The Future of the Creek
Updated Master Plan
Protecting this 90-acre urban forest and creek is our
#1 responsibility!
How can you help? By becoming a member or making a donation today!
In 1911, landscape architect George Kessler envisioned the Turtle Creek Corridor as a "premier urban green space and residential neighborhood." Turtle Creek Association (TCA) is building on that vision with the creation of a 5-Year Strategic Plan to bring it to life.
The first step was updating the Turtle Creek Corridor Master Plan, originally commissioned by TCA in 2003. This update was generously funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies. Metropolitan Infrastructure, the engineering firm that previously partnered with TCA on the Bowen Street Overlook project, led the plan’s development, focusing on three key areas of opportunity:
Health of the Creek – Addressing bank stabilization, enhancing creek flow, and resolving recurring trash and pollution issues.
Reversing Urban Decay – Eliminating graffiti, restoring five historic bridges, and improving safety along the corridor. A critical part of the safety plan includes installing lighting under the Lemmon Avenue Bridge and other key areas, deterring encampments, and hiring off-duty police for patrols.
Installation of Art Throughout the Corridor – Transforming the area into a connected, equitable community filled with public art will create a sense of unity and shared pride, empowering the corridor to become a cultural art destination in Dallas.
The updated Master Plan outlines the necessary steps to transform the corridor into a healthy, beautiful, and safe urban green space. TCA President and CEO J.D. Trueblood emphasized, "Articulating a clear vision and strategy for the corridor is vital as we pursue local, state, and federal funding opportunities to achieve our goals."
Health of the Creek - Trash is a problem
Not an easy problem to solve. Learn more about what’s being done below.
Where’s the Trash Coming From?
Did you know there’s a massive stormwater detention vault beneath Cole Park (behind North Dallas High School, between Cole and McKinney)? This cavernous structure is designed to store stormwater runoff when the Mill Creek storm sewer system reaches capacity. It can hold up to 71 million gallons of stormwater! Watch the video below to learn more about the Cole Park Detention Vaults.
Completed in 1993, the vault consists of 13 chambers—each five stories tall and stretching longer than two football fields. These chambers fill with water during extreme rainfall, capturing runoff from Central Expressway and Uptown. Once the rain subsides, the stormwater is released—unfiltered—into Turtle Creek through the Mill Creek Outfall near the footbridge at William B. Dean Park (next to the Kalita Humphreys Theater).
The Problem
Unfortunately, the stormwater carries tons of solid trash and pollutants directly into Turtle Creek. This influx of waste harms local wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem, leaving behind an unsightly mess and foul odors. What may have been acceptable in the early '90s is no longer okay today.
What’s Being Done?
Short-Term Solution
Finding a permanent solution to the recurring trash problem in the creek is TCA’s ultimate goal. In the meantime, we are actively exploring ways to remove the unsightly debris. Currently, TCA, in partnership with Hillwood Urban, has hired Trash Free Waterways to manually remove trash from the creek and surrounding parkways.
As you can imagine, the cost of this service is significant—but it’s a necessary step toward keeping Turtle Creek clean and beautiful.
Aqua Clean cleans Turtle Creek
In addition, TCA has implemented several short-term measures to improve the health of the creek and enhance its overall aesthetics:
Expanded Cleaning Services: We’ve asked Trash Free Waterways to remove all visible trash, not just items within 10 feet of the water. Now, the vendor is responsible for picking up any and all visible trash. This change has significantly improved the aesthetics of the creek, shoreline, and surrounding park areas.
Addressed Brush and Undergrowth: With the help of Trash Free Waterways, TCA has begun trimming the brush and undergrowth along the creek’s bank. Keeping this vegetation trimmed allows trash to flow more easily into the city’s trash interceptor just before Turtle Creek flows into the Trinity River.
Included Organic Debris Removal: TCA, again with the assistance of Trash Free Waterways, is removing organic debris such as fallen trees and large limbs from the creek. This debris often becomes trapped under the Lemmon Avenue and Stonebridge Drive bridges, creating dams that increase the risk of flooding during heavy rain. In addition to being unsightly, these blockages trap more trash and debris, causing odor and further pollution.
Raised Tree Canopies: Over the past year, TCA has played a key role in having fallen trees removed and tree canopies along the shoreline raised. Lower branches tend to catch trash like plastic bags, which diminishes the creek’s appearance and creates blockages. Trimming these branches not only improves visibility but also helps trash flow more freely to the trash interceptor.
