Many thanks go out to all involved in the ribbon cutting event held at the respite area on the trail on Saturday, April 14. Officials from the City of Dallas including Mayor Mike Rawlings, City Council members Linda Koop and Ann Margolin, Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, and Dallas Park and Recreation Board President Joan Waine and District 11 Representative Lee Kleinman addressed the crowd and shared the history and future plans for the trail. Local businesses including Run On, Sun and Ski Sports, Starbucks, Park Cities Yoga and Pizza by Marco also participated in the event to show their support for the trail. Neighbors also got to talk with Texas A & M University researcher Janet Reed, who was on hand to discuss her study of the parakeets that live along the trail near the Oncor substation at Central Expressway. For some great photos of the event - including some bonus pictures of bronze plaque casting, check out Kris Brown's Flickr set. Kris (of trail designers la terra studio) also brought seed balls containing native wildflower seed mixes to the ribbon cutting. The seed balls are designed to be thrown out along the trail to help re-seed native prairie flowers and grasses to the trail area. The seed balls will be available at Movie Night on May 11 (see previous post).

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