Friends of Oak Cliff Parks volunteers keep historic green spaces growing

Friends of Oak Cliff Parks, a volunteer group founded in 2002, works to restore horticulture and protect the neighborhood's historic green spaces. Its current president, Ellen Fitzsimmons, traces her involvement to a view from a window. After retiring from Wisconsin, she and her husband spent winters at Lake Cliff Tower, where she watched people across the water at Lake Cliff Park cutting roses in the cold months. She has kept showing up ever since, now that she lives in Oak Cliff full time.

The group has roughly 50 supporting members, and a core of about 10 to 15 people drives most of the hands-on work. Workdays are usually Tuesday and Saturday mornings, when volunteers weed, mulch and trim. They rotate among Kiest Memorial Garden, Kiest Conservation Area, the Lake Cliff Park Gardens and the Japanese Garden at Kidd Springs Park. Fitzsimmons says volunteers also spot problems and connect parks with community resources, working alongside Dallas Park and Recreation staff.

Partners extend the reach of the effort. Greenspace Dallas brought trail-building expertise and equipment to an ongoing project at Kiest Conservation Area, and Scouts joined that work. At Kidd Springs, an erosion-control project aims to slow runoff heading toward the lake, a effort that drew on city employees and a city biologist. Younger volunteers, including people with flexible or remote schedules, have been joining too. The group also leads nature walks that introduce visitors to the trees, wildflowers and wildlife in the parks.

Fitzsimmons puts the group's philosophy simply: "We could never do this alone." To learn more or volunteer, visit friendsofoakcliffparks.org.

This story is based on original reporting by the Oak Cliff Advocate, written by Alexander Kwapis.