The Turtle Creek Association has long been a caring guardian of the Turtle Creek area. Its investments and efforts have ensured that this vital, citywide resource receives an adequate measure of much-needed additional assistance. Notwithstanding these efforts, the need to be more holistic and comprehensive spurred the Association to take the next step, which was to commission a comprehensive study that resulted in a Master Plan for Turtle Creek.

There are five key areas in which improvements are presently underway. First, the establishment of the Katy Trail has led to rethinking of the eastern edge of the Turtle Creek Park. The former rail corridor provides a linear pathway, offering a place for recreation; however, its form, including its height and lack of connections to the Creek, pose problems. Next, there have been ongoing efforts to renovate Lee Park, such as the establishment of a development plan and substantial fundraising. Also, in their needs assessment, the City of Dallas has approved the recommendations of the Halff Report, which highlights environmental dilemmas in and around Turtle Creek. Further, the City has allocated significant funds for the Park (Reverchon, in particular). And finally, the Dallas Theater Center has concentrated efforts on the restoration of the theater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

As a result of these discrete but simultaneous initiatives, the Turtle Creek Association (TCA) began to consider the necessity of establishing a Master Plan for the Turtle Creek Park. Piecemeal initiatives are noble, but they have led to a pattern of neglect with respect to the preservation and utilization of this natural resource. Hoping to encourage coordination, collaboration, and a centralized vision, the TCA commissioned this study.

Undertaken by Antonio DiMambro & Associates and completed in 2004, the Master Plan assesses Turtle Creek’s existing conditions, defines a vision for the area, offers opportunities to create awareness, and allows for support of a comprehensive fundraising effort. The Plan also provides an outline for implementation, with the intention that the area can be developed through concurrent actions in strategic areas over a seven-year period. 

The Turtle Creek Park is at a crossroads. This study addresses the necessity of change and rebuilding and attempts to provide a blueprint for the future. It acknowledges that several organizations are currently focusing on this natural corridor, a green ribbon within the city, and need to collaborate in their efforts to make the Creek a viable and popular public space, or a “Signature Park.”

For more information about the Master Plan Study, please contact TCA.