City teams with TPWD to uncover biodiversity at Mary's Creek

This summer, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) partnered with the City of Fort Worth to conduct extensive biodiversity surveys at the newly acquired Mary’s Creek Open Space. The 92-acre property was purchased by the City of Fort Worth in 2025. Following the acquisition, 21 acres were sold to the Tarrant Regional Water District for essential water infrastructure improvements. Of the remaining land, 51 acres will be developed into traditional parkland, while 20 acres are designated as protected Open Space to preserve their natural state.

Unlocking the ecological secrets

Recognizing the land's deep historical and geographical significance, the City initiated a biodiversity survey to evaluate its ecological health. TPWD intern Frankie Simmons joined forces with Urban Wildlife Biologists Sam Kieschnick and Rachel Richter to mobilize a team of expert naturalists. Over an intensive eight-week exploration, the team scoured the property.

Using game cameras, blacklighting, binoculars and sweepnets, they recorded a staggering 9,582 observations, ultimately documenting 1,481 distinct species.

"The amount of biodiversity found on the property at Mary’s Creek is truly remarkable," said TPWD's Rachel Richter. "Many species were found that had never been documented in Tarrant County on iNaturalist [a global platform for documenting and identifying wildlife and other organisms]."

"As this part of Fort Worth continues to develop at a rapid rate, protecting spaces like this one is increasingly important. The Fort Worth Open Space Program’s decision to protect this property benefits not only the plants and animals that live there, but also the people who will enjoy exploring this special place for generations to come.”

A landscape steeped in history

The Mary’s Creek watershed boasts a storied and dramatic past. Flowing across 14 miles of gently rolling prairie before joining the Clear Fork of the Trinity River, the area was a witness to early American history:

The name: The creek is historically tied to two tragic local legends — either named for Mary Le Bone, a Native American woman who drowned there in the 1800s, or for Mary Criswell and her three sons, who perished in a flash flood.

Outlaw refuge: Notorious 19th-century outlaws, including Sam Bass and the Bold Banditti gang, hid in the North Texas topography, while the Rube Burrow gang used the creek as an escape route after robbing trains.

Historic routes: Both the famous Chisholm Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail route cut directly through the watershed, a region that also saw frequent conflicts between early settlers and Native American tribes.

Looking to the future

The data gathered during this summer survey will serve as a vital blueprint for the City. Staff from the Park & Recreation Department and the Open Space Conservation Program will use the findings to design low-impact amenities, ensuring a future trail system can be integrated without disturbing the area's thriving ecosystems.

This project supports the City's Good Natured Greenspace Initiative by building partnerships to conserve Fort Worth’s natural heritage, protect its water supply and enhance open space and parks to meet our community’s growing needs.

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