Get Nautrized, Parks, Environmental Groups, Hiking, Biking, Dallas-Fort Worth

North Central Texas Communities Alliance (NCTCA) is a coalition working on local, state, and national levels for positive solutions to the problems related to natural gas drilling and pipelines.

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There are several non-profit groups acting as environmental groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan area.

The newest and possibly the most effective of these is probably North Central Texas Communities Alliance (NCTCA). NCTCA is a coalition working on local, state, and national levels for positive solutions to the problems related to natural gas drilling and pipelines.

Local counts: As a local group, it does what national environmental groups seem unable to do, and that is focus on an environmental problem from a local point of view, very important to this planet at this time.

Get Naturized, Get Outdoors, Get Moving
We will be adding to this resource for the next few months. Your input is welcome!
Hours and admission charges change so please verify before driving to these centers.

Arlington: River Legacy Parks offer places to picnic, hike, and bike with river overlooks and playground areas. One entrance is at 701 NW Green Oaks Boulevard at Cooper St, Arlington, 76006, just west of Living Science Center building, .817 860-6752. Another entrance, with canoe launch, is at 3020 North Collins St, Arlington, 76006. River Legacy Parks East is at 1651 NE Green Oaks Blvd, east of Collins (FM 157),,Arlington. Open from 6 am to 10 pm. Free. There are miles of paved trails here as well as dirt trails. Restrooms

Carrollton: Elm Fork Nature Preserve consists of 40 acres that has never been clear cut with trails open for hikes daily from dawn to dusk at no charge. Take Sandy Lake Road west from IH-35 approximately one mile to the McInnish Sports Complex entrance. Turn left into the complex and follow the road behind the sports fields to the Elm Fork Nature Preserve entrance on your right.

Cedar Hill: Cedar Hill State Park at 1570 F.M. 1382, Cedar Hill TX 75104, 972 291-3900. Hiking Trails, swimming, picnics, Penn farm tour, camping on Joe Pool Lake. Admission fee plus camping fee if staying overnight. Over 1800 acre nature preserve.

Colleyville: Colleyville Nature Center is located at Mill Creek and Mill Wood Drive in Colleyville. This park includes 46 acres of natural refuge, nine ponds, 3.5 miles of multi-use trails, amphitheater, covered pavilion with a grill, rest benches, playground, and fishing pier. From Highway 26, drive west on Glade and then south on Mill Creek. No entry fee. Open sunrise to sunset.

Dallas: Cedar Ridge Preserve (formerly the Dallas Nature Center) is at an elevation of 755 feet, and is a slice of the Texas hill country in DFW.. Located at 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75249, Cedar Ridge Preserve is a not-for-profit natural habitat of 633 acres featuring 10 miles of hiking trails, a native plant nursery, butterfly gardens, and picnic areas. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset, Tuesday – Sunday.

Dallas: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical features 65 landscaped acres beside White Rock Lake in Dallas. Picnic area, trails, Toad Gardens water fun, 8525 Garland Road, 2 214-515-6500, Dallas, 75218. Entry fee. Attractive place but certainly not pesticide and chemical fertilizer free.

Desoto: Windmill Hill Nature Preserve is located at the Southwest corner of Duncanville and Wintergreen Roads, Desoto, and is open to the public, free, from 6 a.m. to sundown daily. Gentle slopes and some very steep hills in this 75-acre preserve.

Euless- Bear Creek, McCormick Preserve, Bob Eden Park, Trailwood Park Start at Bear Creek Park, 1951 Bear Creek Parkway, just off Hwy 360 in Euless. Then walk through adjoining McCormick Preserve to Bob Eden and back. You can also add Trailwood Park to the mix after Bob Eden--all along Little Bear Creek, wooded and beautiful. Mostly paved but not all.

Farmers Branch: Mustang Trail is a 9 mile circular route in Farmers Branch which follows the city streets and passes 22 historic points. The trail starts at Historical Park in Farmers Branch. 2516 Farmers Branch Ln, Farmers Branch, TX, 75234. 972 406-0184. Open daily. free but very urban.

Fort Worth: Fort Worth Botanic Garden is home to over 2,500 species of native and exotic plants that flourish in its 21 specialty gardens. Conservatory houses exotic and tropical plants. Most trails are free; there are other charges such as the Japanese Garden entry fee. Main Garden Center, 817 871-7686, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard at University, north of I-30, Fort Worth. Pretty place but certainly not pesticide and chemical fertilizer free.

Fort Worth: Fort Worth Nature Center is in Northwest Fort Worth. This 6700-acre wildlife refuge has more than 20 miles of hiking trails.Take Loop 820 to the Hwy 199 exit, go northwest across the Lake Worth bridge, and follow signs to center Entry fee.

Grapevine: Oak Grove Park on Lake Grapevine.. DORBA biking trail, hiking, wheelchair accessible, boat ramp, picnic pavilions, and more. Horseshoe Trail is located in 119 acre old Corp of Engineers camping area. Located at 2500 Dive Loop Rd, near the intersection of Oak Grove Loop S and W Dove Loop Rd, Grapevine. Free. Open 6 am to 10 pm.

Grand Prairie: Mike Lewis Park is. 69.8 Acres at 2600 Block of N. Carrier Pkwy. Equestrian arena, pavilion, playground, .5 mile concrete fitness trail, pond with fishing pier

McKinney: Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney is a 289-acre site with hiking trails, natural science exhibits, education programs and more. From US 75 (Central Expressway), take exit 38A East. Proceed 1 mile and turn south on Highway 5 South. Go another 3/4 mile and turn left on FM 1378. The museum is located 1 mile east of Highway 5 South on the North side of FM 1378. Fees apply. Open six days and Sunday afternoon. Suggest calling first: 972 562-5566.

Plano: Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is an 800-acre Plano park extending from Parker Road on the south to Chaparral Road on the north and from Spring Creek Parkway on the west to Los Rios Boulevard on the east.

Plano: White Rock Trail Park Trio Combined with Steeplechase Park & Old Shepard's Place Park, walk 4.37 miles. Park at Old Shepard's Place Park. 1301 Winding Hollow Lane, Plano TX, 75093 Located just east of Dallas North Tollway. More urban here.

Richardson: Breckenridge Park encompasses 417.13 acres on North Brand Road. Its facilities include 4.5 miles of trails, sports facilities, restrooms, playgrounds, and 10-acre lake. 3300 Brand @ Renner/Park Vista,

Roanoke-Grapevine: Knob Hills Trail: Located on the west end of Grapevine lake, this natural surface trail traverses the prairies and bottomland on the north bank of Denton Creek. The trail from Dunham Road over the White's Branch bridge is shared with equestrians. All yield to horses and bicycles yield to hikers. No facilities. Take HWY 114 to Hwy 377. Turn North on HWY 377 and start looking for a small dirt parking lot and the trailhead on the East side of the road. If you get to FM 1171 you have gone too far.

Southlake: Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake is a relatively new 30-acre preserve with a short hiking trail, butterfly garden, and nature center. Located at 335 E. Bob Jones Rd in Southlake. From Hwy 114 take the N. White Chapel Blvd exit and drive North on N. White Chapel. Continue past the Bob Jones Park and then turn right (East) onto East Bob Jones Road. open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm. Office: 817-491-6333. Free

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