Recognizing that the Dallas area's rapid urbanization was also significantly reducing the area's supply of undeveloped land and threatening some of its more environmentally unique features, Dallas County first began establishing an open space system in 1976.

This system now contains twenty-one preserves and over 3,200 acres located throughout the County.  Designed to resemble national parks rather than the neighborhood playground or athletic field, the County's preserves offer a variety of topographical, geological, and environmental experiences.  Some are hilly and rocky, some are broad meadows, some include wetlands, some are heavily wooded, and some are historically significant to both Texas and  Dallas County. The Preserves set aside natural habitats where native plants, reptiles, birds and mammals can continue to thrive.

A County preserve is usually no more than 20-30 minutes from where you live.  They are all open to the public with the exception of the Palmetto-Alligator Slough Preserve which will be opened at a later date once access improvements are made.

The preservation of natural open spaces has many benefits: wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, buffer zones between developments, increased property values of adjacent land, noise attenuation, air pollution reduction, water quality preservation and improvement, and natural and cultural resource preservation.

The County has acquired its 3,200 acres using a combination of bond funds, State and Federal grants and cash donations. Some of the Preserves have also been donated to the County by private landowners in an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the County. Lorch Park, North Mesquite Creek Preserve, and parts of other Preserves are examples of the continuing generosity of Dallas County citizens.