Julie Thibodeaux

The free Oak Cliff Earth Day on April 16 at Lake Cliff Park offers entertainment, environmental education booths, green vendors, and food trucks. Highlights include performances by Bandan Koro and local schools, and a proclamation ceremony honoring the West Dallas Gateway Pecan Tree. Hosted by Green Source DFW and the Memnosyne Institute.

In March 2023, Dallas launched two initiatives to boost climate resilience: Whole Home Dallas connects residents to resources for weatherization and energy efficiency; Green Job Skills offers free, self-paced training for construction workers in energy-efficient home improvements. Both programs support the city's climate action goals.

Georgeann Moss, a sustainability pioneer at Dallas College, retired after 25 years. Starting as a media relations specialist, she created the Sustainability Team and advanced to Senior Director of Sustainability. She led key initiatives like the Sustainability Summit and plans to remain active in environmental projects post-retirement.

Fairfield Lake State Park faces closure on Feb. 28 as new owners plan luxury development. Despite losing efforts to secure the land, Texas lawmakers are pursuing eminent domain to preserve the park. Concerns arise over other state parks on leased land, prompting legislative action to protect them.

Waco Friends of the Climate's Climate Crisis Art Exhibit returns in person to promote climate change awareness through art. Held at Art Center Waco from April 4-29, the exhibit invites Texas artists to inspire emotional engagement and action on climate change, offering cash prizes. Submissions close April 1.

Fort Worth will remove up to 50 acres of invasive privet from Tandy Hills Natural Area to protect its 1,800 native species, using heavy equipment initially and targeted herbicide later. This project, supported by a $150,000 grant, aims for significant ecological recovery despite being an ongoing challenge.

Fairfield Lake State Park, a 1,800-acre site in Freestone County, is at risk of closure due to the land’s sale to developers. Efforts by Texas legislators and environmental groups aim to preserve the park, emphasizing its ecological significance and highlighting its history of public recreational use.

The "Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas" grant program offers funding for monarch demonstration gardens and waystations using native plants on public sites. Overseen by the Native Plant Society of Texas, applications are due Feb. 1. Grants, up to $600, promote monarch conservation and education, focusing on native milkweeds and nectar plants.

Oak Cliff Earth Day, hosted by GreenSourceDFW and Memnosyne Institute since 2018, opens early booth registration. Featuring entertainment and environmental education, vendor spaces cost $60 by April 1. Sponsorships start at $100. Contact Lenora for vendor details and Wendel for sponsorships. Event: April 16, 2023, Lake Cliff Park, Dallas.

Fort Worth, in partnership with the Texas Trees Foundation, seeks public input for its first Urban Forest Master Plan. The plan will evaluate urban forest resources, identify priority planting areas, and create a strategic vision. A virtual workshop highlighted issues like clearcutting and tree preservation. Feedback is open via a survey until February's end.

Local environmentalists gathered at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden for the 11th annual Green Source DFW Awards, celebrating North Texas environmental heroes. John Wilt, Julie Ann Fineman, Kim Aman, Suzanne Tuttle, Akash Munshi, Brand Richter, John MacFarlane, Kathryn Bazan, Tolbert Greenwood, and Lon Burnam were honored for their environmental contributions.

Organic gardening and wildlife experts, like Howard Garrett and Texas A&M horticulturists, advise against bagging leaves, emphasizing benefits for landscapes and wildlife. Leaves enrich soil, reduce runoff, and save costs. They recommend mowing, mulching, and composting. Wildlife relies on leaf litter for habitat, and leaving leaves supports diverse ecosystems.