Council update focuses on critical role of Fort Worth’s green spaces

Council update focuses on critical role of Fort Worth's green spaces

Published on April 02, 2026

Allison Docker, City of Fort Worth Green Space Initiatives manager, updated councilmembers on the City's Good Natured Greenspace Initiative at the Tuesday, March 31, work session.

Among her discussion points, Docker emphasized the impact and importance of green spaces, both in our community and in our lives. From parks, trails and natural areas to outdoor recreation, tree-lined streetscapes and more, the wide variety of green spaces provide enormous benefits that extend far beyond their beauty and aesthetic appeal:

• Physical and mental health
• Social connection
• Ecological impact
• Economic vitality

A delicate balance

People want to live, work and play where they have access to parks and trails, Docker said. With Fort Worth's population expected to increase 31% by 2050, according to North Central Texas Council of Governments data, intentionally balancing growth while preserving these spaces is critical, she said.

"Green spaces are critical to shaping our everyday lives and directly impact how we all experience and move around our city," Docker said. "While growth and development is healthy, if we are not strategic about how and what we preserve now, we will lose our chance if we wait. The goal is to balance development with livability."

Mayor Mattie Parker's Good Natured Greenspace goal of adding an additional 10,000 acres of open space across Fort Worth over the next five years is making steady progress, Docker said, with more than 3,400 acres already secured. She emphasized that strong citywide partnerships and coordination are essential to reaching the goal.

Protecting high-quality natural areas

One of the categories supporting this effort is the City's Open Space Conservation Program, which actively acquires and conserves high-quality natural areas. Those efforts are well underway - 693 acres acquired or in progress - and staff plans to continue acquiring sites, with potential funding from the upcoming bond election.

Staff are also starting to pivot from acquisition to planning and activation, Docker said, including initial site reviews and ecosystem inventory.

Docker shared a new video created by the City's Communications team that showcases the importance of open space and the ongoing conservation efforts:

Managing land for the long term

Caring for natural areas requires a different approach than maintaining traditional parks, Docker said. Efforts are underway across City departments to align on how best to manage these lands, focusing on long-term ecological health rather than routine upkeep.

She also emphasized the importance of healthy ecosystems and the role they play in our city's vitality, including cleaning the air, improving water quality, reducing flooding and mitigating the urban heat island.

Looking beyond the horizon

Wrapping up her presentation, Docker touched on the City's proposed Natural Land Management Policy to shepherd these efforts in the future. "The cultivation of green spaces enables that future generations can appreciate the same natural beauty we love about Fort Worth and ensure that our city thrives well into the future," she said.

Goals and objectives include:

• Community safety
• Resident health and well-being
• Responsible use of resources
• Ecosystem support

Resources

Want to learn more about Good Natured Green Space Initiative and Open Space Conservation Program? Check out these resources:

• Good Natured Greenspace Initiative webpage
• Open Space Conservation Program webpage

Photo: Little Fossil Creek

• Environment