Call to Action: Enjoy the New Pollinator Garden!
...updated 10/28/2024
For several years, park users have expressed an interest to the FOTP Board to see a little more color in our park landscaping. Currently, FOTP funds landscaping and maintenance for the large entrance bed at the aquatic center, and we have, on various occasions, planted the raised container beds flanking the pool pavilion. Those locations, however, have been the extent of our "flower focus." Well, unbeknownst to us, a Lower Greenville neighbor, Charlie Fenton, decided in 2023, actually on a whim, to submit Friends of Tietze Park as a suggested 501c(3) recipient for an annual Lowe's Hometowns Grant. In his submission, Charlie sought to "direct funds toward a comprehensive beautification project with a special focus on inclusivity and community engagement," a project that would especially honor W. R. Tietze (our park's namesake). You see, Tietze was our Dallas Superintendent of Parks from 1896-1933 and a floriculturist who studied under the famous philanthropist and founder of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Henry Shaw.
For several years, park users have expressed an interest to the FOTP Board to see a little more color in our park landscaping. Currently, FOTP funds landscaping and maintenance for the large entrance bed at the aquatic center, and we have, on various occasions, planted the raised container beds flanking the pool pavilion. Those locations, however, have been the extent of our "flower focus." Well, unbeknownst to us, a Lower Greenville neighbor, Charlie Fenton, decided in 2023, actually on a whim, to submit Friends of Tietze Park as a suggested 501c(3) recipient for an annual Lowe's Hometowns Grant. In his submission, Charlie sought to "direct funds toward a comprehensive beautification project with a special focus on inclusivity and community engagement," a project that would especially honor W. R. Tietze (our park's namesake). You see, Tietze was our Dallas Superintendent of Parks from 1896-1933 and a floriculturist who studied under the famous philanthropist and founder of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Henry Shaw.
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Fast forward to March 8, 2024, and that's when I received a notification from Lowe's that we had been accepted as one of the top 200 semi-finalist projects! At that point, it was up to our board to follow through with the entire grant application process. There was no way we were going to leave potential money on the table for our park, so many hours were spent, over that month, completing all of the necessary paperwork and documentation to apply for the grant. Final grant submission paperwork was submitted on April 3, and we waited. In June, Lowe's announced their 100 winning projects, across the nation. To our utter astonishment, Tietze Park was, indeed, chosen as a Lowe's Hometowns Grant recipient to receive $36,000 for a new pollinator garden!
This will bring a wide variety of native plants to the park, new wildlife species and an educational component never offered. The project will also differentiate us from many other free community and park gardens that typically cannot afford to fund paved walkways. Many such gardens use mulch pathways that are not friendly to users with limited mobility. The Lowe's funding, however, was substantial enough to provide an ADA concrete observation path through the garden, leading to an ADA accessible picnic table area. As a board, we are always committed to find ways to make our park more user friendly for citizens of all abilities, and this project will be a leading addition to accomplish that goal! Within this garden, we will also provide plantings to designate this stop as a City of Dallas Monarch Butterfly Waystation. |
So, now you know the reason behind the mess! Needless to say, we are humbled and honored to receive these funds and, in turn, develop such a beautiful, new educational space for ALL Tietze Park users, at NO cost to the Friends group or the taxpayers. We want to thank dedicated neighbor Charlie Fenton, Lowe's, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, The Urban Gardener (Dallas), Startex Landscaping, Evolve Landscape and Irrigation and the Texas Discovery Gardens, for partnering with us to get the job done!
We invite anyone in the community to come out on Saturday morning, October 26, at 8:30 am, to thank our Lowe's employee volunteers, from 13 area stores, who will be onsite to plant the new garden! Also, we will have a packet of seeds for you to toss into our seeded bed areas, so that you, too, can be a planting contributor at this cherished event during the 100th-year anniversary of our park! 2024 could not be a better year for Tietze!
We invite anyone in the community to come out on Saturday morning, October 26, at 8:30 am, to thank our Lowe's employee volunteers, from 13 area stores, who will be onsite to plant the new garden! Also, we will have a packet of seeds for you to toss into our seeded bed areas, so that you, too, can be a planting contributor at this cherished event during the 100th-year anniversary of our park! 2024 could not be a better year for Tietze!
Thank you all!
Amanda Schulz
FOTP, President
Amanda Schulz
FOTP, President