Friends of Oak Cliff Parks Quarterly Meeting
Join us for our spring quarterly meeting. Find out about what’s happening in our Oak Cliff Gardens, enjoy a great program and light refreshments and maybe win one of the exciting raffle prizes. As always, the event is free to all attending.
Program: The City of Dallas Urban Forestry Master Plan
When: March 31,2020, 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Where: Golf Club of Dallas, 2200 W. Red Bird Lane, Dallas 75232 (214-333-3595)
Cost: Free, registration not needed, light refreshments provided
Program: The City of Dallas Urban Forestry Master Plan
The program will cover information about the Texas Trees Foundation, their research, and what paved the way to doing the first ever urban forestry master plan for the City of Dallas.
Speaker: Zach Wirtz, Texas Trees Foundation
Zach Wirtz is the Urban Forestry Manager for the Texas Trees Foundation, a private nonprofit focused on urban forestry, green infrastructure and sustainable design. The Foundation’s strategic approach is based in research driven data to mitigate the environmental challenges and related public health concerns that trees can alleviate.
Mr. Wirtz’s responsibilities with the Foundation include urban forestry consulting, logistical planning, and tree planting across North Texas. He also works directly with the Texas Trees Foundation’s TreePlotter platform so tree plantings and environmental impacts can be tracked and measured.
Zach holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and a Master of Science degree in Forestry with a focus on Urban Forest Governance from the University of British Columbia. Throughout his career, Zach has worked in a variety of positions within the green industry, including landscaping, arboriculture, and plant healthcare. After completing his master’s degree, Zach moved to Texas to put his education into practice with the Texas Trees Foundation.
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FOCP Bird Walk
When: Sunday, April 5th, 2020, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Kiest Conservation Area 2179 W Kiest Blvd, Dallas, TX 75224
Contact: info@friendsofoakcliffparks.org
Sponsored by: The Friends of Oak Cliff Parks
Cost: Free, no registration needed
Guide: Katie Christman, Master Birder
Join us for a walk through the native prairie meadow at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is Katie Christman, respected guest speaker and trail docent with the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center since 2014. As an education specialist, Katie focuses on leading school field trips at the Center and leading public programs including kayaking trips, hikes, bird walks and scout groups. Katie is a certified North Central Texas Master Birder and Indian Trail Master Naturalist. Katie has her Bachelors of Arts degree in Environmental Studies, Native American Studies and Biology from the State University of New York at Potsdam and her Masters in Science in Environmental Studies, Environmental Education from Antioch University New England in Keene New Hampshire.
FOCP Bug Walk
When: Sunday, April 26th, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Kiest Conservation Area, 2179 W Kiest Blvd, Dallas, TX 75224
Sponsored by: The Friends of Oak Cliff Parks
Contact: info@friendsofoakcliffparks.org (Jon Papp)
Join us for a walk through the native prairie meadow at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is John Watts, respected guest speaker on insects, and the man who keeps the Texas Discovery Garden’s Butterfly House stocked with beautiful butterflies. John was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida where, at the age of six, he developed an early interest in insects. He got his Masters Degree from the University of Florida in entomology where he specialized in insect husbandry. He has worked at the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Nature and Science and Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Westminster Colorado. With over 20 years of experience and an inordinate fondness for nature in general he will be sharing his wealth of knowledge on our walk through the Kiest Conservation Area.
The conservation area is an 88 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower and grass species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum eight years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened mile long Meadow Loop Trail. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is no charge. Closed toed shoes are recommended. Water and insect repellant will be provided. The parking area is in the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Keist Blvd. Park next to the kiosk.
Note: The above address for the Conservation Area is the address for the tennis center within the Conservation Area. Do not park there. Instead you will need to go another quarter mile to the intersection of Hampton Rd and Kiest Blvd and enter the parking area (off Hampton) at the southeast corner of that intersection. Park by the kiosk. Sponsored by the Friends of Oak Cliff Parks.
FOCP Wildflower Walk
Kiest Park, Sunday, May 3rd, 2020 1:00 - 2:00
The Friends of Oak Cliff Parks are sponsoring a wildflower walk in the Kiest Park Conservation Area on April 7, 1:30-2:30 PM. The Conservation Area is an 88-acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Walk will be led by Brian Halsell, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Texas A&M, 2004. Brian is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and former board member of FOCP. Representative experience covers many nature centers and public garden projects including Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Iain Nicolson Audubon Center, Allaso Ranch Camp, Galveston Island State Park Master Plan, Desert Botanical Garden Master Plan in Phoenix, and the United States Botanical Garden. In addition, Brian is a Master Naturalist, a respected guest speaker on native plants and is Studio Outside’s in-house horticultural expert.
Seven years ago, MN Jim Varnum identified over 150 wildflower species in the Conservation Area. While here, also visit the newly opened, mile-long Meadow Loop Trail. Everyone is invited, and there is no charge. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Water and insect repellent will be provided.
*** Note: The above address will take you to the tennis center in the conservation area – please do not park there. Park in the field at the southeast corner of the Hampton Rd. / Kiest Blvd intersection (gate entry on northbound Hampton Rd. about 60 feet south of the intersection). Park in the back right hand side by the kiosk. This is the Conservation Area parking lot.This entry is west of the tennis center.