Drought Buster

Downtown with water from east levee to west levee, about 2000 feet.

Over the past three years, I've heard people laugh when the saw the Mighty Trinity for the first time. Least we all forget that the past five years have been drought years--albeit severe drought conditions for a large part of those five years.

Here are a few images from this afternoon.

The old Sylvan Ave. bridge below the new Sylvan Ave. Bridge

The new Margaret McDermott Bridge over the Trinity on I-30

A Big Change and A New Discovery

Some of you will remember that when the "big boy" of Union Pacific was being readied to be pulled to Frisco and the rest of the collection of old cars and engines were being pulled out with little or very short notice, a trip to Fair Park was just about every weekend. Since the final move, there has been no need to go down to Fair Park. Yesterday, on my shoot list was a brief note that I should check out what was being done with the land were the "museum" of trains had previously occupied. It would also give me a chance to get my cardio-walk in with almost perfect weather. An old weatherman taught me years ago that when you add the temperature and the humidity together and the total is more than 130, you are going to  sweat like a rain storm. Below that and you feel comfortable. The humidity was dropping and the temps were about average for this time of year so that did make for a perfect weather day to be walking.

When  arriving at Fair Park, the valet parking was set up at a couple of entrances. Talking to the parking attendant, they waved me through to go on an park in the self parking area. If you have ever been to Fair Park, you know that it is 177-acres and from one end to the other. You could snake out about a mile and a half of distance; since there are three routes of museum buildings, you can triple that distance. Add midway and  Cotton Bowl stadium and the row of building from the old Women's Museum building to Music Hall and the former museum of Nature and Science to the Hall of State complex, to the aquarium and outdoor arena where they feed the manta rays in a Sea-World-like atmosphere, to the Discovery Gardens and the butterfly house and I know I have left out a few besides the exhibition halls in front of the musical dancing water shows. but that's just from the old train museum to the geographic center!

 Fair Park is one big place. I've long said that it could be Dallas' second jewel with White Rock Lake being the first jewel in the crown. Although, I have written before that in comparison, the old Elitch Gardens at 38th and Tennyson Street, in Denver, was 77 acres of mass, Fair Park is 100-acres more! It's Texas, folks!

The area where the trains once were displayed is now all landscaped with all the old fences and light poles gone. I had not realized until I saw what had been done, what an eye sore the "train museum" had been on Fair Park. Sometimes, the real beauty comes in other forms of new attractions and change. We are all creatures of habit and whether we like it or not, some times, change is a way to move us forward as a human being.

But, the surprise came from the other half of Fair Park. As I walked toward Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street, I discovered a historical marker in front of WRR-FM 101.1 studios. Yes, the city of Dallas also owns and  runs the classical radio station. Somehow, I had missed the marker over the years. It is in need of some up keep, too. But, it gives a history of the station (more than 102 years ago). WRR is not exactly like some of the other classical stations around the country but the format is much the same and in some ways, better. It's that Texas branding again, folks. Unique.

Another discovery appeared. While I have seen it in the past, I do not think I have actually seen it on the road before, but I think the WRR van is cool in a subtle way. A very subtle way. As, I crossed over to the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, I walked toward the former Starplex complex, an outdoor lawn of grass and seating where concerts are held. A music venue. In early 2000, it was  renamed the Smirnoff, and now it's under the Gexa Energy Pavilion name. The west entrance also has the Belk box office. I walked through the parking lot from First to Second street and down  Second along side the Texas Discovery Gardens to where I had parked. It was a good walk. There was also an education in the historical marker at WRR and while I have passed it a few times chasing trains, I had never seen the actual venue of the old Starplex. Remembering when it was announced that it would be built, Mom would tell me about the progress as it was being built. Those were the days when I was trying to save the world single-handily. Before someone sat me down and said to me," it takes a lot of drops of water to fill up the bucket. You can't fill a bucket with one drop. Change."

So, the cardio-walk was good. The educational experience was good. The weather was good. I'm knocking off  pounds with diet and exercise. I feel good, too. I'll warn you ahead of time. There is a bit of classic(al) humor in a couple of shots.



Ludwig's van on the side and the highly classical,"Dude, Bach off" on the rear doors. You might also remember that Bach was a pedaler. He played pipe organs and the pedal keyboard is played with the feet. Get it? Pedaler. And don't forget to click on an image so it opens up in a viewer.

The Historial Market for WRR

Under a new Name, the old Coca-Cola Starplex is alive and well.

So, cool. Also, check out the sticker on the lower left bumber:  Strauss Relief

It Has Become A Cliche.....

From the lower walk looking upward

Free Wheelin by LaPaso

The lawn amphitheater.

The City of Dallas has three sculptures in the park. These signs from the Office of Cultural Affairs identifies the work and the artist. 

From the bridge at the Lake Highland Dart Station looking south. The walk connects both sections. The visible bridge is Walnut Hill Lane

A Dart Rail Train can be seen in the background. Next stop: White Rock Lake Station. 

But it's true in this case. "if you build it, they will come."












About three years ago,maybe four, the bulldozers arrived and started tearing down a large apartment complex that had been built sometime in the late 60's or early 70's. Then the heavy equipment arrived and started digging down and down and down along a creek that  ran through the property. Slowly,the site was transformed into an amazing walkway along the creek with high stone walls, beautifully crafted steel ornamental fence work, lights,water fountains, drinking fountains, benches,overlooks,a split-level lake with individual fountains and a rock-boulder dam separating the two.

There are two stairways that take you upward to a  more grade level-street level that is also landscaped with fountains, and  a lawn amphitheater.

Least anyone forget, this is a residential and retail development. What has made this so different is that the park setting was created first, then allowed to sit and settle before the first builders showed up.  But, as was said in a movie filmed in an Iowa corn field: "If you build it, they will come." These are a few shots of the new Lake Highland Center.