News Flash

The Benefits of Reduced Mowing Along Creeks

The Dallas Park and Recreation Department is always looking for ways to improve the sustainability of our parks.  One of the areas the department is currently looking at is how we maintain the vegetation areas along creeks.  For years th...

Sting of the Texas Spring

Every time it rains, May through June, little mounds of dirt pop up all over the place.  Everyone knows what they are, or they quickly (and usually painfully) figure out what those mounds contain.  They contain fire ants, specifically th...

Spring 2019 Prairie Flowers Biological Survey

Calling ALL community scientists. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s Urban Biologist needs your help.  Spring is here and it looks like we will have a great wildflower season.  Part of the Department’s prairi...

Dallas Park and Recreation brings home the TOMA Award

Dallas Park and Recreation Urban Biologist, Brett Johnson, was instrumental in bringing the TOMA award for Innovative Programming home to Dallas for 2019 with his digital presentation of the Dallas Park and Recreation Bioblitz Program this year at the Sou...

Driving on City Parks is Prohibited

Just a friendly reminder, it is against City Ordinance 32-8 to drive any type of motorized vehicle on a City park.

Just a friendly reminder, it is against City Ordinance 32-8  to
drive any type of motorized vehicle on a City park.  With the recent rains, the illegal use of trucks, ATVs, UTVs, and motorized dirt bikes has b...

Rare American Black Duck Spotted at White Rock Lake Park

A very unique and rare visitor to Texas has recently been spotted at Sunset Bay in White Rock Lake Park, the American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). The bird is being seen in company of Mallards near trail marker 176L

This bird is so rare to Texas that the Texas Birds Record
Committee (TBRC) only recognizes 9 historical sightings, with one pendingverification.  The previous records for
this species are concentrated in North Texas, East Texas and the Texas ...

Birding in Dallas Parks

Fall is here and it is a great time to get outside and explore Dallas parks.

With over 300 properties within the Dallas Park and Recreation
Department system, a wide variety habitats are available resulting in a widevariety of birds being observed.  Parks may include manicured parks  in Downtown
Dallas and ne...

Harry S. Moss Park Prairie Restoration Update

There are some exciting things going on with the assorted prairie restoration projects around Dallas Park and Recreation Department properties. The most noticeable of these efforts is some recent brush removal at Harry S. Moss Park in northeast Dallas.

                HarryS. Moss Park has approximately 23 acres of prairie remnant.  Through the years of various land-use
practices, and with some help alo...

Algae in Dallas Park and Recreation Lake

Summer is the time of year where we start seeing various shades of green, blue, red and brown in Dallas area water bodies.

These different colors are typically
associated with different types of algae. Algae is a generic term that covers many different organisms from single
cell bacteria to large, multi-celled organisms. Algae may appear as pond scum, long fibers, or ca...

Pollinator Week

Do you like to look at the pretty flowers and breathe clean air? If you said yes, thank a pollinator!

June 19^th-25^th is Pollinator Week for 2017.  Pollinators are the bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and bats that help pollinate 75% of all flowering plants.  The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department actively works to help with t...

Dallas Park and Recreation Statement on Geese Disappearing at White Rock Lake

Dallas Park and Recreation Department received a citizen report that geese are disappearing from White Rock Lake. Citizens are encouraged to call 911 if they witness the theft or abuse of animal life on park property.

Dallas Park and Recreation Department received a citizen report that geese are disappearing from White Rock Lake. Citizens are encouraged to call 911 if they witness the theft or abuse of animal life on park property.

“Dallas Park and Recreation proactivel...

DFW Wins National “City Nature Challenge” Competition

Thank you, citizen scientists for making DFW the national winner of City Nature Challenge. Earlier this month we asked you to join us in submitting pictures of plants, animals and other living organisms that make up our diverse ecosystem.

Thank you, citizen scientists for making DFW the national winner of City Nature Challenge. Earlier this month we asked you to join us April 14 -18 in submitting pictures of plants, animals and other living organisms make up our diverse ecosystem, using th...

City Nature Challenge

Looking for a fun activity to get outside and enjoy nature? If so, join us for the 2017 Nature City Challenge on April 14-18. It’s a nationwide effort to get out, observe and document the incredible biological diversity found within the city.

Looking for a fun activity to get outside and enjoy nature?  If so, join us for the 2017 Nature City Challenge on April 14-18.  It’s a nationwide effort to get out, observe and document the incredible biological diversity found within th...

Spring Has Sprung at our Dallas Parks

Spring has arrived in Dallas. So what does this mean for nature in Dallas parks?

Spring has arrived in Dallas. The temperatures are rising and periodically dropping with an occasional spring storm in the forecast.  So what does this mean for nature in Dallas parks?

