Taylor Regional Park and Sports ComplexNurturing both Sports and NatureThis City of Taylor park, located just north of Texas Highway 95 on Carlos Parker Boulevard began as a city sports park and is evolving into a nature park as well. When the park began construction in 2009, a very small pond existed in the natural drainage way for the entire 75 acres. This pond was expanded into a six acre lake in order to contain the runoff from the entire site, to provide a water source for the park irrigation system, and to provide fishing opportunities. The international waterfowl conservation organization, Ducks Unlimited, was engaged to provide technical expertise for the construction of a duck nesting island and shelter peninsula in the lake in order to attract and retain migrating waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited’s first, “Urban Wetland” project in the state of Texas, coupled with the flora and fauna educational signage erected along the hiking trail next to the lake, will educate children and parents alike. Boy Scout troop #167 erected three duck nesting structures and five Texas Bluebird nest boxes strategically around the lake and regenerated prairie. Now it is time to restore native prairie in the park. Master Naturalists have begun helping the community sow wildflower seeds and native grasses. Early in the year native grasses were sown on a strip along the east side of the lake and wildflower seeds were sown on one acre at the north end of the park. At the Burleson Prairie, native grasses and summer and fall wildflower seeds were harvested into round bales after the seed heads had dried. Just recently Master Naturalists spread one bale on one acre just north of the earlier sown wildflower seed. Another bale of harvested native grasses was spread around the lake by the Taylor Middle School Outdoor Rec class. John McDonald, Taylor’s mayor Pro-Tem, has a plan to restore this northern part of the park to native tall grass prairie pathways to encourage people that come to the park, to also have this natural area to enjoy.
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