The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is looking forward to creating new programs and remodeling the grounds. They are seeking the community’s input on ideas, especially from individuals who do not visit often or have never visited the garden. So far, the garden has proposals to add a family garden, create a space for concerts and events, add educational programs, and replace the roads with plazas and walkways.
Fort Worth established the Botanic Garden in 1934 and ran its operations until October 2020. It is now privately operated under the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. The Green Source DFW, an environmental news and community resource company, stated that climate change has recently negatively impacted the botanical environment.
According to WFAA, Patrick Newman, CEO of Fort Worth Botanic Garden, stated, “I hope people view the botanic garden as one of the hearts of this city. There are generations of residents who have a deep tie or a memory with or have taken an emotional souvenir from this space.”
The garden offers memberships, and one member, Phyllis Harkins, offered her advice. “If we don’t take care of these environments, they’re going to be gone someday. I think it should be more interactive, more things for families, for kids,” Harkins shared.
Newman said, “We’re thinking about what sort of community programs, what sort of educational programs can we design spaces for. One of the things we really want to do is tell a more seamless story so as you enter the garden and you experience every aspect of it.”
They are holding community forums all across Fort Worth in the hopes of gaining opinions and ideas from all areas of the city. Their first two meetings occurred on January 26 and 27, and four more are scheduled. Newman stated that any person who attends a session will receive a free family pass.
The next meeting will be held on January 29 at 10:00 am at the MLK Jr. Community Center located at 5565 Truman Drive. The meeting on February 2 will be at 6:30 pm at Chisholm Trail Community Center located at 4936 McPherson Boulevard. February 3 at 6:30 pm will be at Heritage Church at 4201 Heritage Trace Parkway. The last meeting will be on February 7 at 6:30 pm at Worth Heights Community Center at 3551 New York Avenue.
When all ideas are gathered from the public, the garden will create a fundraiser for the cause and start to make significant changes. Studio Outside, a landscape architecture firm in Dallas, will help implement plans and the construction.
