FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY FRIENDS OF THE NORTHAVEN TRAIL

SERVES: Maintenance and beautification of our neighborhood’s hike-andbike trail

The Friends group formed before the dirt even began turning on the Northaven Trail to help raise funds for amenities such as landscaping, benches, water fountains and petwaste disposal stations. The group has played an important role in making sure the trail lives up to its potential as a neighborhood gathering place in an area that lacks the public green space available in other parts of town. “What we find is that trails knit communities together,” Councilman Lee Kleinman told neighbors at a meeting last year. “That’s what’s starting happen in North Dallas.” The trail runs along Northaven from Freda Stern to Preston and, with a new $2.5 million grant from the North Texas Council of Governments, will extend to Denton Drive. It eventually will connect with Central Expressway on the east, linking it to the White Rock Creek and Cottonwood trails.

VOLUNTEER: Help out with social events and beautification efforts throughout the year.

ATTEND: Holiday Lights on the Trail is 5-7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Edgemere intersection, featuring displays, refreshments, Santa and live holiday music.

GIVE: $100 buys one line of personal text, engraved onto a paver.

$500-$2,500 buys a paver, which comes in three different sizes.

CONTACT: northaventrail.org

SERVES: All neighborhood libraries and their unbudgeted materials and programming

While the library budget still hasn’t been restored to pre-recession levels, the Friends group works to fill the gaps where it can. The group raises funds for special programs, author visits, scholarships and bookmobiles. Besides Bookmarks at NorthPark Center, which is supported exclusively by the main Friends of the Dallas Public Library, neighborhood branch groups raise funds on a smaller scale for things such as arts and craft supplies or a new stage for puppet theater shows.

VOLUNTEER: Help with clerical duties, event and program planning, book sales and local advocacy at neighborhood branches.

DONATE: $10 buys a paperback book

$25 buys a hardcover

$50 provides a TV series DVD or audiobook

CONTACT:

214.670.1458 fodpl.org or call any branch library for specific neighborhood contacts