Friends of Bachman Lake Newsletter - October 2022
"It's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change." ― Queen Elizabeth II
Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for heroes to catapult our efforts to make Bachman Lake Park shine like it should. We have been running our Be a Hero campaign for the better part of a month and thanks to caring people like you we are inching closer to our goal of raising $5,000.
But wait, there's more!
We understand that money is not the only way Bachman Lake Park can benefit. Time donated is just as valuable which is why we want to take things from heroic to #FoBLous by asking you to volunteer your time in one of several ways: Green Team, Adopt-A-Shoreline and Trail Blazers. Each initiative carries its own focus so sign up for whichever interests you the most and we'll be in touch soon after.
Look for our series of social media posts about volunteering at Friends of Bachman Lake (#FoBL) so you can share with friends, family and neighbors. Let's take things to a whole new level of #FoBLous!
Bachman Recreation Center needs your help turning spooky this month!
What's another reason to consider donations to Friends of Bachman Lake? Spooky Blast at Bachman Lake Park! We've had two years of pandemic related Halloween event cancellations and it's time we made things fun and scary again. But we need your help. Your kind donations will help us secure prizes for the Friends of Bachman Lake carnival booth at this event. Help us give away fun prizes for the kids!
Spooky Blast will be held on Friday, October 28th, 6pm-8pm at the Bachman Lake Recreation Center.
Come join the scary but fun activities featuring games, prizes, a haunted house, bouncy houses, food and vendors. It's a safe and fun place to gather with your kids and neighbors on Halloween weekend! There is a small $3 entry fee. Call 214-670-6266 for information. Venue Details. Bachman Lake Recreation Center, 214-670-6266.
An update from the Park Board about Bachman Lake
Early in the summer, the Friends of Bachman Lake met with our Park Board representatives to learn if there were opportunities to improve our overall advocacy efforts, from addressing small maintenance items to bigger issues, such as safe access to Bachman Lake. We had a looooong list of items that we were seeking updates on and are glad to hear about the progress that has been made so far on all the items. For details, please go to our news page for the list. Seriously, the list is too long to put in the newsletter!
Calling bike lovers and zoning geeks!
On October 19th, starting at 6PM, the City of Dallas is hosting a community feedback event at Bachman Lake Recreation Center. There will only be 7 of these, so we are thrilled to have this in our back yard. Save the date!
Just 6 miles for a bigger, better bicycle loop!
Denton Drive is to become a complete street with sidewalks and bicycle lanes from Walnut Hill Lane to Inwood Road. Dallas County has funded their share; the City of Dallas has not. DART is giving funds to Dallas for transportation projects just like this!
Once the Denton Drive project is completed, Bachman Lake Trail, the Trinity Strand Trail, and the Northaven Trail will all connect, which will complete the missing link in a bigger, better, bicycle loop connecting Northwest Dallas to the rest of the city. However this is not the only area that needs funding in Northwest Dallas. We also need the City to complete the Webb Chapel bridge and to provide safe access from the DART station to the park. Just click here to see a map of what we are talking about!
You can get more details about a bigger, better bicycle loop on our website.
Nature Showers are Good for You!
"The Frasier" is a jewel for those of us in Northwest Dallas. Only 1/4 of a mile away from Bachman Lake Park, this 116-acre urban forest is a true oasis. Our favorite review about The Frasier is poetic:
"There is a feeling of going through the looking glass when entering this park off a short curving on ramp to IH 35. Drivers behind you expect to accelerate, and instead you slow quickly to take a sharp right off the on ramp to enter the park. But what a magical surprise to find this most unusual and unique of all urban forest parks in Dallas. Well marked wide trails guide you through a forested loop of more than 3 miles past numerous picnic tables and benches dotted with wild hibiscus and river scenes and big red hawks and mourning doves flying between the trees. The effort to create this park and reclaim this land from what was an awful dumping site is a remarkable achievment performed by individuals dedicated to a particular vision that promotes the urban forest and again illustrates the magic and wonder of what exits around the mighty Trinity. Now, hold your breath and hit the gas as you make your exit and go back through the looking glass."
EVENTS
Our monthly plogging event is every 2nd Saturday of the month! Picking up litter while jogging (or walking or cycling) is an easy way to stay healthy and keep the park looking great! Grab a bag, a friend and help make our recreational jewel shine! Check our events list for any changes.
The community has spoken and asked for the Meet and Greet be moved to 5PM. Hey, we're not ones to get in the way of a cold beer! See you for our ‘meeting of the minds’ at Bluffview Growler on the 4th Wednesday of the month. No RSVP needed.
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