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The Southwest Nature Preserve is a 58-acre tract of undeveloped land located just south of Interstate 20 and adjacent to Bowman Springs Drive, in southwest Arlington. The Preserve has one large and two smaller ponds, is home to several significant native plant communities, and has a high bluff located on sandstone outcroppings with dramatic views. {{more}}?According to?Kurt Beilharz ASLA, Parks Project Manager for the?City of Arlington Parks and Recreation
Phase I Development of the Southwest Nature Preserve is substantially completed. It involved construction of a new lighted parking lot with 35 spaces and a controlled access entry gate along with a new concrete walkway which runs from the parking lot to the lower pond. The walkway leads to a pond side board walk that features a fishing pier and built-in benches. A terraced outdoor seating/education area is located off the new walkway and over-looks the west end of the lower pond. Picnic tables are included in an area adjacent to the new walkway.The Nature Preserve has approximately one mile of non-accessible existing soft surface trails that circle the property. Many of the existing trails within the Preserve are suffering from the effects of erosion and will require extensive restoration work. The new renovations will provide hikers a way to access the large pond and the bluff on the west side of the Preserve.?In an email Beilharz sent the map of the master plan for the reserve and noted the following.?“It [ master plan] shows all proposed improvements that could take many years to develop. ?Some of the improvements on this plan may never be realized, but it’s basically a roadmap to get us where we want to be in the long run.”?The City of Kennedale still has plans for the development of park trails that will connect to the Nature Preserve.?Park hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The entrance to the park is at ?5201 Bowman Springs Road, 76017.????
