The large sign at the entrance to the Goat Island Preserve states it is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in all of Dallas County.
The 348-acre preserve, east of Interstate 45 and south of Interstate 20 in unincorporated Dallas County, is a quiet respite from the sounds of the big city. But the landscape is dotted with signs of what allows most visitors to the park in the first place — tires.
"This is the most tires that we’ve ever seen in one area," Naima Montacer said about the scene in the otherwise beautiful open space.
Montacer, a writer, professor and hiker from Dallas, first traveled to Goat Island Preserve — a place where you will find no goats and only one island — in early October with her fiancé. She wrote about her trip and how she was disappointed at the sight of the illegally-dumped tires.
“It is kind of sad, but also interesting to see," she noted about the tires, which easily number in the hundreds. "They’re hanging from trees, around trees, trees are growing through them. So I’m wondering how long they are there? Why are they there?"
In at least one place, a mature tree can be seen growing through a tire lying on the ground. Nearby, there is a tire with white walls — rarely seen on the roads — hanging from a tree limb several feet off the ground.
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The dumped tires have been a problem at the preserve for decades, according to a Dallas County official, who said they can largely be blamed on the fact that the preserve has long been a secluded spot, far away from prying eyes.
"From our perspective, one tire or one candy wrapper is one too many,” Dallas County Director of Planning and Development Rick Loessberg said.
To solve the problem of illegal dumping, Loessberg told NBC 5 the most effective strategy will be bringing more attention to the preserve itself and encouraging more people to explore its trails.
"Remote areas are a magnet for this type of activity," Loessberg said. “What you see at Goat Island is unfortunately characteristic of what you see at a lot of other areas that don’t have a lot of public traffic."
One organization has been tasked with beautifying and improving upon the preserve is the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association. DORBA volunteers have created several miles of biking and hiking trails through the thickets of trees that make up much of the Goat Island Preserve. In the process, they gathered tires to be hauled off to landfills and a nearby tire recycling center.
Loessberg said DORBA has been an invaluable asset and a responsible steward of the land.
