Bob Woodruff Park
Bob Woodruff Park in far eastern part of Plano, TX. This is one of the oldest green spaces accessible to public in the city. There are really tall trees in the park and a huge area of the park is earmarked as wilderness area where people don’t usually venture. This is a wonderful venue for a wide array of outdoor activities. For people there are walking, bicycling and hiking trails and a lake for fishing enthusiasts. A creek dissects the park and provides the greenery the much needed water resources. Located in the suburb of Plano, north of Dallas, Bob Woodruff Park is a part of the City of Plano trails system. It has two large pavilions that are available to reserve, as well as hard and soft surface trails perfect for biking or hiking. Visitors will love the nature there, as it has big trees, ideal for climbing, and a fishing pier. This park also has a sand volleyball court and a playground that features baby swings.
Bob Woodruff Park is one of Plano’s oldest and heavily used green spaces. It is also the home of a majestic Quincentennial Bur Oak Tree in the southern sector of the park. That means that for over 500 years this Bur Oak has served everyone from the first settlers to these prairie lands, to the present-day families of this great city. Over time, Bob Woodruff Park has lost precious trees from these once lush groves guarded by the Bur Oak. Approximately 125 new mature trees were needed to replenish the 10 groves in Bob Woodruff Park. Each grove accommodated 10 to 12 trees that individuals or groups funded or physically planted while volunteering. Together with the City of Plano and a multitude of valued partners and sponsors, they had several planting events over the years at Bob Woodruff Park in both the north and south areas. Alliance Data volunteers came out multiple times to plant trees around the pond and running trail including an honorary plating for Plano Parks & Recreation’s 50th anniversary, where they planted 50 trees. These trees will serve park guests while they exercise and enjoy the park. Additionally, the trees are planted in low-lying, flood-prone area and will help soak in rainwater runoff from nearby streets and neighborhoods.
Their final and most recent planting had dozens of volunteers from City of Plano, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, FedEx, Alliance Data, Verizon, Capital One, Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Troop 259 Plano & Cub Scout Pack 2007 who planted hundreds of large and bareroot trees with their coworkers, friends, and families. At Bob Woodruff Park, the walking route passes pretty lakes and encompasses piers for fly fishing, running tracks, open lawns and picnic spots, along with two individual pavilions that are popular with local events organisers and for the kids, there’s a great playground, complete with climbing frames, swings, slides and plenty more. The Bob Woodruff Park forms just one section of the City of Plano trails system, which weaves through the urban districts here, offering glimpses of greenery and forestry, along with connections to the larger Santa Fe Trail and the Oak Point Reserve.