We recognize these steps aren’t a permanent fix, but they are an important start.
Long-Term Solutions
Trash Interceptor: TCA, in partnership with Hillwood Urban, is working on developing a long-term solution involving a trash interceptor. While two solutions were previously presented to the City of Dallas, both were unfortunately turned down. We’ve learned that addressing this issue is complex due to the volume and velocity of the water flowing from the outfall into the creek in Dean Park.
Collaboration and Advocacy: Regular meetings with Councilmember Paul Ridley and his park board representative, Rudy Karimi, are now underway. Additionally, we aim to build a coalition of support with other nonprofits and private sector partners to strengthen our advocacy efforts.
Dredging and Bank Stabilization: One of the key highlights of 2024 was our successful advocacy for the City of Dallas to allocate $1 million from the 2024 Bond Program for future dredging of Turtle Creek and necessary bank stabilization.
If you can help or want to get involved, please reach out to us.
We’ll keep you informed of our progress. Watch the video below to learn more about the Cole Park Detention Vaults—we still believe these vaults could be modified to incorporate a trash interceptor.
Addressing Urban Decay and Enhancing the Turtle Creek Corridor
Turtle Creek Association (TCA) remains dedicated to preserving and enhancing the beauty and safety of the Turtle Creek Corridor by addressing early signs of urban decay, such as graffiti and homeless encampments. Working in close partnership with the City of Dallas, we’ve made significant strides in reducing the number of encampments along the Turtle Creek Leisure Trail.
Just one year ago, there were over 11 encampments along the trail. Today, that number has been reduced to only two, thanks to targeted efforts by TCA and the Office of Homeless Solutions. Our approach began with the removal of dense brush and undergrowth that had provided cover for these encampments. This, combined with ongoing outreach and relocation services, has made a meaningful difference.
We understand this is not a one-and-done situation. Vigilance and consistent maintenance have been key to sustaining our progress. The remaining two sites are now being addressed through additional measures:
Fencing installation to block access to one area.
Placement of 25 tons of large stones under another bridge to create a rough, uneven surface that makes setting up camp nearly impossible. These strategies have been successful in other parts of Dallas and are now being applied here.
Additionally, TCA has taken steps to eliminate graffiti along the trail and installed lighting under the Lemmon Avenue Bridge. Our long-term vision includes enhanced lighting throughout the entire trail, especially under each bridge, to improve safety and visibility.
With these measures, the Turtle Creek Leisure Trail is becoming a safer and more attractive alternative to the crowded Katy Trail, offering a beautiful urban green space for residents and visitors alike.
Join us as we continue to protect and improve this vital community resource.
Updated Master Plan
Check out our updated master plan below!
The original “Turtle Creek Corridor Master plan”
Historical Context
Turtle Creek Association (TCA) saw a need for a Master Plan to serve as a framework to interlock the many plans into a holistic system of “whole.” Turtle Creek Association took a multi-stage process by initially commissioning a comprehensive study and conceptual plan of recommendations by Di Mambro & Associates in 2004; followed by community comment and input; resulting in the final edits and draft of the “Turtle Creek Corridor Master Plan” by Katherine Kosut, AIA, in 2009.
The original plan assessed Turtle Creek's existing conditions, defined a coordinated, integrated vision for the area, offered opportunities to create awareness, and provided a comprehensive fundraising effort.
The Turtle Creek Master Plan recommendations are organized into five categories:
Waterway and floodplain improvements to restore the ecological balance.
Urban design improvements to roadways, pathways; bridges; nodes and unique places; urban furniture; and lighting.
Landscape and vegetation improvements to reverse the decay and establish biodiversity within the Turtle Creek Corridor through various measures such as a reforestation and tree maintenance plan.
Maintain and upgrade multi-functional open green spaces with the parks.
Connect transit options such as the trolley system to the Turtle Creek Corridor.
An implementation plan was also outlined. The Turtle Creek Corridor Master Plan proposed development over a twenty-five-year period. In the end, the Turtle Creek Master Plan established a vision, defined standards, and identified projects designed to protect and manage an irreplaceable resource.
The hope was to continue to preserve a running creek and greenbelt of land; protect and restore a natural environment, and provide for an ecologically sensitive community that will be a continued source of pride and enjoyment. The Turtle Creek Corridor Master Plan was created to ensure the Turtle Creek Corridor would continue to be a crown jewel of the City of Dallas. The City of Dallas Park Board adopted the Turtle Creek Master Plan in December 2009.