The City of Garland’s Water Utilities Department cleared a significant portion of land inside the Spring Creek Forest Preserve while conducting sewer maintenance — allegedly unaware that the work was taking place within the protected area, according to the city.
The operation involved heavy machinery used to access and service decades-old infrastructure, part of the city’s strategic focus on maintaining well-functioning water and wastewater systems.
Located near Holford Road and the George Bush Turnpike, the 200-acre Spring Creek Forest Preserve is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in Dallas County, along with a diverse array of plants and wildlife. In 2024, the preserve earned a prestigious designation as one of only two Texas sites inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network.
No motorized vehicles, bicycles, horses, fires, or camping are allowed in the preserve because they could “cause extensive damage to this biologically sensitive area,” the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest website states.
To address the environmental damage caused by city utility crews, Garland’s Parks and Recreation Department is collaborating with the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, landscape professionals, architects, and other experts to mitigate ecosystem disruptions and the loss of trees or vegetation. The restoration will attempt to repair the widened trail and restore lost vegetation, though officials acknowledge the process will take time.
For more information about the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, visit the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest website.