Greenspaces enhance the landscape of a city and create opportunities for recreation while giving residents a sense of stewardship for their natural surroundings. The transformation and conservation of natural areas and watersheds in Fort Worth not only improves livability and connectivity between residents, it ensures future generations can appreciate the same beauty we love about Fort Worth.
To honor that intention, Mayor Mattie Parker has created Good Natured, a Fort Worth Greenspace Partnership and bold investment in natural community spaces. The partnership’s first intentional goal is to add 10,000 acres of open greenspace to Fort Worth in the next five years.
Good Natured builds on public-private partnerships to preserve Fort Worth’s natural heritage, protect its water supply, and improve our park system to meet the growing needs of our community now and in the future.
What is greenspace?
A range of natural environments, including but not limited to:
- All parks (small to large)
- The urban forest
- Landscaped medians and parkways
- Outdoor sports/recreation facilities
- Trail systems
- Expansive and smaller natural preserves
- Floodplain and riparian areas
How will more greenspace be acquired?
There are two strategies:
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GREENprintFort Worth: a mission, vision, and a set of goals that focus on equity, sustainability, connectivity, and quality of life. It includes strategies to improve access to nature, support youth and senior programs, protect natural resources, enhance trail systems, and create welcoming public spaces for all.
- Preserve a minimum of 10,000 acres of open space over the next five years.
Why is this effort needed?
Fort Worth is losing 50 acres per week of natural open space to development, and the city’s population is expected to grow by more than 270,000 people in the next 24 years. With that growth, more greenspace is needed to:
- Protect water quality
- Enhance flood protection
- Promote physical and mental health through recreation and opportunities to connect with the natural environment.
According to Trust for Public Land data, Fort Worth has faced shortcomings compared to other major cities in park investment and the percentage of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
Related efforts
Multiple City programs are working to support the Good Natured Greenspace Initiative. For more information: