Spring Happenings
The Master Garden Tour will take place on the same day as the Garden Party - Saturday, May 18, 10-5 PM.
Friends of the SoPac Trail,
Although I have seen and talked to many of you during our workdays at the garden on the SoPac Trail, I would like to update you on FOTST happenings.
SAVE THE DATE for our 2nd Annual Garden Party to be held on Saturday, May 18, 10-12 PM at the SoPac Respite (Santa Barbara Dr.) . We like to take the time during the year to celebrate the trail by sponsoring educational activities for the neighborhood children about nature around us in our urban setting. This was so successful last year that we decided to make it an annual event. You are cordially invited to attend the event and please bring your children!
WE ARE HONORED.
The pollinator garden continues to thrive, so much so, that this year The Dallas County Master Gardeners selected the SoPac Pollinator Garden be included in their annual garden tour. Gardeners from all of Dallas County will be visiting the garden this year. Master Gardeners will be there all day to answer any gardening questions. Thanks to the master gardeners and neighborhood volunteers who spend many of their Saturdays tending the garden.
Over the past six months, our board has been committed to enhancing and beautifying the trail.
Last October, we extended the irrigation system in the garden to allow for new trees to be added along the trail. A Chinquapin, Burr Oak, and Monterrey Oak were planted under the supervision of Park and Recreation staff. Hopefully, they will provide additional shade in the years to come.
In conjunction with neighborhood volunteers, we have taken on the project of painting over graffiti on the Greentree and DART bridge underpasses and under the trail drainage culverts. This follows last year’s project of painting the Mockingbird Bridge columns. Video of our work below.
COMING SOON. Last year, the steering committee held a planning meeting establishing the group’s priorities for 2023-24. Our top priority is to develop wayfinding signage along the trail as many new trail users aren’t always certain of location, nearby parks and direction. A committee member is currently working with Dallas Park and Recreation Dept. and our park board Representative, Maria Hasbany, in design and production.
Finally, all who used the trail in the last several months saw the serious construction done by Atmos Energy to repair a gas leak. It required a great deal of remediation after the work was completed. Atmos to their credit did a wonderful job. They laid over 2000sq. ft. of Bermuda sod over the graded area. The cost of the material and the labor to lay it was significant and there was no way that the Friends could have afforded to have the project done. As such we felt that we couldn’t let such a benefit be wasted and volunteers have been hand watering the area to keep everything alive. The area now looks green and thriving.
Thanks to the following steering committee members who are responsible for the planning and implementation of our SoPac Trail projects: Chelsea Carpenter, Ben Cooper, Randy and Laura Elia, Mason Ice, Karen Nelson, Charley Redden, Maggie Saucedo, Lindsey Smith, Drew Vanderbrook, Gordon Watson and Mick Weisberg. A special thanks to Maria Hasbany, our District 9 Park Board Representative who has supported all our effort.
We hope to see you and your family at the Garden Party and Garden Tour this May 18th!
Felix SaucedoChairman, Friends of the SoPac Trail Steering Committee