Fort Worth Open Space Conservation Program

“Fort Worth loses an average of 50 acres per week to development,” Mayor Mattie Parker shared when speaking about the importance of preserving natural open space in her city. As one of the fastest-growing cities in America, Fort Worth’s open spaces need to be protected.

The city’s urban offerings, combined with its natural elements such as the flowing Trinity River, rich cross timber woodlands, and peaceful Fort Worth Prairie, attract visitors from around the country.

A Trust for Public Land survey found that nearly 99 percent of Fort Worth residents believed that the city should conserve natural areas in Fort Worth for future generations.

So TPL and dedicated partners created the Fort Worth Open Space Conservation Program as the city’s road map to conserving high-quality natural areas. The program is a guide to

• natural systems preservation
• improved water quality
• increased community health
• ample recreation
• proper flood control
• equitable access to open spaces
• economic development

We used computer mapping based on GIS (geographic information system) to identify high-quality open spaces, and community members provided input on appropriate and desired developments. The state-of-the-art GIS mapping tool determined key areas for conservation and details about funding, maintaining, and stewarding these open spaces. TPL also authored a comprehensive strategy report that provides research and policy proposals on funding, implementing, and managing the program.

Trust for Public Land worked with City of Fort Worth staff to engage the community at every step of the process, and over 1,500 residents provided input on the program. The combination of community input and technology will guide where to spend public funds.

In 2022, the Fort Worth City Council voted unanimously to adopt TPL’s Open Space Conservation Strategy Report. The city is already implementing the program by creating hiking and walking trails, and areas for birding, wildlife viewing, educational programming, outdoor education, and picnics.

“Through our work on this report, we saw firsthand how eager Fort Worth residents are to protect and conserve the city’s beautiful open spaces and natural areas,” says Robert Kent, Texas state director for TPL. “By adopting the Open Space Conservation Strategy Report, Fort Worth City Council took bold action which will lay the foundation for the comprehensive protection of the city’s open space for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.”