Listen: Fort Worth Outlines Future Of Open Space If Bond Passes

Arlington TX

24 December, 2021

3:27 PM

Description

By Jessica Priest, Fort Worth Report December 22, 2021 The city of Fort Worth has relied mostly on its oil and gas revenue to buy about 114 acres of land to not only offset environmental downfalls of development but lure additional. If a bond passes next year, the city will have another $15 million with which to buy more. Earlier this month, the City Council got its first look at areas of Fort Worth that the Trust for Public Land identified as meeting residents' priorities for open space conservation: ecosystem preservation; stream, river and lake health; community health; recreation; flood control; equitable access to natural spaces; and economic development. The Trinity River/Eastern Cross Timbers area was one of 16 spotlighted as meeting those priorities, and Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens said she'd fight "to get a fair share" of $15 million to be used there. "Because what will happen is in areas that have been historically lived in by people of color, you see industry," she said. "Now, I got you." But others are jockeying for that potential funding. "All of us have geographical areas we represent and equity is a great pitch, but we're also trying to pass a bond," District 4 Councilman Cary Moon said. Residents in the north and northwest are unlikely to support such a purchase as they are demanding more infrastructure to ease traffic congestion they are experiencing, he said. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.