The Dallas County building in Garland offers meeting and classroom space and features Texas AgriLife demonstration gardens. Photos by Andrea Ridout.

June 22, 2018

A former Dallas County maintenance facility in Garland has found new life both indoors and out as a research and education center for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and as well as provider of Dallas County services.

The renovation is a joint effort between Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the public outreach arm of Texas A&M University, as well as other local entities.

Commissioner Theresa DanielThe center has recently completed a $1 million facelift that replaced the former truck repair bays with spacious classrooms as well as a demonstration kitchen, offices and meeting rooms. The hope is that it will become a community hub and learning center for residents who live in the area.

Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel at the open house held earlier this month. 

An open house and ribbon-cutting was held on June 6 by Commissioner Daniel and was attended by a variety of local dignitaries, including several Garland, Richardson and Dallas City Council members. Commissioner Daniel and her staff welcomed the crowd with refreshments and a tour of the grounds. The commissioner offered a brief explanation of the shift in building use, saying she wanted to “maximize the usefulness of the building and land for the benefit of residents by expanding the services available to them.” 

Located at 715 Rowlett Road in Garland, the building currently named the Road and Bridge Building for District 1 is just east of Broadway Boulevard with easy access to Interstate 30.

Jeff RaskaTexas A&M AgriLife Extension agent Jeff Raska (in black) welcomes local master gardeners Sherrie Walker, Honey Prestage and Ellen Schwab, along with Shana Carter of Roach Feed & Seed and Larry Pierce of Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.

Jeff Raska, horticultural program assistant with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has coordinated the design of the facility’s outdoor spaces encompassing 13 acres that will eventually include research, education and demonstration gardens focusing on programs to benefit both Dallas Country residents and commercial growers. 

Jeff Raska, horticultural program assistant with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has coordinated the design of the facility’s outdoor spaces encompassing 13 acres that will eventually include research, education and demonstration gardens focusing on programs to benefit both Dallas Country residents and commercial growers. 

“Each garden will serve as an example of successful garden practices that benefit our neighborhood environments and help keep our water and air clean as we work with nature, not against her,” said Raska. 

He added that no pesticides or chemical fertilizers will be used.

The Dallas County Master Gardeners have installed native landscaping across the front of the property as well as a vineyard incorporating several types of grapevines on the west side. Nine Earth-Kind grape varieties will be tested for hardiness, flavor and output for fruit edibility and wine making.

VineyardFuture plans include research trials of Earth-Kind perennials and ornamental grasses, a three-state Earth-Kind rose trial, turf grass trials and an orchard trial and demonstration area. Also since water conservation is a major issue in the state of Texas, demonstrations will include rainwater collection cisterns and conservation irrigation methods.

Stephen Hudkins, Dallas County horticultural extension agent, talked about future plans.

Dallas County Master Gardeners have installed​ a vineyard incorporating several types of grapevines.

“We will soon be developing the theme gardens in the front of the building and encourage any of you who are interested in butterfly gardens, herb gardens, vegetable demonstration gardens, cottage gardens and rose gardens to get involved.” 

The public is invited to volunteer or visit during open hours.

Partners in the gardens include SMU, the MLK Jr Community Center, Miles of Freedom and the State Fair of Texas' Big Tex Farms. Excess production will be distributed to needy families through community outreach initiatives such as Parkland Hospital, Paul Quinn College and the Dallas Arboretum.

Other civic partners involved in the project include Dallas County veteran’s services, Juvenile Probation and District Attorney Community prosecution who will use the facility for meetings and interviews. The Garland Police Department will continue to utilize the radio tower that is on the property. Both the Dallas County Master Gardeners and the North Texas Master Naturalists plan to hold classes at the location, which will also be available for other non-profit groups.

For more information about use of the facility, contact Claudia Vargas at Commissioner Daniel’s office at Claudia.Vargas@DallasCounty.org or 214-653-7320.


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