Dallas County Commissioners and residents have historically seen the importance of Open Space and should be commended for their foresight in purchasing land for preserves. But, unfortunately, since 1994 very little land has been acquired by Dallas County for Open Space. SOS supports the continued acquisition of Open Space Preserves and Park Land to improve the quality of life for Dallas County residents.
County Open Space Preserves provide for recreation such as hiking, wildlife observation, outdoor education and habitat protection and preserve ecological diversity in a fully urbanized County of over 2 million residents. Without more open space Dallas County citizens will continue to see a decline in outdoor recreational opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Dallas County taxpayers funded County Open Space Plans in 1977, 1985, and 1991 which identified land suitable for public acquisition and preservation. Over 60,000 acres of the County’s best remaining natural areas, forested floodplains, creek corridors, and the Mt Creek Escarpment, were identified.
Dallas County Commissioners Court and the voters of Dallas County approved three County Open Space Bond Propositions totaling $11 million in 1977, 1985 and 1991 County Bond Elections. These County Open Space Bond Funds along with State and Federal matching grants were utilized to purchase 3244 acres located in Twenty one County Preserves.
Pace of County Open Space park land acquisition slows to a stop!
County Open Space Preserve Park Land Acquisitions have ceased in recent years as County Trail and Preserve funds have been increasingly committed to Trail construction projects only.
In recent years the Dallas County Commissioners Court has shifted capital improvement funding from bonded debt to annually appropriations from a dedicated portion of the County Tax Rate. Commissioners have continued to allocate about 2.5% of these annual Major Capital Improvement funds to Open Space Trail and Preserve projects. In recent years virtually all of these funds have been allocated to trail design and construction projects, not park land acquisition.
The County’s past investment in preservation through acquisition of Open Space Preserve Parklands should be commended. Its current investment in Trail planning and construction is also deserving of support
but emphasis must also be put on land acquisition for Open Space in Dallas County.
Save Open Space supports planning and development of Trails, but not at the expense of County investment in the acquisition and preservation of the best remaining natural areas in Dallas County.
Save Open Space’s goals are:
Allocation of 50% of the annual budget for County Trail and Preserve funds to be used for park land acquisition.
County acquisition of 2500 acres – targeted at the Lower Trinity River Floodplain south of I 20 and its confluence with Ten Mile Creek. (Description of values and development threats, reasons to act now)
Establishment of County Preserve Friends Groups for maintenance, outdoor education, recreation and enhancements of trails etc – To increase awareness of the County Preserve program and increase utilization and support.
A Call To Action
You can help us urge the County to use these dollars to purchase this treasured open land by :
contacting your county commissioner
joining Save Open Space
Setting up meetings with members of Commissioners Court
Visiting Preserves that Dallas County has already purchased and the land slotted for acquisition.
and by telling your friends and family about this matter
The first digit of your 4-digit precinct number, which appears on your voter registration card, corresponds to that of your Commissioner District (for example, Precinct 2143 is located in Commissioner District 2).
Who Is My County Commissioner ?
MAURINE DICKEY, Dallas County Commissioner District 1
DALLAS - Oct. 7th, 2008 - Green is red hot! 'Going Green' may sound easy, but local governments are encountering many questions as to what exactly they should implement in the way of sustainable programs and practices. How green is green enough for a particular city or other entity?
To help local governments make sense of the complicated options for going green, NCTCOG [North Central Texas Council of Governments], has launched "Sustainable North Texas ," an umbrella brand and website for NCTCOG initiatives in the areas of:
Sustainable Sites & Buildings
Sustainable Public Rights-of-Way
Sustainable Communities
John Promise, NCTCOG's Director of Environment and Development, will discuss these initiatives, including the emerging regional repository of best practices, and how SOS can participate. Currently in beta-test stage, the repository will collect, compile, map and publish local best practices for sustainability, making them publicly-available via the internet. During 2008, best practice information is being sought for energy efficiency for buildings and post-construction storm water management, using a three-tier system which John Promise will outline.
The location is the historic White Rock Lake Pump Station http://www.dallascityhall.com/historic/html/white_rock_pump_station.html at 2900 White Rock Road http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl and put in the street address.
[The meeting is free to the public and scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.]
