Fort Worth Botanic Garden
A 20-year plan that includes adding several new spaces to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, was approved by the Fort Worth City Council Tuesday evening. The FWBG submitted its final master plan to the city council to review last month, after going through over a yearlong community-wide process.
A release states, this effort took collaborating with several entities that included the Master Planning Committee comprising consultants, local garden associations, Fort Worth ISD (Independent School District), Garden and (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) BRIT board and staff members, along with other community advocates who submitted feedback during nine public engagement meetings or via online.
Highlights of the 20-year plan include creation of a family garden, a new arrival and entry sequence from University Drive, a permanent stage for art and cultural performances, a culinary garden, new educational spaces and more.
“This plan belongs to the people of Fort Worth, and we are grateful to all of those in the community who participated in creating an extraordinary vision of what this beautiful botanic garden could become,” says Patrick Newman FWBG president and CEO. “One of the things that came out in the master planning process is that this is much more than a place to see plants — it’s a place where the community gathers to create emotional souvenirs.”
Key goals for the master plan included:
- An inclusive, clearly defined and easily shared vision and mission embracing the strengths and assets of both institutions.
- Sustainable buildings and landscapes demonstrating locally adapted development and how to achieve it.
- Design concepts and site elements that celebrate both institutions and bring them together into a unified, cohesive campus.
- A strong foundation for programming that supports the mission, improved guest experience, and growth in generated revenue.
Studio Outside landscape architects led the consultant planning effort, along with architects from Bennett Partners, and public engagement facilitators from DEI Consultants, LLC.
The City of Fort Worth Park & Recreation Advisory Board endorsed the plan in late 2022.
