The "Old Caddo Oak" was officially proclaimed a historic tree at Southwest Nature Preserve on Saturday. Photos and videos by J.G. Domke.

Published October 29, 2019, By A.G. DOMKE

A 200-year-old oak tree in Arlington was recently recognized as a historic tree thanks to an intrepid tree lover.

Wes Culwell, a Fort Worth arborist, discovered the old post oak at Southwest Nature Preserve in 2015.

He was preparing to give a presentation on historic trees at a Friends of Southwest Nature Preserve meeting, when he asked to be shown around the nature area. Located just south of I-20 on Bowman Springs Road in southwest Arlington, the park has been kept as a wildscape. No soccer fields, just a few picnic tables dot the perimeter of the parking lot, surrounded by rapidly expanding urban sprawl. 

The preserve almost became a housing development back in 2004. But the Arlington Parks and Recreation officials and City Council member Sheri Capehart along with residents lobbied to keep it a wildlife refuge. They envisioned a smaller version of River Legacy Park, the 1,300-acre jewel of the Arlington Parks system, located in north Arlington. 

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