When people think of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, they often think of busy, noisy highways with no quiet spaces to find.
But a nonprofit has named a spot in Fort Worth one of the most peaceful places in the state, and among the most peaceful across the United States.
Earth.fm looked at cities exposed to high noise levels and researched parks and nature reserves in those areas. Each location was given a “quiet score,” where the higher the score, the more peaceful the place. The study also looked at visitor reviews that mentioned words like “quiet, relaxing, tranquil, calm, and peaceful.”
The Fort Worth Japanese Garden was found to be the 7th quietest spot in the country and Texas’s quietest spot. It also came in 10th among cities across the U.S., UK, and mainland Europe.
The top 10 quietest spots in the U.S. were:
- Spokane, Washington – Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden (11.16)
- Phoenix, Arizona – Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix (10.05)
- Fresno, California – Shinzen Japanese Garden (9.56)
- San Jose, California – Japanese Friendship Garden (9.03)
- Portland, Oregon – The Grotto – National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (8.73)
- Seattle, Washington – Seattle Japanese Garden (8.72)
- Fort Worth, Texas – Fort Worth Japanese Garden (8.66)
- New York, New York – New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden (8.63)
- Minneapolis, Minnesota – Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary (8.04)
- Greensboro, North Carolina – The Bog Garden at Benjamin Park (7.92)
Completed in 1973, the Fort Worth Japanese Garden is 7.5 acres of land filled with cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, bamboo, and ponds. The garden’s luscious greenery, bridges, trail, and 1,200 koi fish make it a perfect spot for a relaxing day connecting with nature.
“We are very excited for FWBG’s Japanese Garden to be recognized by Earth.fm as the most peaceful spot in Texas,” Patrick Newman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, told The Dallas Express. “We hope this new designation will encourage people across the state and beyond to recharge at our urban oasis and escape the noise and stress of everyday life.”
“In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquility and connection with nature can be a challenge,” Nick Esthus, FWBG Japanese Garden horticulture manager, shared with DX. “The Japanese Garden’s horticulture staff takes great pride in being able to provide our guests with a tranquil respite from their busy lives.”
DX spoke with a horticulturist who said she was not surprised by the high ranking of the garden.
“It’s really nice to work in a place like this since it is so peaceful,” Stephanie Vazquez shared. “My favorite part is the koi fish. I enjoy feeding them and find that peaceful. I also really like the greenery.”
Dallas’ most peaceful spot was given to Old City Park, located on South Harwood, with a 4.26 score.
“Opportunities to connect with nature and find quiet — away from traffic noise, pneumatic drills, and the general city buzz — are so important for our mental wellbeing,” Catalin Zorzini, founder of Earth.fm told The Dallas Express. “We could say it’s also crucial for the well-being of our planet, which is suffering mostly because we have grown so disconnected from it.”
“Whether you live in or are visiting some of the world’s noisiest cities, we hope this research will open a doorway into the tranquil places that can be found in even the unlikeliest of urban locations,” Zorzini told DX.
The study also ranked the loudest cities in the world, and one Texas town placed in the top 10. The cities considered had to have a minimum population of 250,000. Percentages were given based on the number of residents exposed to a high level of noise per day, greater than 65 decibels.
Laredo was named the sixth loudest, with a percentage of 9.5%. The top spot was given to Boston, which had a percentage of 11.8%.