The Worth Heights neighborhood was selected in December 2023 to receive a $4 million Neighborhood Improvement Program, which will begin in 2024.
The rectangular-shaped tract lies in Council District 11 and is bounded by Hemphill Street on the west, West Biddison Street on the north, I-35W on the east and West Seminary Drive on the south.
The Neighborhood Improvement Program, implemented by the Neighborhood Services Department of the City of Fort Worth, is a yearly initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of life and public safety in traditionally underserved communities. Through targeted capital investments, improved maintenance, and building neighborhood capacity, the Neighborhood Improvement Program brings about improved perceptions of safety, cleanliness, and neighborhood pride and proven decreases in crime, improvements in property values, and increases in residential building permits.
Why was Worth Heights selected?
Selection of the Worth Heights Neighborhood for the Neighborhood Improvement Program is based on three criteria:
- Financial hardship
- Opportunity
- Neighborhood condition
Using data to select neighborhoods for participation ensures that the neighborhoods chosen for the program are the most in need and will truly benefit from the program.
What's even more exciting for 2024 is that the City Council has approved doubling the program's funding from $4 million to $8 million and has also allowed for two neighborhoods to be selected each year. Seminary Neighborhood and Worth Heights Neighborhood will both receive funding and technical assistance from the City of Fort Worth.
While Neighborhood Services coordinates the program, the program is community driven. Feedback from residents and business owners in the target area determines the type of capital investments and programs that are developed specifically for each Neighborhood.
Previous target areas: Historic Marine, Las Vegas Trail, Como, Rosemont, Northside, Ash Crescent and Stop Six.
City departments such as Code Compliance, Park & Recreation, Transportation & Public Works all play an important role in making neighborhood improvements by delivering capital the neighborhoods. Some examples of improvements in previous Neighborhood Improvement Program areas include:
- Police safety improvements such as police cameras
- Trash and litter pickup
- Streetlight installations
- Park development and new park equipment
- New sidewalks & crosswalks
- Bike lanes and safe routes to school
- Traffic calming
- Recreation amenities
- Code enforcement blitzes & neighborhood cleanups
- Demolition of vacant and abandoned structures
- Neighborhood association capacity building
Updates
- December 12, 2023 - Fort Worth's Seminary and Worth Heights neighborhoods were selected for improvements by city council. Each neighborhood will receive $4 million in capital investments will help improve the quality of life and enhance public safety in the traditionally underserved communities.
- "This is wonderful news for the Worth Heights neighborhood, District 11 and the City of Fort Worth. Not only will this program funding to help improve infrastructure within the community, but it will also bring in positive development and an awareness of City services that will benefit generations to come." -- District 11 Councilmember Jeanette Martinez.
Overview Video