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It's a 57-acre nature preserve in south Dallas County that was nearly washed away last year.

Torrential rains last March dumped several inches of rain across the region, most of it flowing into Ten Mile Creek and the scenic park built there by the City of Lancaster.

Thanks to a lot of sweat-equity by volunteers, the park is back in business.

It's a washed-out walking trail reclaimed and a little creek cleared of a mountain of debris.

"Water came up over the top of the bridge," said Gary Sims, Lancaster park director.

Last March, south Dallas County suffered heavy flooding that forced evacuations in Lancaster along Ten-Mile Creek.

City leaders closed many streets, opened a shelter and watched as their little creek became a wide and destructive river.

"Right now, we'd be under water, quite a bit of water, almost twice our height," said Sims.

The high water also washed away benches, picnic tables and trash cans in the park, which have now been replaced along the hike-and-bike trail.

"The original trail was put in by an Eagle Scout project, back when the park first opened and we're trying to encourage Scout participation again," said Sims.

Scouts helped with the cleanup too, along with other volunteers and even a few inmates.

Cranes and bulldozers helped remove the biggest trees toppled by the flood.

And now, only a few scraps of trash remain.

And a nearly-pristine park is back.

"You forget you're in the metroplex when you're in a place like this," said Sims.