Conserving the Ladd Lands Will Take a Village.

Many of the same students that are contributing to KDB (Keep Duncanville Beautiful’s) media branding project are also contributors to the Ladd Land Conservancy and clean-up efforts. These students are passionate about promoting nature conservation in Duncanville, and for very good reasons. 

For more on their involvement with the City’s re-branding project, read the KDB initiative story here: (https://villagetechschools.org/116264-2/).

“The Ladd Land is a 42-acre tract of land off Danieldale Road and Santa Fe Trail. The Ladd family donated the land to the City some years ago, but retained ownership of seven acres adjacent to that tract. The deed restricts any commercial or residential development to less than 49% of the tract. Ten Mile Creek runs through the property, along with a gas pipeline that makes development more difficult.” – FocusDailyNews.com

The donor of the property, Bob Ladd, donated the property to the City of Duncanville (COD) in 1998 for “the promotion or advancement of cultural, artistic or educational objectives.” But because the official document also used the word “primarily,” the city had the option of developing up to 49% of the property.” – Dallas Morning News

This property is a host to a 10-creek mile home to sea otters and beavers, among many other land and water mammals. There are many different marine life and insect species, in addition to botanical gardens, native tall grasses, wildflowers, plus flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies.

Developers want to buy it from the COD and build housing or retail on the land. That would mean depleting much of the land’s preserves, driving away and destroying many hosts of life there. There would also be complications with any construction over the gas pipeline that runs beneath it.

We spoke with students Marco Diaz, Ovet Trujillo Jr., and Adriana Ramirez (a few of the students involved with cleaning and conserving this property & the KDB Initiative) about their involvement and contributions to the conservation and upcoming events in collaboration with other groups.

”Because Duncanville is trying to tear down the natural space that they have (Ladd land) we wanted to show that we’re advocates for that since we’re taking on the project,” said Marco Diaz. 

“Yes,” Adriana Ramirez followed up, “Actually, with Ladd Land, we have KDB council members who are wanting to also engage in the cleanup as well.”

While they have been out cleaning up the property, they’ve been creating videos for their liaison project with COD’s Keep Duncanville Beautiful Project.

When it comes to perseverance, VT Spirit is unstoppable. With the activism of our students working with members of the KDB council and other local conservation groups (Ladd Preservation Advocacy), we hope their continued efforts are successful. The goal is to ultimately get the City of Duncanville to fully declare the 42-acre space as a nature preserve to prevent retail or commercial residential development. The goal is not to inhibit commercial growth in Duncanville at all. The goal is to keep the 10-mile creek and Ladd Lands from becoming monetized and to focus on re-developing/renovating already existing Duncanville retail and commercial areas. 

Interested in helping keep the Ladd Lands alive?

Join us Saturday, May 20th: 

Ladd Land Picnic & Clean-up Event!

609 W. Danieldale Rd. (Across from VT).

Make sure to bring: shoes (waterproof, or rainboots), water, trash bags (optional) gloves, and your favorite picnic basket! 

For more information, visit: WWW.DNCINC.ORG, or email EWALTERS24@STU.VILLAGETECHSCHOOLS.ORG

We really hope to see you there – it takes a Village!