Draft:Nicole's Fairy Tree
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Nicole's Fairy Tree is a unique, community-based interactive memorial and Free Little Chalkbox located in Flower Mound, Texas, established in July 2025. Situated in the Glenwick neighborhood at the intersection of West Windsor Drive and Amy Lane, along the Glenwick Walking Trail, the installation is a public art initiative embraced by the local community.[1] The memorial is centered around a local Post Oak tree and includes a dedicated Town of Flower Mound Memorial Bench.[2]
The Free Little Chalkbox and Community Art Memorial
[edit]The Free Little Chalkbox, installed in July 2025, functions as a sharing mechanism similar to the Little Free Libraries, Library of Things and Little Free Pantries, offering free chalk sticks for both children and adults to borrow.[3] Participants are encouraged to contribute drawings to a rotating "museum of chalk coloring" on the surrounding sidewalk area, a public space that has been described as a happy and beautiful reminder that "there is no greater miracle than love itself."[4]
Established by the founders, the project honors 19-year-old resident Nicole Gray, who passed away due to fentanyl poisoning.[5] The memorial's purpose is to create "...a space where innocence thrives and children and adults can draw and feel happy." The mission is stated to represent hope, healing, and awareness of mental health and addiction, with the belief that "everybody is an artist."[6]
The project timeline began in October 2024 with simple chalk sketches on the sidewalk. The site's signature Post Oak tree, a common species in the Cross Timbers region of North Texas,[7] was officially adopted as "Nicole's Fairy Tree" in November 2024, and the annual purple Christmas tree first appeared in December 2024.[5]
Nicole's Fairy Tree itself is a spontaneous shrine—or "fairy garden"—at its base, created by visitors leaving small objects, toys, painted rocks, and other mementos.[8] Such sites, sometimes called "Tree of Soles" or "fairy gardens," are created in public spaces to remember a person or simply to add a touch of magic to a walking path.[9] The site includes a green metal Town of Flower Mound Memorial Bench, bearing Nicole's name.[2] The shady location, overlooking Amy Pond, is a local landmark where people share stories of loved ones lost to or struggling with mental health or addiction, fostering a sense of community and healing.[5][1][4][3]
Advocacy and Fentanyl Awareness
[edit]The memorial serves as a primary vehicle to spread awareness about the fentanyl crisis in North Texas. The purple tree, adorned with ornaments in remembrance of those lost to addiction, highlights a grim statistic: "22 kids aged 14 to 18 a week are dying of fentanyl poisoning."[5] The advocacy efforts of Nicole's parents have also included working with local town officials to add naloxone to public spaces[10] and her mother meeting with the President at the White House regarding the HALT Fentanyl Act.[1]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gahan, Mary Beth (September 16, 2025). "A Marcus High graduate died from fentanyl poisoning. Her mom's mission has taken her to the White House". North Texas Sun.
- ^ a b "Parks and Recreation". Town of Flower Mound. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b Gray, Jane; Cruz, Greg (September 8, 2025). Episode 14 Nicole Gray F 19. Mike Land. Event occurs at 0:58:37.
- ^ a b "A purple Christmas tree..." Cross Timbers Gazette. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b c d Jefferson, Scoop (December 27, 2024). "Purple tree in North Texas honors teen's struggle, raises fentanyl awareness". WFAA.
- ^ Gray, Jane; Cruz, Greg (March 30, 2025). FENTANYL KILLS - Nicole Gray's Story - episode 225. Texas Pictures Documentaries. Event occurs at 0:01:33.
- ^ "Quercus stellata". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "List of tree deities". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Fairy". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Flower Mound officials add naloxone to 12 public spaces". Community Impact. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
Category:Flower Mound, Texas Category:2025 establishments in Texas