Over twenty years ago, a handful of residents in the Turtle Creek area convened over concerns about uncontrolled development along the Creek. What began as a watchdog group to arrest development eventually became an organization that embraced it, as long as the developers respected the natural greenways, creek, parks and civic function of Dallas’ premier green space.

Shortly after its organization, City maintenance and development resources for the parks and creeks were beginning to dwindle. Heeding the call to preserve and protect the parks from neglect, TCA began raising funds to supplement and replace services that were being eliminated. Over the years, TCA’s involvement has grown to include plantings and maintenance of beds and medians, infrastructure maintenance and construction, and, most recently, a TCA-funded comprehensive master plan that provides a vision for the future of the area. For more information about the Master Plan for Turtle Creek, click here.

A sampling of the projects TCA has underwritten include:

• $450,000 median landscaping along Turtle Creek Boulevard completed in 2002
• $60,000 median landscaping on Blackburn Street completed in 2003
• $25,000 per year to maintain media landscaping and replacement of plants
• $18,000 per year for flowers in 17” color beds along Turtle Creek Boulevard twice a year
• $135,000 for A Master Plan for Turtle Creek outlining major improvements and enhancing urban design
• $45,000 for new sidewalk installed from Blackburn Street to Avondale Avenue completed in 2003, in partnership with the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department. 

Similar projects to those listed above are always ongoing, with TCA providing over $200,000 each year to fund area enhancements and improvements 

In addition to the membership gifts and other tax free donations, TCA funds these projects through events and fundraisers which include Easter in the Park and Pooch Parade, the Adopt-A-Bed program, the Turtle Creek Home Tour, the Holiday Party and Auction, and its Culture on the Creek series. For more information about TCA’s events, click here.