Closest prairie to Dallas?

[shaunanicole]

Can anyone tell me where I could find prairie close to Dallas? Thank you...

[GypsyHighSide]

Shauna, you might try the Connemara Meadow Preserve. It is pretty much in town. I have not made it out there yet, but it looks like a great place. I hope this helps.

[shaunanicole]

Thanks so much Rob, unfortunately it says that only members are allowed access. :/

[GypsyHighSide]

Originally Posted by shaunanicole

Thanks so much Rob, unfortunately it says that only members are allowed access. :/

You are correct that access is limited to members, but they do have open houses and nature walks that are open to the public ( Public Access Calendar ). Membership starts at $50, which seems pretty reasonable when you think of what gas will cost to drive to a prairie that is further out of town.

[rleblanc61]

You may also want to check out the Heard Museum and Sanctuary in Mckinney. The HEARD Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, Mckinney Texas Part of the Sanctuary is a Blackland Prarie habitat.

[venchka]

Maybe this will help.........

Native Prairies Association of Texas

For the record, a meadow does not a prairie make.

Prairies (UK: /ˈprɛər.i/, US: /ˈprɛr.i/) are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type. Temperate grassland regions include the Pampas of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as well as the steppes of Eurasia.

Lands typically referred to as "prairie" tend to be in North America. The term encompasses the area referred to as the Interior Lowlands of the United States, Canada and Mexico, which includes all of the Great Plains as well as the wetter, somewhat hillier land to the east. In the U.S., the area is constituted by most or all of the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and sizable parts of the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and western and southern Minnesota. The Central Valley of California is also a prairie. The Canadian Prairies occupy vast areas of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Prairie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bruce M. Morris]

Wouldnt the one closest to Dallas be..... Grand Prairie??

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Bruce M. Morris

Wouldnt the one closest to Dallas be..... Grand Prairie??

There you go.

[shaunanicole]

I realize prairies are practically a dime a dozen within the midcities and Fort Worth. I just wanted to now if there were any directly touching/surrounding Dallas. Thanks everyone for the links and the help!

[venchka]

Originally Posted by shaunanicole

I realize prairies are practically a dime a dozen within the midcities and Fort Worth. I just wanted to now if there were any directly touching/surrounding Dallas. Thanks everyone for the links and the help!

Why do you say that? It all looks like urban sprawl to me.

How large a space are you looking for? A few acres? A few hundred acres? Square miles? Are you looking for a meadow or real prarie? I imagine that open, unmanaged, unsubdivided, unbuilt up space in DFW is going to be VERY difficult to find. In fact, open space is probably disappearing daily. I hope I'm wrong. What about the Trinity River Watershed or what ever that flood control/drainage project is called? I haven't spent any time in DFW in a hundred years, I'm just making some reasonable guesses based on what is happening in all urban areas.
We have done a pretty good job of protecting and preserving forests and deserts. Unfortunately, true prairie didn't get the same treatment. It's been cultivated or built on.
Good luck.

[J Eddington]

What about cedar hill?

[venchka]

What about Cedar Hill State Park? Right now the park might be a little busy. After school starts things may quiet down.

TPWD: Cedar Hill State Park

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...df/cdhiloc.pdf

[catfish]

You've got the LBJ national grasslands, too - out near Decatur. Easy drive out of the metromess.

[ggeen]

The Travel Texas site recommends Matthews Prairie Preserve near Greenville.

Mathews Prairie Preserve - TravelTex.com

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by catfish

You've got the LBJ national grasslands, too - out near Decatur. Easy drive out of the metromess.

I would second the LBJ Grasslands just a short drive up the road to Decatur