Greer Island Trail
This 1.5 mile trail alternates between loose sand deposited by the ancestral Trinity River and compacted soil with a few scattered steps. Benches, a portable toilet, and picnic tables are available around the parking area. There are no benches or picnic tables on the island; however, there is a pavilion in the center.
If you were a child living in Fort Worth in 1964, you may have visited the Greer Island Nature Center. Members of the Fort Worth Audubon Society had worked with the park board to develop city owned land into a place where citizens could learn about the natural world. Other parcels of land were gradually added and the park name was changed to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge in 1972. Historical remnants are scattered across the island. The pavilion in the center was built in the 1960s as shelter for early tour groups. Large rocks mark former parking areas, and wooden signs point the way to the “Audubon Nature Trail.”
The log archway over the trail head originally framed a sign identifying the levee as the entry to the Greer Island Nature Center. At that time, the levee was large enough that vehicles could drive across. Now the path is lined with Black Willow, Buttonbush, and other water loving plants. The wildlife that attracted Audubon members is still abundant on the island. Many different songbirds use the trees for homes. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets may be spotted along the shoreline. Listen for the clicking calls of Cricket Frogs or the sound of turtles splashing in the water. In summer, hundreds of dragonflies hover over open spaces catching small insects. Congregations of funnel web spiders and ant lions, which are known as “doodlebugs,” are common.