FWBG
Last November, beneath a clear Texas sky, Fort Worth turned a fresh page in its long horticultural story. On Nov. 16, a crowd of city leaders, garden supporters, and local families gathered at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Baker Martin Family Garden — the Botanic Garden’s first major expansion in nearly two decades, and a bold new chapter in connecting future generations to the natural world.
The two-acre Baker Martin Family Garden is designed for children and families, a place where nature isn’t something to admire from a distance but something to dive into headfirst. Scheduled to open in 2026, the project is the first major piece of the Garden’s 20-year master plan to come to life — and thanks to a $500,000 grant from the estate of Beverly Hudgins Ray Parkhurst, awarded through the North Texas Community Foundation, that vision is quickly becoming a reality.
Parkhurst’s gift honors her lifelong love of gardens and will help fund a space unlike anything Fort Worth has seen before. Designed by the nationally renowned Terra Design Studios, the Family Garden breaks away from the traditional "look but don't touch" model. It’s a “garden of yes,” a landscape where curiosity is rewarded and interaction is celebrated.
The plans are ambitious and imaginative. Eleven themed galleries will invite hands-on exploration. A shallow, 150-foot creek edged in native Texas limestone will offer a cool respite for barefooted wanderers. A “Texas pond” will teem with amphibians, dragonflies, and fish, sparking endless lessons in ecology. Wide lawns will give children room to run and dream.
At the garden’s center, the Discovery Center — an air-conditioned, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building — will host educational programs, children’s book collections, and community events year-round. Designed with comfort and accessibility in mind, the new space promises shaded seating, family restrooms, a parent’s room, and no extra admission fees.
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, now bolstered by the research and education expertise of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), aims for more than just beauty. It’s building a place where families of all backgrounds can connect, learn, and grow together — where every child can find themselves reflected in the natural world around them.
And it’s only just the beginning.
As Patrick Newman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, put it: "We are grateful for the significant gift from Beverly’s estate. Her support brings us closer to realizing our vision, creating a space that not only nurtures beauty and tranquility but also fosters connections with nature for generations to come."
