Fort Worth Open Space Conservation Program

What is Open Space?

Open spaces are natural areas like prairies, forests, streams, and rivers that serve key environmental functions and provide numerous benefits to our communities. Conserving open space as the city grows is needed to:

• Protect air quality and water quality
• Enhance flood protection
• Preserve ecosystems and wildlife habitat
• Promote physical and mental health through recreation in nature
• Provide outdoor educational opportunities
• Keep temperatures cooler by reducing the urban heat island effect

Why do we need to protect more open space now?

The city’s population is expected to grow by more than 270,000 people throughout the next 24 years. As more land is developed, the amount of natural area shrinks. The Open Space Conservation Program is part of the City’s Good Natured Greenspace Initiative that strives to elevate and align parks, open space, and watersheds, to secure a resilient and thriving future for Fort Worth.

Preserving key open spaces before they are developed is vital to ensuring that current and future residents have access to a large and connected network of open space, trails, and parks. Conserving these natural areas now will also help the City better plan economic strategies that leverage outdoor recreation and trail-oriented development. 

What has the Open Space Program conserved so far?

We have acquired 600 acres across Fort Worth and the rapidly growing extraterritorial jurisdiction, including:

• Endangered ecosystems like the native Fort Worth Prairie and Cross-Timbers Forest
• Riparian areas along streams, rivers, and lake shores
• Expansions of the Fort Worth Nature Center
• The last remaining natural areas in some neighborhoods
• Wetlands and migratory bird habitat

We strive to be good stewards of Fort Worth’s natural resources and our funding by leveraging partnerships with City departments, landowners, and local organizations. Joint land acquisitions, grant projects, and fund-raising have expanded our community impact. 

How do we prioritize land for conservation?

City staff worked with the Trust for Public Land and Open Space Program stakeholders to determine relevant criteria to identify the highest-priority areas for conservation. These criteria fall under seven goal areas:

• Ecosystem preservation: Conserving important environments such as forests, woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, and protecting habitat for plants and wildlife.
• Stream, river, and lake health: Using natural areas to filter stormwater, reduce runoff and erosion, and protect water quality in the city’s streams, lakes, and the Trinity River.
• Community health: Improving health by providing opportunities for exercise, cooling hot urban areas, and improving air quality.
• Recreation: Improving access to natural areas, protecting iconic landscapes, and creating new opportunities for passive recreation.
• Flood control: Protecting against flooding and property damage by conserving natural areas that absorb and temporarily store stormwater runoff.
• Equitable access to open space: Conserving natural areas that benefit low-income, underserved, and marginalized neighborhoods and communities.
• Economic development: Natural areas can improve nearby property values and create opportunities for businesses, jobs, development, and other economic activity.

The data collected for each of these goal areas was combined into the online Open Space Prioritization Tool. You can access the tool by clicking the button 

Open Space Strategy Report

The Trust for Public Land and the City of Fort Worth developed the Strategy Report to guide the future of the Open Space Conservation Program. More than 1,500 people gave their feedback to develop the report, including residents, community leaders, nonprofit groups, government partners, and local businesses. These stakeholders and engaged community members guided the direction of the prioritization tool, strategy report, and associated policy recommendations.

Strategy Report Public Engagement