River Legacy is so much more than what meets the eye. The organization began in 1988 and has since grown into a foundation that preserves and enhances the park grounds along the Trinity River. It has transformed the area into a fun and exciting educational, recreational and natural resource, making it a perfect location for a weekday or weekend field trip with the kids. From a Living Science Center with exhibits and live creatures to a park system with more than 1,300 acres to explore, there is truly something to capture everyone’s interests at this Arlington spot.
River Legacy Parks
When is a park more than a park? When there are six miles of mountain bike trails, and eight miles of paved hiking and biking trails winding through expansive forests and greenbelts, with amenities such as a canoe launch, a playground and much more. The park alone is a great place to spend the day with the kids, gazing out at the river overlooks or giggling as the birds eyeball the picnickers at the pavilions. Since this area is so diverse-housing a bottomland forest, wetlands and prairie lands-it’s the perfect place for encountering various species of nature and wildlife, from birds and fish to mammals and native plants.
River Legacy Living Science Center
Acting as the gateway to the park, the River Legacy Living Science Center is also the gateway to a fun and memorable learning experience. This 12,000-square-foot nature center is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9am to 5pm, and features interactive exhibits, environmental education programs, aquariums, terrariums, a gift shop and even their own nature trails.
One step through the immaculate doors of this sustainably designed building will transport field trippers into a world of eco-friendly living and natural surroundings. Examine native wildlife in the aquarium and terrarium hallways or you can take a self-guided tour at the exploration stations in the center’s multipurpose room, with tons of hands-on activities and ways to investigate nature. The exhibits at this nature center rotate, but tend to spotlight the flora and fauna of the River Legacy parks, fossils, art and the Trinity River.
This expansive park and nature center is a great way to get out and get into learning about the environment. It gives parents and their kiddos a great chance to explore their everyday surroundings in a new and exciting way, leaving the classroom to the schools and taking a lesson from Mother Nature herself. The Foundation also offers an environmental education program where kids can enroll in Nature School or just join in on fun public programs and events. Check the website for more details at riverlegacy.org.
