Volunteers work to preserve character of Rockwall County

(ROCKWALL, TX – Oct 6, 2015) Covering only 147 square miles, it’s a well-known fact that Rockwall is the smallest county in Texas.  Residents also recognize that the last half of the 20^th century has brought many changes to this historically agricultural area.  Its desirable location outside the ever-growing Dallas metropolitan area also brings growth.

For a small group of volunteers, there is a heightened awareness that the County stands to lose the very things that attracted residents in the first place: green spaces, rural character, and traditional way of life.  As development and demand for housing grow, they believe the people of Rockwall County must decide whether to protect and preserve the county’s natural heritage.

This was the situation facing the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance (RCOSA), a coalition of representatives from the Cities of Heath, Royse City, Fate, Rockwall, Rowlett, and McLendon-Chisholm, and the unincorporated parts of Rockwall County.  Feeling the urgency to this mission as greenbelts disappeared, they asked the Rockwall County to develop a master plan to coordinate open space on a countywide level.

In late 2014, the Rockwall County Commissioners Court contracted with the planning team Verdunity/WRT.  After several months of intense work including onsite visits, a survey of county residents, and two public meetings, a first draft of the Open Space Master Plan is nearing completion and will soon be available for comment.   An additional public meeting will be scheduled in the near future.

To learn more about the meeting or participate in an online discussion about open space needs and priorities, visit rockwallosa.org, or email information@rockwallosa.org.  The latest information can be found on our Facebook page at facebook.com/rockwallopenspace.

Submitted by Nell Welborn. 

  meeting, open space master plan, Rockwall County, workshop