Downtown Fort Worth Inc.

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DFWI is grateful to the Committee members for their time, energy, and dedication to the improvement of Downtown through quality spaces.  

Downtown Green Space Committee

Judy Harman, co-chair                Community Volunteer
Elaine Petrus, co-chair                  Community Volunteer
Bob Adams                                     Parsons/The Projects Group 3DI
Hank Akin                                        Klabzuba Properties
Leslie Brennan                                Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford
Ames Fender                                  Ames Fender, Architect
Vida Hariri                                       City of Fort Worth, Planning Department

 

4th and Elm Park

The preliminary design is complete and construction is expected to be finished in 2008.  This pocket park incorporates gazebos, benches and an area for dog walking. Funded through park dedication fees from The Depot project, this green space will serve surrounding residential developments.

Gateway Improvements

Improving the appearance of Downtown is an important goal of the Downtown Strategic Action Plan and the PID.  To that end, the PID is working on a gateway landscaping program designed to make better first and last impressions at District portals.  These gateways welcome visitors and set the tone for the beauty and vitality of the center city.  A total of $165,000 has been allocated in the 2007-08 PID budget for landscaping and other improvements on public property at five gateway locations. 

West Gateway at Henderson and 3rd Streets
Northwest Gateway at Forest Park Boulevard and Summit Avenue
North Gateway at Paddock Park
Northeast Gateway at Belknap Street
East Gateway at Spur 280 and 6th Street

Design is already underway and implementation is planned over the next year.  Agreements with the city will be required before work can begin.

Public Art Plan

Public art can beautify the community, challenge the imagination, inspire thoughtful reflection, celebrate the City’s cultural and ethnic diversity, promote the work of local, regional, and national artists and boost tourism. For that reason, public art is an important component of the Strategic Action Plan. Recently, the Downtown Public Art Plan was completed by DFWI’s Public Art Committee, chaired by Karl Komatsu.  For the past year, several partners – including DFWI, the Fort Worth Art Commission, the City of Fort Worth and Downtown stakeholders – participated in planning meetings to analyze existing public art Downtown and make recommendations for new public art.

If you have questions about the Downtown Public Art Plan, please contact Melissa Dailey at melissa@dfwi.org.

Heritage Trails

The Heritage Trails project is a partnership between the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau and Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.  The project features a sculpture of a sleeping panther that is currently located at the Tarrant County Administration Building plaza.  It also includes markers located throughout Downtown that commemorate significant Downtown historical events, people and places. 

Burnett Park Redesign

Peter Walker, the architect who created the current design of Burnett Park, is working with a stakeholder committee chaired by Bob Adams to update the park. The redesign’s first goal is to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and capital expenditures to update the infrastructure. The second, and equally important goal, is to create a more usable and active space for Downtown residents, employees and visitors. The design is expected to be complete by the summer of 2008 and construction should follow soon after. 

Downtown Parks and Open Space Plan

With residents, tourists and a larger work force using Downtown in greater numbers - almost 40,000 employees and millions of visitors each year - the need for parks and open space is greater than ever.  Fortunately, Downtown Fort Worth has significant existing green and open space that, with improved design, can provide usable places for relaxation and play.

Active public spaces, including urban parks, plazas, open spaces, and streetscape linkages, can be great public destinations and add to the livability, economic and social vitality of Downtown. The DFWI Downtown Green Space Committee collaborated for a year to analyze existing green and open spaces Downtown, and explore the needs and opportunities for new parks. This report summarizes their recommendations.  Copies can be obtained by calling the office at (817)870-1692.