ARLINGTON, Texas—Over the last 11 years, Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve has protected the native plants and animals in the area while providing a place for residents to surround themselves with nature.
The City of Arlington’s vision for the preserve is to provide recreation, education and research opportunities for the community. In collaboration with the city’s parks and recreation department, the space is intended to engage citizens in beautifying the city.
The initiative, Keep Arlington Beautiful, supports the cleaning and greening of the environment. It relies on volunteerism, community partnerships, and learning and development programs.
As a community partner, the preserve has a vested interest in maintaining Arlington’s parks. “Friends of Parks” are the volunteers who support the program and serve as stewards for these centers.
Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve is a nonprofit organization with several members who share the common interest of maintaining the site’s ecosystem.
Within its 60 acres, there are a variety of habitats and amenities. Guests have access to four ponds and several hiking trails where they can observe the natural features of the preserve, which is located at 5201 Bowman Springs Road.
“The ecosystem out here is a very complex, sophisticated and beautiful thing,” Jim Frisinger, member of Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve, said. “Getting a chance to slow down and take a look, that’s something I really appreciate and I am trying to share with other people.”
The Eastern Cross Timbers ecosystem—a mix of forest, woodland and prairie ecosystems—once dominated the area. Between its four habitat zones, more than 1,900 species have been photographed and identified.
In addition to the abundant number of species in the preserve, Frisinger is working to establish a pollinator meadow. This effort is part of the North Prairie restoration project that began in 2021.
He also serves as the volunteer organizer to recruit people to assist in the preserve’s maintenance and construction. Tasks can include litter removal, general gardening and trail upkeep.
Although volunteers are key to building the space, Frisinger said there was been a struggle in achieving a high turnout because people are not as willing to help as they used to be.
“I’m aware of the progress that we’re making, slowly turning this unbridled wildscape, which was deteriorating, and bringing it back has been a sense of accomplishment,” he said. “Even over three years, seeing the progress in the facilities overall makes it a magical place.”
Jan Miller serves as the group’s leader and the liaison with the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department.
The city has equipped the space with picnic tables, fishing piers and trails for residents. But as a preserve, its main purpose is to teach the community about the richness of nature.
By hosting several events and programs that aid the study of the species within the preserve, the nature preserve not only brings out people who love nature but provides an opportunity to introduce the preserve to people who aren’t familiar with it.
People from the community come in, sometimes adults and their children, and they get to share the excitement and appreciation for the bright colors and bugs in the area, Miller said.
The City of Arlington’s support of its parks engages the community to take responsibility for their environment.
“It’s really satisfying to see people come out that haven’t been here before and learn what a unique place this is,” Annabelle Corboy, member of Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve, said. “That’s one of the values of volunteering.”
This story was produced as part of a service-learning project between journalism students at the University of Texas at Arlington and the Arlington Parks & Recreation Department.
