Prairie Dog Park

'Prairie Dog' Park is a public recreational area located in Fort Worth, Texas. The park, established in 1970, spans 39.5 acres in the southeast section of the city. It was named after its unique former residents - prairie dogs - which were once a notable feature of the park but are no longer present.

The park offers a variety of outdoor amenities for visitors. A 0.6-mile cement trail connects various features of the park, providing a convenient path for walking or jogging. The trail links the parking lot, playground, and sports facilities, making it easy for visitors to navigate the park.

'Prairie Dog' Park is situated on land with interesting geological features. The park is evenly split between Grayson Marl and Main Street Limestone Formations and the Woodbine Formation. These formations, dating back to the Late Cretaceous period about 95 million years ago, contain various fossils and provide insight into the area's ancient history.

The park's ecology is noteworthy, with a narrow riparian buffer along an unnamed stream that flows directly into Village Creek and Lake Arlington. While the park is largely maintained through mowing, remnants of the original Cross Timbers ecosystem can still be found, including native plants such as switchgrass, milkweed species, violet ruelia, Muhlenberg's sedge, and Ohio spiderwort.

Wildlife enthusiasts may spot interesting animals in the park, including beavers and Blanchard's cricket frogs. The park encourages visitors to contribute to citizen science by reporting their plant and animal observations using the iNaturalist platform.