City of Fort Worth, TX

10/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/18/2024 12:02

City adds to Rock Creek Ranch Park with major acquisition

City adds to Rock Creek Ranch Park with major acquisition

Published on October 18, 2024

The City Council this week agreed to pay $1.59 million to purchase an additional 58.8 acres of open space adjacent to Rock Creek Ranch Park in the southwest part of the city.

The park is next to the Rocky Creek Ranch development and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land at Benbrook Lake. The park will become the largest community park in the City's park system, with the only larger parks being Gateway Park, a metropolitan-classified park, and the Fort Worth Nature Center, a special-use refuge.

"The strategic acquisition of this natural and historical property will have long-reaching effects for current and future generations," said Park & Recreation Director Richard Zavala.

In 2021, Fort Worth acquired 275-plus acres for $6.75 million. A year later, the City purchased an additional 22 acres of ranchland at the site.

Program goals: Conservation of this property supports the City's Open Space Conservation Program goals, including ecosystem preservation; stream, river and lake health; community health; and flood control.

In addition, the acquisition supports Mayor Mattie Parker's Good Natured Greenspace Initiative goal of preserving 10,000 acres of greenspace across Fort Worth in the next five years while growing and enhancing the City's park system.

About the property: The acreage was originally a cattle ranch established in 1848. The property has diverse topography and vegetation and will offer the opportunity for archeological and historical interpretation.

The parkland is partially bisected on its western boundary by the Fort Worth and Western Railroad.

Park development and land uses will be determined by a master plan process, which will involve robust public participation.

Photo:The parkland was originally a cattle ranch established in 1848.

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