, you can also get a logbook, an app and other tools and become a citizen scientist, contributing to the cataloguing and identification of local species of insects and other living things. For example, bees are critical to the health of plants and the environment.
UNT researchers discovered essential subterranean needs for Texas bees. Read more
Learn about the Pollinative Prairie program at UNT. Details here
Explore the Bee Campus USA initiative at UNT. Explore
Here are activities that citizen scientists can help with:
Stream Team
Bioblitz
Monarch Watch
Bee Counts
Bird Watch
Be sure to download the iNaturalist app to your mobile device to get started and read the blog post below about the different ways you can contribute to this important and fun endeavor.
Events
Meet and Greet Every 4th Wednesday
June 24 5:00PM
Let's meet at On Rotation Brewery and Kitchen to meet over your favorite beverage and get to know each other! This is a purely social event that gives you just a bit more insight about Friends of Bachman Lake and community efforts to make all our lives better. Let's talk! Our Meet and Greet is scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of each month, weather and schedule permitting.
*Note that times/dates are subject to change. We will issue notices if the event changes or is postponed.
