City Of Fort Worth: Cadet Corps Helps Restore Northwest Community Park

Dallas TX

06 December, 2021

5:57 PM

Description

Press release from City of Fort Worth: December 06, 2021 Crowley ISD Summer Creek Middle School Cadet Corps students sprang into action recently to help a new park reach its restoration goal. Acquired in 2011, the 245-acre Northwest Community Park received a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant of $1 million to further develop recreational opportunities and amenities. As part of the grant, nearly 50 acres were set aside to be managed in perpetuity as natural area. The park master plan calls for restoring native prairie on the uplands and wetland on the northwest side of the lake. Historically, the area was native prairie before it became ranchland; and now residential subdivisions. Park staff have an ongoing passive prairie restoration project of clearing brush species from the uplands. Before 2021, staff had treated 7 acres of brush species that were invading the Fort Worth Prairie habitat. These species were threatening to shade out the remnant endemic (found nowhere else in the world) prairie species such as pale yucca, white rosinweed and Englemann sage. Although the site was historically grazed, there are some high-quality remnant prairie species present such as big bluestem, little bluestem, eastern gamagrass and indiangrass. The Summer Creek Cadet Corps mission was to remove the dead brush, opening the uplands so the prairie can return to its former glory in the sun. The group was led by Sr. Chief Anthony Duncan. After just a few hours of work, the students had cleared 1.25 acres of brush; which will be recycled into wood chips. Afterwards, the students hiked to some of the highlights of the park such as the fishing dock and the waterfall. They learned about prairie ecology, geology, park history, the value of hard work and teambuilding. One student was even overheard saying, "Today was really fun!"     Photo: On a clear autumn day, Cadet Corps volunteers cleared brush from Northwest Community Park before they spent time exploring the area.     Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News. This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.