Friends of Oak Cliff Parks

REMINDER……this Sunday
FOCP Wildflower Walk
When: Sunday, May 31st
Time: 10:00 - noon
Where: Kiest Conservation Area
3238 S Hampton, Dallas, TX 75224
Docent: Brian Halsell
Contact: [email protected]
Advanced Training: 2 hours

Join us for a walk through the native prairie meadow at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is Master Naturalist, respected guest speaker on native plants and Studio Outside’s in-house horticultural expert, landscape architect Brian Halsell. The conservation area is an 88 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum nine years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened Creekside or Burr Oak Trail. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is no charge. Closed toed shoes are recommended. The parking area is in the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Keist Blvd. Park next to the kiosk. WE will meet in the outdoor classroom just up from the parking lot kiosk.

REMINDER……this Sunday
FOCP Wildflower Walk
When: Sunday, May 31st
Time: 10:00 - noon
Where: Kiest Conservation Area
3238 S Hampton, Dallas, TX 75224
Docent: Brian Halsell
Contact: [email protected]
Advanced Training: 2 hours

Join us for a walk through the native prairie meadow at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is Master Naturalist, respected guest speaker on native plants and Studio Outside’s in-house horticultural expert, landscape architect Brian Halsell. The conservation area is an 88 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum nine years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened Creekside or Burr Oak Trail. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is no charge. Closed toed shoes are recommended. The parking area is in the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Keist Blvd. Park next to the kiosk. WE will meet in the outdoor classroom just up from the parking lot kiosk.

Nature Walk
When: Sunday, May 24th, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Where: Kiest Conservation Area Outdoor Classroom
3238 S Hampton, Dallas, TX 75224
Docent: Chris Morris, Urban Biologist, Dallas Parks
Advanced Training: 2 hour
No charge. Orientation - outdoor classroom

Please join us as we explore the beauty of nature in the Kiest Conservation Area Sunday, May 24th at 10 am. Our adventure through the 79 acre Conservation Area will be lead by docent Chris Morris, parks department urban biologist for the city of Dallas. Chris graduated from Texas A&M University, College Station in 2008 with a BS in Zoology. He has volunteered with the Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas Zoos, as well as InSync Exotics working with Monitor Lizards, African Hoofstock, Aquatics, and Big and Small Cats. In May 2023, Christopher joined the City of Dallas Park and Recreation department, as the Urban Biologist. He will provide us with an insider’s glimpse of many of the unfolding natural wonders happening as summer approaches.

The conservation area is an 78 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower and grass species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum ten years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened Creekside and Burr Oak Trails. These recently completed trails were made possible by a generous grant from WFAA Channel 8 and constructed by Greenspace Dallas. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is no charge. Closed toed shoes are recommended. The parking area is in far southeast corner of the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Kiest Blvd. Park next to the kiosk and join us for the orientation at the KCA outdoor classroom.

FOCP Bird Walk
When: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Where: Kiest Conservation Area, 3238 S Hampton Rd (outdoor classroom)
Sponsored by: The Friends of Oak Cliff Parks
Contact: [email protected] (Jon Papp)
Website: friendsofoakcliffparks.org
Guide: Elizabeth Jensen, master birder
Cost: Free, no registration required

Join us for a walk through the woods and native prairie meadow at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is Elizabeth Jensen. She is a certified North Central Texas Master Birder. With many years of experience and an inordinate fondness for nature in general, she will be sharing her wealth of knowledge on our walk through the Kiest Conservation Area.

The conservation area is an 78 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower and grass species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum ten years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened Creekside and Burr Oak Trails. The parking area is in far southeast corner of the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Kiest Blvd. Park next to the kiosk and join us for the orientation at the KCA outdoor classroom.

Friends of Oak Cliff Parks Bug Walk
When: Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Where: Kiest Conservation Area, 3238 S. Hampton Rd., Dallas, TX 75224
Guide: John Watts, Entomologist, Texas Discovery Gardens
Contact: [email protected]
Advanced Training: 2 hours

FOCP Bug Walk

Join us for the Bug Walk at the Kiest Conservation Area in Oak Cliff. Our guide is John Watts, respected guest speaker on insects, and the man who keeps the Texas Discovery Garden’s Butterfly House stocked with beautiful butterflies. John was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida where, at the age of six, he developed an early interest in insects. He got his Masters Degree from the University of Florida in entomology where he specialized in insect husbandry. He has worked at the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Nature and Science and Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Westminster Colorado. With over 20 years of experience and an inordinate fondness for nature in general he will be sharing his wealth of knowledge on our walk through the Kiest Conservation Area.

