Council OKs three additional land tracts for Open Space conservation

Council OKs three additional land tracts for Open Space conservation

Published on December 17, 2025

City Council approved three land acquisitions that support the Open Space Conservation Program and Mayor Mattie Parker's Good Natured Greenspace Initiative, with the goal of preserving 10,000 acres of greenspace across Fort Worth in the next five years while also growing and enhancing the City's park system.

Ben Avenue

This acquisition was a partnership between the Park & Recreation Department and the Open Space Conservation Program. It expands the Tandy Hills Nature Area and Broadcast Hill Natural Area sites by nearly 16 acres.

This is a very popular attraction, with people traveling from across the region to view the wildflowers in the spring. This site has the potential to be a new entrance to the tract, with much-needed parking and potentially a visitors center. Future capital planning and engagement with the community will determine the future of this land.

Photos: Mary's Creek. (Photos courtesy of Jason Flowers, Trust for Public Land.)

Mary's Creek

Fort Worth is rapidly expanding to the west, and this expansive 92-acre site provides the space for future water infrastructure, a large park and conserved natural area. This was a strategic acquisition between the Park & Recreation Department, Water Department, Open Space Conservation Program and Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD).

"This smart, future-focused investment benefits the City in ways beyond increasing its open space inventory," said Water Director Chris Harder. "The water utility benefits because the agreement includes additional road access points to the Mary's Creek Water Reclamation Facility (MCWRF) from Chapin Road and dedicates easements for the sanitary sewer force main needed to convey wastewater to the MCWRF. Also included are water and electrical easements needed for both the TRWD raw water pump station and the MCWRF. Working in collaboration with Parks, Open Space and TRWD results in master-planned facilities situated in a cost-effective manner, resulting in savings to our ratepayers."

Rachel Ickert, TRWD's chief engineering officer, had this to say: "This acquisition marks an exciting step forward in our collaboration with the City of Fort Worth to create open spaces that complement the District's water supply and flood control efforts. We look forward to partnering with the City of Fort Worth again in the future to achieve open space benefits for the public around our future projects."

The conserved area boasts significant post oak tree canopy on the Mary's Creek watershed, which was identified as an iconic natural feature by residents in Open Space surveys. Protecting this site will help reduce the risk of potential flooding as the City grows.

5501 Randol Mill Road

The Trinity River was also identified as an iconic natural feature by Fort Worth residents and we couldn't agree more! The Open Space Conservation Program acquired nearly 50 acres adjacent to Quanah Parker Park on the Trinity River. This acquisition protects majestic, old-growth post oak trees along the river, as well as significant floodplain.

The property is also just across Randol Mill from the Woodhaven neighborhood, where significant community projects are underway. The Open Space program reserved the right to develop the corner of the property along Randol Mill Road in the future as trail-oriented development, such as a kayak launch.

Photo at top: The Tandy Hills/Broadcast Hill complex.

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.

• City Council