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Writer's pictureFriends of Bachman Lake
Nov 12, 20205 min read

November Newsletter

"We don't need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful." Carlos Castaneda


THE ESSENTIALS...


The month of October flew by and here we are already in the second week of November. Between working as poll clerks to managing the reconstruction of a tornado damaged home, it’s been a bit of a scramble to get this newsletter out, but we got it done! Of course that doesn’t mean that work has stopped on improvements for Northwest Dallas, so read on!


You will recall that NCTCoG is setting up a plan for improvements and the foundation will be built by community input. In the newsletter you’ll find more about the Bachman Area survey developed by the US National Park Service. Although you're probably surveyed out, this one is all about us, our community. So, please, please, weigh in on what things work well and what things need to be improved in Northwest Dallas. Just as importantly, get your neighbors and friends to fill it out too!



We were so sad the Park Department cancelled our ‘Hallowheels’ event.


2020 has not been good for gatherings. We also have had to cancel our fundraiser and It's My Park Day. On the other hand, we were so excited to assist Bachman Lake Together with their fall festival. Ups and downs. It’s life.


***Please continue to share our newsletter with your neighbors and friends!***

 

NEWS


The Bachman Area Survey!


Because there is so much information on planning in Northwest Dallas we decided to create a dedicated page on our website: The Bachman Plan. It will help us consolidate all the related news on this topic. It is very important that we push the city to take actions now because we’ve endured decades of studies and, quite frankly, we're rather sick and tired of report after report that gets us nowhere. Let’s change this!

We have great hope that with the attention of national (National Park Service), regional (NCTCoG) and city/county staff, we will get some progress in Northwest Dallas. The recently launched Bachman Area survey has been collaboratively developed to provide input to two planning efforts.

  • Love Field Loop Trail Project: The NPS is working with the City of Dallas to create a concept plan for the Love Field Loop Trail which will identify a route around airport property, local neighborhoods and public parks to connect residents to destinations and recreation options.

  • Bachman Lake Area Mobility Plan: The NCTCOG, in collaboration with others, is leading a larger transportation and land use study of the Bachman Lake/Northwest Highway area to look at improvements designed to increase pedestrian safety and access to facilities along major roadways, better connections to DART stations and multi-modal facilities, and other transportation and land use opportunities.

If you live in or frequent the highlighted area on the map below, please take the time to complete the survey! We will be dropping off flyers and copies at local libraries, recreation centers and eateries to make sure we get as much community input as possible.



From the Tree-diculous ...



We saw that this sign was added by Bachman Lake but it doesn't quite feel like there is as much care for trees at the park as the sign suggests. The post oak grove is under threat and opportunities to create a broader canopy are just not being embraced. We need your help!

  • The massive Aquatic Center designed by Dallas Park and Recreation will destroy 45 amazing post oaks – up from an original estimate of 35 trees, and not the direction we should be going! We know that City Councilmembers Omar Narvaez and Adam Medrano are big tree lovers but the lack of a master plan at Bachman Lake Park has let to decisions that are detrimental to nature... Squeezing a regional aquatic center into the park (with no planned parking mind you) is what has driven the plan to cut down the trees. Sad, sad, sad. In any event, if you want to weigh in on behalf of those 125-year-old beauties by the lake, write Omar Narvaez (Omar.Narvaez@DallasCityHall.com) and Adam Medrano (Adam.Medrano@Dallascityhall.com).


  • Dallas Water Utilities will also be cutting down all the trees in the spillway between their facility and Denton Drive. Whether they are going to also cut down the trees west of the dam is still unknown. We have invited DWU to provide another update at Neighbors in the Know in early 2021. In the meantime, please add your voice to ours to ask that DWU add trees, bushes, and landscaping along the water to offset the removal trees in the spillway. Please add your voice to this request by sending an email to: marc.cottingame@dallascityhall.com.


  • Similarly, we have made requests of Oncor to add landscaping to their horrible chain link fence along Denton Drive. Although they met with us in good faith, it really felt more like an effort to placate us than to consider our concerns. They indicate that they have no funds to plant anything and that they really discourage any type of bushes or trees. We did note that there was a major hole in the ground on their property that was a safety issue for walkers. Maybe they will at least fix that. Please send your complaints to: Andrea.Sanders@oncor.com.


  • The Catholic Dioceses seemed intrigued by the idea of planting trees in their massive piece of land west of Webb Chapel and south of Park Lane. Unfortunately, the programs we contacted only provide trees to be planted on public land. If you have kids attending any of the local Catholic schools, please consider helping us rally around this effort. Contact bachmanlakefriends@gmail.com to join our Tree Team!




... To a Tree-covery


Ask most victims of last year's Dallas tornado and they will tell you that one of the biggest losses was to the tree canopies in their neighborhoods. Old, stately trees were lost, rendering some streets unrecognizable from the beautiful tree-draped paths they once were. It will take a while to get that back but there is a great first step for homeowners interested in getting started.


If you were affected by the October, 2019 Dallas tornado and would like information on free trees, you're in luck! You can have your property evaluated and recommendations made for native trees that thrive in this area. Even better, the free trees will be planted for you. All you have to do is promise to take care of them.


Select the image below or access http://www.retreet.org/nttc to get started!



 

EVENTS


Our monthly plogging event is every 2nd Saturday of the month – at whatever time works for you! Bring one of those plastic bags we all have around the house and put it to good use. Walk the path or meander off of it and pick up trash. It’s great for the hamstrings! Give a shout-out to anyone you see walking around the lake with a plastic bag - they are clearly FoBLers!



Every second Monday of the month (6PM English and 7PM Spanish) we host a multi-neighborhood virtual meeting to review the major projects that affect our area. In November we will be showcasing some of the non-profits that help out in our area.



Also, don't forget to join us at our monthly ‘meeting of the minds’ at Bluffview Growler. It's on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 4-6PM. No RSVP needed. 






 

OUR FAVORITE IMAGES THIS MONTH



Instagram photo credits:

 

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