The conservation area is an 88 acre tract of land with an island of native Texas prairie. Over 150 wildflower and grass species were identified by master naturalist legend Jim Varnum eight years ago. While you’re there, visit the newly opened mile long Meadow Loop Trail. Everyone is invited to attend, and there is no charge. Closed toed shoes are recommended. The parking area is in the field at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hampton Rd. and Keist Blvd. Park next to the kiosk.

Website: friendsofoakcliffparks.org

HERB WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED !

Unfortunately, wIth all the rain that fell last night, and with the parking lot already muddy before that downpour, we have decided to reschedule the Herb Workshop that was set for 10 am this morning. The new date will be Sunday, June 7th at 10 am. All other details will be the same. We will send a followup notice before the new date. Thanks.

FOCP: REMINDER, Herbal Workshop
Focus: Herbs, Achieving optimal health through natural remedies
When: Sunday, April 26th, 2026 Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Where: Kiest Conservation Area Outdoor Classroom
3238 S Hampton, Dallas, TX 75224
Docent: Oneil Brown
Advanced Training: 2 hour
No charge.

Don’t Forget…. join the Friend of Oak Cliff Parks on Sunday, April 26th at the Kiest Conservation Area Outdoor Classroom for a program presented by state board-certified Master Herbalist Oneil Brown. Learn about herbs that can help you achieve optimal health through natural remedies. Oneil has lead workshops, spoken at events and taught classes all across the country. There is no charge for this program.

Congratulations to the Friends of Oak Cliff Garden Club for another successful year at the awards presentation of Texas Garden Clubs State Convention this past month. After successfully having 18 first place submissions advance from the district level to the state level, FOCP had 13 first place winners for the state of Texas Green Division. With these results, FOCP was awarded Green Garden Club of the year for the state of Texas for the fifth time in the last seven years. In addition, this was the first year the state awarded an overall garden club of the year for all divisions and we were fortunate to be awarded that honor too. This is a great tribute to all the hard working members and volunteers that spend hours working in our four parks. We are lucky to have such dedicated individuals and a president, Ellen Fitzsimmons, that inspires that dedication. Awards won in 2026 are for the work completed in 2025. Eligible state winners now advance to the national levelThe awards that were submitted this year were:

1. Butterfly preservation - maintenance of the nectar beds at the Kiest Memorial Garden, 1st at district and state

2. Wildflower preservation - for work done in the native prairie meadow at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

3. Beautification project - for work done at the Lake Cliff Park pineapple fountain beds area, 1st at district

4. Native prairie restoration - for work at the Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

5. Conservation Education - FOCP trail walk program, 1st at district and state

6. Wildlife Survival - maintenance and addition of bird and bat houses at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

7. Community projects with native plants/wildflowers - work at Kiest Memorial Garden, 1st at district and state

8. Native plant and wildflower venue - work at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district

9. Container gardening (national) - for FOCP club member’s home container garden, 1st at district and state

10. Container gardening (southeast central regional entry) - for FOCP club member’s home container garden, 1st at district and state, this award advances to the SCR

11. Media award - for the FOCP website, 1st at district and state

12. Conservation activities - prairie restoration at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

13. Digital presentation - for member submitted power point on use of coffee ground in the garden, 1st at district and state

14. Backyard habitat - for member submitted back yard report, 1st at district

15. Community service - for participation in Oak Cliff Earth Day, 1st in district

16. Wildflower Eduction - for wildflower and bug walk presentations at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st in district

17. November/Dececember Award - for the “big four prairie grass” project at Kiest Conservation Area (a club project which was accomplished after the general awards deadline of November 1 but before January 1), 1st at district and state

Calling all birders! The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is excited to host birdwatching tours for the 2026 World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 9. We're especially excited to introduce JBSWC to FIFA World Cup 26™ staffers from around the world as part of a weekend of Dallas-based nature engagement. Master Birders Caleb Hinojos, Jeanne Kuehn, Caroline Humphries and JBSWC Operations Associate Jade Reynolds will host our tours.

Tour No. 1: 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Tour No. 2: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Here on the Central Flyway, our 2,000-acre constructed wetland is an eBird hotspot with observations of almost 300 species of resident and migratory birds, including American bald eagles.

Make sure to bring water and sun protection and wear long sleeves and long pants. Bring your binoculars; we have a limited supply to lend. Please register for this event through https://givebutter.com/JBSbirdtour and select which bird tour you would like to join. Event is free with admission 🦅

Due to the weather, today's wildflower walk at the Kiest Conservation Area has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 31st, 10 am. Please put the new date down on your calendar.