SnakesJust as the warm weather draws out people to the parks, ...

Harry S. Moss Prairie Restoration

The Dallas Park and Recreation Department has identified the prairie remnant at Harry S. Moss Park as a priority for restoration.

In being good stewards to the land, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is looking for ways to better manage our limited natural resources on city park properties. Much is made of the blackland prairie remnants at White Rock Lake, but those remnants...

Busy Beavers

Beavers provide good environmental services for our parks but they create some challenges and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is doing its part to minimize those.

It’s winter, and the leaves and smaller trees haven fallen, providing the perfect tools for nature’s engineer to transform the landscape as few animals can. American beavers are very active right now but that wasn’t always the case.

In 1910, beavers ha...Read on...

Winter Brings an Increase in Coyote Sightings

Winter has arrived in Dallas and that means an increase in coyote sightings. Coyotes sightings increase as they search for food.

Winter has arrived in Dallas and that means an increase in coyote sightings.  Coyotes sightings increase as they search for food.  During this time, surviving coyote pups are anywhere from 7-8 months old and are going through a growth sp...

Think Again Before You Feed the Ducks

Over the years we’ve learned that wildlife feeding is not the best idea. In fact, wildlife feeding tends to be the cause of many problems.

Over the years we’ve learned that wildlife feeding is not the best idea. In fact, wildlife feeding tends to be the cause of many problems.

Ducks and geese who are accustomed to being fed by people have no fear and are conditioned to be around people...Read on...

Urban Biologist Working to Save Endangered Blackland Prairie

Dallas Park and Recreation received help from three of the state’s top plant and prairie experts to conduct a formal assessment of White Rock’s prairie remnants. Read how the department is working to improve the conditions of this endangered ecosystem.

The City of Dallas has some very unique natural resource assets. One of the most unique is the prairie remnant found around White Rock Lake. There are several different types of prairie plant communities found on the 14 remnants, but historically speaki...Read on...

Snake Season is Upon Us

Spring is here and outdoor activity is at its peak in Dallas parks and on trails. While you are out, keep in mind that if it feels really good to you, it probably feels really good for a lot of wild animals. That of course includes snakes.

Spring is here and outdoor activity is at its peak in Dallas parks and on trails. While you are out, keep in mind that if it feels really good to you, it probably feels really good for a lot of wild animals. That of course includes snakes.

Once the a...Read on...

Citizen Scientists Help Us Inventory Park Ecosystems at BioBlitz

Some 34 citizens joined the Dallas Park and Recreation Department for its first ever BioBlitz

Some 34 citizens joined the Dallas Park and Recreation Department for its first ever BioBlitz on Saturday, June 11.

It was all in an effort to provide a fun, nature educational outreach experience and help generate an inventory of the diverse ecosystem...Read on...

Become a Citizen Scientist at BioBlitz

Nature lovers, now’s your chance to become a volunteer Citizen Scientist for the City of Dallas Park and Recreation. Join us Saturday, June 11 for our first ever BioBlitz.

Nature lovers, now’s your chance to become a volunteer Citizen Scientist for the City of Dallas Park and Recreation. Join us and other citizen scientists Saturday, June 11 for our first ever BioBlitz. Learn and inventory different species of vegetation an...Read on...

Dallas Park and Recreation has sprung into spring

As you head out this weekend to celebrate Easter with family and friends, we want to personally invite you to visit our Dallas parks and trails. Our Park Maintenance Services Division has been working hard to roll out the red, or green carpet for you.

As you head out this weekend to celebrate Easter with family and friends, we want to personally invite you to visit our Dallas parks and trails. Our Park Maintenance Services Division has been working hard to roll out the red, or green carpet for you.
...Read on...

City of Dallas Park and Recreation Launches Pollinator Conservation Program

The pollinator conservation program will help the declining pollinator population and you too are encouraged to join in the effort.

The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department announced details of a new pollinator conservation program today at Kiest Park. The new initiative promises to help the declining population of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and moths. The program was dev...Read on...

Dallas Park and Recreation Activates Feral Hog Abatement Program

Feral Hogs are a menace to our City and are causing tens of thousands of dollars in property damage every year.

Feral Hogs are a menace to our City and are causing tens of thousands of dollars in property damage every year. In response, the City of Dallas Park and Recreation is launching a new program that will trap them, reduce their numbers and reduce the destruc...Read on...

FIND YOURSELF AT WHITE ROCK LAKE

A new mapping system is making it easier to get around White Rock Lake Park. Now, park visitors can use a mobile device or laptop to access a digital map using QR codes found on 911 markers around the lake and on the trails.

Dallas Park and Recreation and ...