The Mayor's Community Engagement Neighborhood Awards
Lake Como Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) is Fort Worth's 2025 Neighborhood of the Year
The Lake Como community in Fort Worth has been named Neighborhood of the Year in recognition of a powerful year of impact, unity, and service for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. From youth development to food access, from historic preservation to public safety, Lake Como demonstrated what happens when a neighborhood invests in its people. Through intentional programs and community partnerships, residents did more than host events; they strengthened opportunity, safety, health, and pride across generations.
The Como Lions Heart College Dorm Kit Program supported graduating seniors transitioning to college by providing up to $500 in dorm essentials, a $100 gift card, and a laptop, ensuring students entered their first year equipped and confident. Students participated in a Youth Conference focused on college readiness, life skills, and mentorship before being honored at a community luncheon celebrating their achievement.
The 2025 Beautification and Accessibility Expansion of the Como Community Garden added raised beds for seniors and residents with mobility challenges and introduced a greenhouse to allow year-round food production, strengthening food access and inclusion.
The Lake Como Unity Run / History Walk combined physical activity with historical education, guiding residents through culturally significant landmarks while promoting wellness and intergenerational connection.
Public safety and youth mentorship were strengthened through Friday Night Lights at the Como Community Center, a weekly program offering meals, structured activities, and safety education on gun violence prevention and conflict resolution in partnership with community leaders and local officers.
And the historic W.H. Wilburn Lake Como Day Parade, founded in 1950 by W.H. Wilburn, celebrated its 75th anniversary during Lake Como’s 120th year, bringing together families, faith groups, youth organizations, and civic leaders in a powerful display of pride and unity. Together, these initiatives reflect a neighborhood that honors its past while actively building a healthier, safer, and more hopeful future, a true model of what Neighborhood of the Year represents.
AJ Jackson of Riverwalk Residences Neighborhood Association is Fort Worth's 2025 Neighbor of the Year
AJ has not missed a beat since moving to Fort Worth in 2019. What started with an inquiry for a train quiet zone has evolved into the inception of the Riverwalk Residences Neighborhood Association. As inaugural president, AJ established a solid network with Councilmember Martinez, Fort Worth Police Department - Central Division Commander Rob Stewart, and our Riverside Alliance to improve the care/services given to the community. AJ rallied his fellow Riverside Residences neighbors and established the Riverside Residences Neighborhood Association in November of 2024. Since then, AJ has spearheaded campaigns to deter illegal firework and gunshot activity along the Trinity River Trail during 4th of July and New Year’s Eve, and is involved in ensuring the trail and nearby Andrew Doc Sessions Community Center are well-maintained and that all neighbors feel safe.