Updates from the Duncanville Nature Conservancy

Summer is almost over but there is still time to get your summer and nature on! Here is the playlist (Amazon music) from the our Laddfest in the spring. It was a great celebration of the creation of the Charles F. Ladd Nature Preserve.

The playlist is worth a download and a play…or ten. Load it up for a read of the website. Enjoy!

Quick update on the preserve master plan. It was passed on March 4, 2025 after consideration by the Council. It is the culmination of a massive amount of work by many many people - including you. Now, as they say, the hard work begins. Funding the master plan, establishing the details and phase work to complete this world class preserve. A lot remains to be done. But in the meantime, the preserve is being exactly what it is - a quiet haven and nature preserve for its denizens, flora and citizens of Duncanville.

Briefly, how the master plan came to be: The Ladd Nature Preserve Advisory Committee met on Sept 4 for the third time. The architects, Halff and Lake Flato and the Blackland Collaborative were there presenting their high-level findings from the ecology, geology and hydrology as well as preliminary preserve design concepts. The architects and master plan project appear to be a home run and class leading, if not the best in the business. There was extensive discussion as well as surveying of the group. The attendees were queried and in agreement about limited building of an educational preserve. It is clear the city made a home run hiring Halffe and the outcome of the project should be something Duncanville can be very proud of. Mr and Mrs Ladd were notably present for about half of the meeting.

In addition, The Blackland collaborative, in conjunction with Halffe and Associates spent two days in the field taking data and discussing restoration potential for the Charles F. Ladd Nature Preserve with council members, staff, master naturalists, and other stakeholders in the city. It is a team effort and will lead to a nature center for the residents of Duncanville who have a property that hits “way above its weight” with prairie species, wetlands and riparian corridor that are home to many special species including otter and beaver. Cheers.

Jim Jones
President

Donate here or send a check payable to:

Duncanville Nature Conservancy
P.O. Box 381771
Duncanville, Tx 75138-1771