Conservation and Forestry

  1. 1 Photo Credit Rob Cooper
  2. 2 Rob Cooper photo credit
  3. 3 Ben Sandifer photo credit (1)
  4. 4 Ben Sandifer photo credit (2)
  5. 5 Bald Eagle at White Rock Lake

Dallas Park and Recreation has brought its Conservation Team and Forestry Operations together to create a stronger, more connected approach to managing the city’s parks and natural areas. This unified effort is led by the Conservation Manager and supported by the Urban Biologist, City Forester, and Forestry Operations Manager—all ISA Certified Arborists—ensuring park management decisions are guided by professional expertise, science, and safety.

Working as one team, Dallas Parks is better equipped to protect wildlife, care for trees, manage invasive species, reduce wildfire risk, and respond to challenges such as the Emerald Ash Borer. Close coordination with other City of Dallas departments also helps improve public safety throughout parks and natural areas.

This integrated approach supports citywide priorities like the Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan and the Urban Forest Master Plan, helping ensure Dallas parks remain healthy, resilient, and welcoming for the community—now and into the future.

Bald Eagles at White Rock Lake 
(Lake Highlands Park)

Please keep your distance from Bald Eagles in the area. Normal park activities/sports are still allowed, since existing uses are less likely to disturb the birds. However, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and anyone else viewing the birds, should stay a minimum of 300 feet away from nests, and please keep music levels to a minimum. If they happen to fly closer to you, enjoy the experience and try to avoid frightening them. 

Read this article from DMagazine from 2022 when the eagles nested here before. 

DMagazine Bald Eagle Article 

eagle protection signs


The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department is a steward of its resources and is committed to maintaining an accurate inventory of its natural assets. Urban Biologist Chris Morris is responsible for leading a natural resource management plan for the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. 
 
Some key components of that plan include: implementing a feral hog trapping program to reduce feral hog damage on parks properties, get a restoration program in place for the unique blackland prairie remnants at White Rock Lake, conducting an inventory of natural resource assets within Dallas Parks properties, and increasing pollinator conservation areas around the city.

Invite our Urban Biologist to speak at your next community event or workshop. Please complete to submit a request: Speakers Request Form

Adopt a Prairie Program


The Adopt-A-Prairie Program gives volunteer groups the opportunity to engage in the restoration and maintenance of the Blackland Prairie remnants found in Dallas parks. Fourteen prairie remnants totaling more than 162 acres have been identified, of which seven prairie parcels have been adopted by various groups. The prairie remnants were assessed based on their biological diversity, abundance of invasive species and overall management challenges. Learn how you or your organization can adopt a prairie by submitting an Adopt a Prairie Form.

Treecycling Program

The Dallas Park and Recreation, Forestry Division continues to progress in sustainable park maintenance standards with its Treecycling Program that diverts wood chips from the landfill. A trommel will sort wood chips into two piles, one with bigger pieces and one with smaller pieces. The bigger pieces are used as tree grove mulch and smaller pieces used for landscaping beds. Learn more about the Dallas Park and Recreation Department's Treecylcing program.