New!  Online registration begins Monday, December 18. Try it out today.
Sign up now!
Register online.

Carrollton Cares Volunteer Day  Registration form  Waiver
Dimension Tract natural area information
North Texas Master Naturalist project information
May 24, 2006 Press Release
Trail Steward Checklist

HISTORY The Elm Fork Nature Preserve was purchased as a woodright in 1861 by the Bramblitt Family. The land was never clear-cut and in 1986 the 40 acres were given to the city of Carrollton as a self-contained ecosystem, virtually undisturbed. The preserve offers an Interpretive Center with a nature education library, which is open for scheduled classes and hikes. Trails are open for hikes 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. A pond, environmental education classes and more are offered at the facility. Space in classes is extremely limited and because of their popularity they fill up quickly.   CLASS INFORMATION Current event and class information is available in Leisure Connections. Please register for all classes at either Crosby Recreation Center, 1610 E. Crosby Road, or Rosemeade Recreation Center at 1330 Rosemeade Parkway. NATURE HIKE TIPS Dress according to the weather in comfortable clothing and long pants. No open-toed shoes. Bring insect repellent and bottled water to class. It is suggested that very young children bring a spare change of clothing. All outdoor and nature programs are led or facilitated by trained staff.   TRAIL ETIQUETTE A nature preserve is a place where flora and fauna are protected. So, please, take only pictures . . .  and leave only footprints . . . Please stay on designated trails. Do not disturb any wildlife or pick any leaves, flowers or flora from the Preserve. Abide by rules and regulations posted at the entrance City ordinance prohibits bicycles, dogs, horses and motorized vehicles inside the Preserve.  ANIMAL ASSISTANCE If you find what you feel is an abandoned, injured or orphaned wild animal, please contact the City of Carrollton Animal Services at 972-466-3420 or click the link to access the DFW Wildlife Coalition http://www.dfwwildlife.org/home.htm Click on photo for larger view. WILDLIFE Commonly seen animals and tracks at the preserve are raccoons, fox squirrels, opossums, beavers, nine-banded armadillos, eastern cottontails and striped skunks. Commonly seen birds in the area are great blue herons, snowy egrets, white-throated sparrows, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, screech owls, woodpeckers, cardinals and much more. For more information, please call Carrollton Parks & Recreation at 972-466-9813.

LOCATION Located within McInnish Park 2335 Sandy Lake Road Carrollton, TX 75006 Phone 972-466-9813 HOURS Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. There is no admission fee to use the trails. Click on photo for larger view. DIRECTIONS Take Sandy Lake Road west from I-35 approximately 1 mile to the McInnish Sports Complex entrance. Turn left into the complex and follow the road behind the sports fields to the Elm Fork Nature Preserve entrance on your right. Parking is approximately 100 yards to the left. Elm Fork Nature Preserve Biodiversity inventory  information documented by Wild Vision. (Click on the links below for information about flora and fauna observed at the nature preserve.) Click here for inventory principal contributors. To download and read these PDF files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, you can download it for free! Arthropods Fungi Birds Herpefauna Fish Invertebrates Flora Mammals   CLASSES & INFORMATION Click on the links below for information and classes. To download and read these PDF files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, you can download it for free! Animal Tracks-Aquatic Life Astronomy 101 Elm Fork Nature Jobs Bird/Creepy Crawlies/Frog Watch Boy Scout Badges Environmental Education for Homeschoolers GPS Lost in the Woods and Night Hike Native Landscaping Project Wild Rocks and Minerals Trail Map Trail Steward volunteer opportunity Volunteer Opportunities

Click on photos for larger view.

Carrollton Cares Volunteer Day 2007

Saturday, February 24th
Registration: 8:30– 9:30am
Project: 9-11am
Lunch: 11am

Join this adventurous, fun-filled morning at the Elm Fork Nature Preserve. Discover this tranquil and natural 40 acre setting right here in Carrollton. We will spread mulch to maintain our trail system at the Preserve, pick up trash and participate in a wide variety of projects to help maintain and beautify this natural area. This event will meet at the Elm Fork Preserve. If the number of volunteers permits we will also be assisting with projects at the Dimension Tract and cleaning up various park sites. Please bring work gloves, rakes and wheelbarrows if you have them. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance the environment and have a great time in these natural settings! Lunch will be provided at the Nature Preserve for all volunteers.

Volunteers please register by February 17th.

Registration form
Waiver form
Volunteer Day flyer

Dimension Tract

The Dimension Tract is a secluded thirty-eight acre parcel of undeveloped land along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The natural parkland features a 14-acre pond, 3.5 acres of wetlands, 9 acres of river bottom timber and a blanket of native vegetation on the remaining 11.5 acres.  This property has a canoe and kayak launch on-site on the Trinity River.

This city-owned land has suffered through years of nuisance activities including illegal dumping, abandoned cars, and damage from four-wheelers that threatened the property. Now, through the city and regional government support and community involvement, it’s becoming a welcome haven for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts.

Volunteers and the City began by cleaning debris, and once secured, the potential for appropriate outdoor recreational uses emerged. In the fall of 2002, the city and North Central TX Council of Governments selected the site for Carrollton’s annual Trash Bash clean-up event. On this day, approximately 150 volunteers collected 13 tons of illegally-dumped debris. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, local church volunteers and area residents logged more than 1,000 hours that year.

In October 2003, the city received a $2,500 grant from REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) to benefit the Dimension Tract. REI employees also contributed hours during the REI Co-op/Employee Volunteer Day in October 2003 to install steps donated by Keystone Retaining Wall Systems at the river’s edge.

ST Microelectronics, another local business, contributed $3,000 and their employees at the November 2003 Volunteer Day at the tract to cast wildflower seeds and plant trees, and create a bark-chip trail to the river.

In 2004, benches and informational signs were installed along the trail and entryway. Our annual volunteer day planted additional trees in the entryway, planted native aquatic plants in the wetland area, picked up trash, and mulched the access trail. ST Microelectronic donated $1,000 towards the event and property projects.

A few projects enhancements planned for the future include internal trails, benches, and additional drainage work on the canoe launch itself.

The Dimension Tract is becoming a point of pride for the Carrollton community, and a valued site for regional recreation, and environmental activities.

The Dimension Tract is located at 1199 Elm Park Drive.

For additional information contact (972)466-9813.

Click on each photo below for a larger view.