Turtle Creek Association

This is what the Turtle Creek Association (TCA)and Trash Free Waterways removed from Turtle Creek during our October cleanup last week. Bags of garbage, discarded shopping carts, traffic cones, bicycles, and other debris that had no business being in one of Dallas's most treasured natural spaces.

And here's what makes these photos particularly striking: TCA cleans this amount of trash out of the creek every month!

Imagine a full year without us...
Imagine what Turtle Creek would look like...
Imagine the amount of trash that would flow into the Trinity River.

https://youtu.be/fI4ofMo1y_k

october's trash haul Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

The pumpkins along Turtle Creek are looking extra festive this week! They are clearly getting ready for their big night.

Consider this your friendly reminder that Halloween is tomorrow. So, take it slow on Turtle Creek Blvd and on the nearby streets. Little ghosts and goblins will be out roaming the neighborhoods.

🦌 Deer sighting!

The deer and her fawn are emerging from the brush in Dean Park!

Crews started work yesterday, clearing overgrown landscaping that was hiding this beloved sculpture from view. This project will completely transform the area, with a new garden designed to frame the artwork and keep the deer and her fawn front and center for everyone to enjoy.

Stay tuned as this corner of the park gets a fresh new look!

Did you know that Dallas' iconic Katy Trail hugs the east side of the Turtle Creek Corridor? Every day, thousands of Dallasites enjoy the shade from trees cared for by Turtle Creek Association. When we protect the creek, we protect the experience of everyone who walks, runs, and rides along this beloved trail.

It’s pumpkin season on Turtle Creek! Every year, our medians transform with cheerful fall displays that add color and warmth to the corridor. A small tradition that brings big smiles.

Big progress at the corner of Maple Street and Turtle Creek Blvd! Last week, city crews completed the new sidewalk in front of the crow statue, and the whole area is transforming fast. Every few days brings a new change, a new detail, a new glimpse of what this landmark will become. Keep watching to see this beautiful space come to life!

Have you seen this absolute showstopper of an American sycamore along the creek?

This gorgeous giant is native to the eastern and central U.S., and can live more than 200 years, meaning it’s been watching over Turtle Creek longer than any of us.

Its signature mottled bark peels away in big, patchy pieces, revealing bright yellow and creamy white beneath. It’s one of the easiest trees to spot… and one of the hardest to forget.

As one of the largest trees in our wet bottomland habitat, it’s a powerhouse, anchoring soil during floods, shaping the landscape, and offering nesting sites for countless animals.

A true creek guardian.

Did you know there is a beautiful statue of a deer and her fawn in Dean Park? Probably not, because overgrown shrubs have left the sculpture barely visible. We have begun a project to completely redesign this area, with a new garden planted behind the sculpture so that this wonderful piece remains front and center. The artist's rendering of the completed work has us excited for its upgrade!

We are grateful to Lyda Hill Philanthropies for funding this important improvement.

Work is officially underway on the memorial garden honoring Nancy Diebolt. Yesterday, crews began preparing the soil for planting. Each step brings us closer to a space that will honor Nancy's love for Turtle Creek. We’re grateful to everyone whose generosity is bringing this beautiful tribute to life.

Meet Pat — better known as “the man in the boat” — and his incredible crew. Every month TCA hires them to pull trash from Turtle Creek to protect wildlife, improve water quality, and keep this urban oasis thriving. They are heroes in hip waders! 💙