Garland, TX – The Preservation Society for the Spring Creek Forest is calling on the community to attend the upcoming City Council work session on Monday, July 21, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Garland City Hall or tune in to watch online. The meeting will address the unplanned removal of a significant portion of trees and vegetation along more than a mile of the Preserve, which occurred during recent city maintenance activities.
On June 16, crews cleared an approximately 12-foot-wide corridor while working to access a major sewer trunk line that had not been regularly inspected due to limited access. The line, over five decades old, is essential for serving thousands of residents and businesses in the area. Unfortunately, the extent of the clearing exceeded what was necessary, leading to notable damage to the Preserve, particularly along Spring Creek from Halff Park to North Garland Avenue.
On June 23, City management became aware of the extent of the impact. Staff began coordinating with internal departments, Dallas County representatives, and the Preservation Society. The City also contacted Kimley-Horn, a landscape architecture and engineering firm, to support restoration planning. By July 2, the City sent out a News Flash disclosing that city crews unknowingly cleared an area within Spring Creek Forest.
On July 10th, in response to the incident, City Manager Judson Rex expressed regret and acknowledged that there was insufficient planning and coordination prior to the clearing. Rex shared the below email with friends and stakeholders of the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, which the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest included in their newsletter sent out on July 15th.
Dear Spring Creek Forest Preserve friends and stakeholders,
I’m writing to provide an update on the recent clearing activity undertaken by the City in the Spring Creek Forest Preserve. Many of you have reached out with questions, concerns, and—in some cases—frustration. That response is valid. The truth is, this message will not answer every question just yet. We are still piecing together the full picture of what happened and how. But what I can share today is this: we take the situation seriously, we regret how it unfolded, and we are committed to making it right. That commitment will be measured by what we do next—not just by what we say now.
Thank you for your continued care and advocacy for the Spring Creek Forest Preserve. Your leadership and engagement are essential as we continue to understand what occurred and implement the necessary corrective steps. Below is a summary of the situation, a timeline of actions to date, and the path we are taking to move forward.
Background and Commitments
As part of our effort to maintain aging infrastructure, the City initiated work to access a major sewer trunk line running along Spring Creek. This infrastructure is more than five decades old and had not been subject to regular inspection due to limited access through the Preserve. The line serves thousands of residents and businesses in Dallas County and is critical to protecting both public health and the environment.
In the process of creating access to the line, City crews cleared an approximately 12-foot-wide corridor. Unfortunately, the extent of the clearing exceeded what was appropriate and caused unintended damage to a portion of the Preserve. This work occurred the week of June 16.
While maintaining vital infrastructure is essential, I want to acknowledge that this effort was not preceded by the level of planning and coordination it warranted. The City regrets this and has already begun taking steps to address the issue.
Action Timeline
- Week of June 16: Clearing work occurred to provide equipment access to the sewer line.
- Week of June 23: City management became aware of the extent of the impact. Staff began coordinating with internal departments, Dallas County representatives, and the Preservation Society. The City also contacted Kimley-Horn, a landscape architecture and engineering firm, to support restoration planning.
- July 11: Kimley-Horn will conduct a site visit to begin developing a restoration and maintenance scope of work. The City will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the plan reflects ecological priorities and community expectations.
- July 21: City staff will brief the City Council during its work session at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, with an update on restoration progress.
Restoration Plan
In partnership with Dallas County, the Preservation Society, and Kimley-Horn, the City will prepare a comprehensive restoration and maintenance plan outlining the scope of work, timeline, and appropriate mitigation strategies. We do not expect the full plan to be finalized in time for the July 21 work session and will share milestones and updates as they become available.
Our Path Forward
The City of Garland remains committed to:
- Maintaining critical infrastructure in a responsible, sustainable way.
- Restoring the impacted area of the Preserve to the greatest extent possible.
- Improving internal coordination and review processes to prevent similar incidents.
- Partnering with Dallas County, the Preservation Society, and other stakeholders to protect and preserve this vital natural space.
- Keeping the public informed with regular updates as the restoration plan progresses.
We value Spring Creek Forest Preserve not only as a local treasure but as a regional ecological asset. We are approaching this matter with transparency, care, and accountability. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and please feel free to attend the July 21 Council briefing.
The Preservation Society also shared pictures from before and after the crews came through:
A partner of the Garland Gazette, Sky Eyes, conducted a survey of the area to assess the extent of the clearing. Below are a series of aerial photos taken during their visit to the Spring Creek Forest:
For additional details, visit the City of Garland’s website or visit the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest online. Your voice matters in shaping the future of this important natural space.
One Comment
Thank you so much for keeping us informed! You do a great job!!