News from the River (Cont.)

Trinity Overlook Park Open!

“It already provides an amazing view of the Downtown skyline and as new construction begins, citizens will have a front row seat to the improvements happening in their city. We have 10,000 acres to transform and to connect back to the City, and this is a terrific place to keep the momentum going, right here in West Dallas,” stated City of Dallas Councilmember Dave Neumann and Trinity River Corridor Project Committee Chairman.

The Trinity Overlook features concrete wrap seating built into the bases of four columns supporting an attractive shade canopy. There is also a distance viewing binocular so visitors will be able to get a closer perspective of the area and watch the construction when it starts. The overlook deck is inset with glass aggregate embellishments between the sections of brushed concrete. The signage at the Trinity Overlook tells the story of the Trinity Lakes area and the two signature Santiago Calatrava Bridges, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge rising to the north and the Margaret McDermott Bridge (I-30) immediately to the south of the overlook.

“With the Trinity Overlook located so near the heart of the city, we hope that all residents of Dallas will have the chance to visit the overlook and take a break from the everyday while experiencing a different urban view of the city,” stated City of Dallas Councilmember for District 6 Steve Salazar.

Signs of Winter at the Trinity River Audubon Center

Since we opened the doors of the Trinity River Audubon Center exciting things have been happening. The opening of this landmark community resource occurred on October 18-19, 2008. During grand opening weekend alone, the center received more than 10,000 visitors who were able to see birds of prey and learn about all the exciting clubs and classes that are being offered, and even got a taste of bugs. Just recently, the first meetings of the Bug Club and Birding 101 classes took place. So far, they have both proven to be a big hit!

With winter fast approaching and the leaves on the trees turning wonderful shades of autumn colors, visitors have begun to see all kinds of birds and wildlife, including many winter birds. Visitors have reported seeing a beaver that was 3ft long (not including the tail!), wild hogs, and deer tracks. Among the birds spotted so far are an American Gold Finch, Dark Eyed Junco, Greater Roadrunner, White Crowned Sparrows, White Throated Sparrows, Gadwall Ducks, Mallards, American Pigeon and even a Pileated Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in North America and very beautiful!

The Trinity River Audubon Center was designed to not only teach the general public about birds and the environment, but also to be a teaching facility where school children could learn about nature and the environment with hands on experiences. It has been just six short weeks and already 850 area school children have had the opportunity to explore the center and use the on site wet laboratories and interactive learning spaces to gain a better understanding of concepts related to nature, science, and mathematics. The feedback received from teachers who have visited the center with their school children has been excellent. By the end of the year (slightly over two months of operation), it is estimated that 1,500 school children will have explored the center and had the opportunity to take advantage of the educational facilities.

With so many exciting things happening at the Trinity River Audubon Center, we hope you have had the chance to visit and see it all first hand. The price of admission is $6.00 for Adults (ages 13-59), $3.00 for Children (ages 3-12), $4.00 for Seniors (60+); children two and under are admitted free. The center is free to all guests the third Thursday of each month. For annual memberships, group rates and other information visit www.trinityriveraudubon.org or call 214-370-TRAC.

Happy Holiday Dallas!

The Lower Chain of Wetlands along I-45 South and Loop 12 East was completed in November. The chain of four large cells built by the City of Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide important floodwater conveyance and the additional benefit of wildlife habitat for small forest animals and a wide variety of birds and aquatic species. All wetland cells are functioning and with the completion of the new Wetland Cell G (formerly Sleepy Hollow Golf Course), flood levels within the northern corridor of the Trinity River watershed will be reduced by as much as one foot during heavy rains.

Project components now open or under construction include the Trinity River Audubon Center, lower chain of wetlands, Trinity Overlook, Rochester Park Hike and Bike Trail, Phase I of the Trinity Spine Trail, Crow Park Boat Launch, Loop 12 Boat launch, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Texas Buckeye Trail, and Moore Park Gateway.