05/10/2026
Ned Fritz, Texas's most esteemed environmental activist and the namesake of this trail, first developed his passion for land at the home on Bachman Creek he shared with his family. All while he's saving the Trinity from turning into a barge canal, using his legal expertise to turn the Big Thicket, and engaging in the Great W**d War with the City of Dallas over his native plant lawn. Busy guy. Come learn the backstory of the man who went on to popularize the Buckeyes and Great Trinity Forest. Accepted for AT by NTMN.
Ned Fritz: From Bachman Greenbelt to Texas Wilderness
May 12 Tuesday – 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Bachman Lake Dallas Public Library
9480 Webb Chapel Rd, Dallas, TX 75220
Hosted by of Bachman Lake
https://www.friendsofbachmanlake.org/
Ned Fritz, Texas’s greatest environmentalist, found his first inspiration off Bachman Creek, which bisected his property on Cochran Chapel Rd. A legend in Texas nature preservation — he prevented the Trinity from being turned into a barge canal, helped save the Big Thicket, established Texas wilderness areas, and much more — when he got wind of city plans to channelize the creek, this he would not abide. He formed a group, Save Open Space, to rally the neighborhood and nature lovers across the city. In the process, he introduced the concept of greenbelts to the city. Learn about the man who loved Texas, but no place more so than Bachman Creek, on whose banks he lived with his family for over five decades.
A journalist and writer for over 40 years Amy Martin is the author of Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth (http://wild-dfw.com/) on Timber Press. She is senior features writer for Green Source Texas (GreenSourceTexas.org (http://greensourcetexas.org/)). A current project is Ned Fritz Legacy (http://nedfritz.com/), a biographical website of Ned Fritz. Find her writings at Moonlady.com. (http://moonlady.com/)
