One non-profit organization has been at the center of efforts to protect and promote the Trinity River in recent years, and that organization is the Trinity Park Conservancy.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Trinity Park Conservancy (TPC) made the news outlet’s list of the most influential non-profit community organizations of 2023. While other notable organizations have made their mark by feeding the less fortunate or boosting Dallas’ national profile, TPC has earned recognition for its work making the Trinity River “a welcoming gathering space for all Dallas citizens.”
“The Trinity River is your river. A relatively wild landscape that enriches our lives with access to nature and a beautiful space to unite and gather. Take advantage of it. Take it to heart,” reads the organization’s website.
TPC’s predecessor — the Trinity Trust Foundation — was originally created to support the Trinity River Corridor Project, which was founded to improve and maintain the Trinity River and surrounding areas by promoting recreation, environmental restoration, economic development, and flood protection.
Trinity Trust rebranded in 2017, changing its name to TPC, and expanded its mission to foster more connections between Dallas residents and the river.
“I feel especially fortunate to have worked in the center of our city on the Trinity — a river that has divided our communities for so many years and now has the opportunity to bridge that divide and bring us together as a city,” said Gail Thomas, founding president and CEO of the organization, per TPC’s website.
Over the years, Trinity Trust and TPC secured more than $100 million in private donations and taxpayer dollars for various projects along the river, including bridge construction, trail development, and flood control efforts.
TPC is currently focused on developing Harold Simmons Park, an upcoming 250-acre park that will border Margaret McDermott Bridge and Ronald Kirk Bridge and connect West Dallas, Oak Cliff, and Dallas’ downtown area. TPC was tasked with helping with the design and maintenance of the park in partnership with the City of Dallas and the Trinity River Corridor Local Government Corporation.
The park will be the first in a series of nature-centered development projects along the river. Preliminary designs for the park showcase a large playground for children, a splash pad, basketball courts, a skate park, walking trails, and a big grass space for events.
“[T]he park will draw people to the river and create momentum for the equitable development of areas along the Trinity,” according to the project’s website.
TPC recently expressed pride in the Trinity River Crew, a student conservation program now in its third year of operation. The program is the result of a partnership between TPC and Greenspace Dallas. Over the course of the summer, high school students engaged in conservation efforts along the river, such as water quality monitoring, beautification projects, and bird counts.
“As summer drew to a close, Trinity Park Conservancy and Greenspace Dallas looked back on a successful and impactful season. The Trinity River Crew not only learned valuable lessons in conservation but also left an enduring mark on the Trinity River corridor,” said the organization.
TPC plans to continue its mission of maintaining the Trinity River and surrounding areas to make the 10,000-acre Trinity River Corridor a place for Dallas residents and visitors to enjoy nature’s splendor.