C.P. Hadley Park

CP Hadley Prairie Wind.jpg

Dedication

  • 2006

Size

  • 28.2  acres

Additional amenities

  • Shelter 
  • Pet station
  • Stand Alone Swing
  • Water Feature

Fun facts

During the 2008 development of the park, residents supported prairie reconstruction native seeding of the prairie species originally at the park. C.P. Hadley Park is home to a bronze sculpture entitled Prairie Wind is a nod to the prairie species that once flourished across the landscape. As a part of the City’s Public Art program and with a $25,000 donation from Tim Fleet, local artist Michael Pavlovsky was commissioned in 2010 to create a piece composed of an allegorical female figure atop a three-sided pedestal. Each side of the pedestal contained a bas-relief image representing wildlife and natural aspects of North Texas. Prairie Wind nostalgically recalls the natural environment once found in the North Texas prairie. The allegorical female figure, representing the romantic notion of the promise of a prairie wind, references the healing power of Mother Earth. Representational images of animals and multitudes of native plants ornament the base and offer a learning opportunity to park visitors. (Fort Worth Public Art)

Recreation

The park is a linear park with cement trails running parallel to the stream and wetland. There is a playground at the cul-de-sac on Rain Dance Court. A large pond is located in the park.

History

C. P. Hadley Park was originally named Summercreek Park because of its location in the Summercreek development of south Fort Worth. In 2006, City Council accepted the dedication of 20.9 acres for parkland and facility improvements undertaken by developer, Lewisville 7 Partners, Ltd. The donor requested that the park be named after the late C.P. Hadley for his commitment to the home builder community in Fort Worth. During Mr. Hadley’s 38-year career, he served as president of the Home Builders Association and was named Builder of the Year.

Geology

The park lies completely within the Washita group (Duck Creek formation, Fort Worth limestone, Denton clay, Weno clay, Pawpaw formation, Main Street limestone, Grayson shale) geology, which is composed of Early Cretaceous period clay and limestone laid down in a marine environment. The thickness of this group is about 344 feet in Tarrant County. Ammonites, gastropods, oysters and other fossilized marine invertebrates may be found in this group.

Soils

Most of the park is evenly split between Sanger (clayey marine sediments) and Slidell soil series. Small slivers in the southern portion of the park lie within the Bolar (moderately deep calcareous) and Aledo (shallow calcareous) soil series.

Ecology

The park is situated on what was once Fort Worth Prairie habitat east of Benbrook Lake. Fort Worth Prairie is a narrow strip of calcareous, upland prairie that lies between the Eastern and Western Cross Timbers and stretches between the Brazos River to the south and the Red River to the north. The Fort Worth Prairie has many endemic species (found nowhere else in the world). This narrow, linear park is situated around an unnamed creek that drains into Benbrook Lake. The region is quickly filling in with housing subdivisions; which increases the importance of this park for the neighborhood and for wildlife. There is one pond at the east end of the park and two additional ponds in adjacent Summer Creek Ranch Park. There are ephemeral wetlands where water collects seasonally. The culverts at Summer Creek Drive, Ocean Drive and Valleyside Drive also periodically retain water and form a temporal wetland habitat.

View animal, plant and insect species observed at C.P. Hadley Park and make some of your own observations through iNaturalist. See link under the "Related information" Section. 

Reserve this park on ActiveNet

Location

8212 Rain Dance Court, Fort Worth 76132  View Map

Google Map

Photo Gallery

Maximilian sunflower on the bank of the pond on a warm winter day

Maximilian sunflower on the bank of the pond on a warm winter day

(JPG, 4MB)
Waterfall over limestone bedrock after recent rains

Waterfall over limestone bedrock after recent rains

(JPG, 6MB)
Indiangrass is remnant prairie protecting the bank of the creek from erosion.

Indiangrass is remnant prairie protecting the bank of the creek from erosion.

(JPG, 5MB)
Pavilion

Pavilion

(JPG, 3MB)
Sun shining through overcast as rain drops break water tension on the ephemeral pond.

Sun shining through overcast as rain drops break water tension on the ephemeral pond.

(JPG, 4MB)
Native grasses (bushy bluestem) and forbs (rattlepod, cattails, baccharis) line the stream; protecting the bank from erosion.

Native grasses (bushy bluestem) and forbs (rattlepod, cattails, baccharis) line the stream; protecting the bank from erosion.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies.

(JPG, 3MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies.

(JPG, 4MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies. Native birds.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native prairie mammals and evidence of paleo-people's history on the North Texas prairies. Native birds.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

(JPG, 5MB)
Riparian stream buffer at CP Hadley Park.

Riparian stream buffer at CP Hadley Park.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native birds.

(JPG, 4MB)
Cement trail following the stream.

Cement trail following the stream.

(JPG, 3MB)
Foot bridge

Foot bridge

(JPG, 5MB)
Aquatic habitat at CP Hadley Park. This is where all the wildlife action is!

Aquatic habitat at CP Hadley Park. This is where all the wildlife action is!

(JPG, 5MB)
Bushy bluestem and Maximilian sunflower adorn the banks.

Bushy bluestem and Maximilian sunflower adorn the banks.

(JPG, 3MB)
Wetland habitats are difficult to find in urban areas, but this pond has a good diversity of wetland plants that support fish, dragonflies and other wildlife species.

Wetland habitats are difficult to find in urban areas, but this pond has a good diversity of wetland plants that support fish, dragonflies and other wildlife species.

(JPG, 5MB)
Maximilian sunflower towers over the wetland.

Maximilian sunflower towers over the wetland.

(JPG, 3MB)
A tree snag (standing dead tree) offers wildlife habitat in this wetland teaming with life.

A tree snag (standing dead tree) offers wildlife habitat in this wetland teaming with life.

(JPG, 5MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native aquatic wildlife of North Texas.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native aquatic wildlife of North Texas.

(JPG, 2MB)
Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native aquatic wildlife of North Texas.

Prairie Wind sculpture by artist Michael Pavlosvky harkens to the prairie roots of North Texas. Native aquatic wildlife of North Texas.

(JPG, 1MB)
Tagged as:

Facility Snapshot

Features

  • Playground
  • Trails

Hours

C.P. Hadley Park Hours:
Open Dawn to Dusk

Alcohol Prohibited

Related Information

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