The BNSF Railway Foundation has made a $1 million pledge to Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives Inc. (DFWII) toward the Heritage and Paddock parks project.
Located just north of the Tarrant County Courthouse, the two adjacent parks will be redesigned and renovated, adding new water features, lights, elevated accessible walkways, seating areas, play equipment, landscaping, educational displays, public art, performance spaces and pedestrian improvements.
“These parks will bring people back to where Fort Worth began. From the top of the bluff to the river, these public spaces will be reclaimed for everyone to enjoy,” said Mayor Mattie Parker.
The project was inspired by the late Ruth Carter Stevenson, who brought together civic leaders to address Heritage Plaza, which closed in 2007 for safety reasons.
The plaza is a National Register of Historic Places-listed urban landscape masterpiece by Lawrence Halprin.
DFWII is leading the design process in conjunction with the City of Fort Worth.
The project design team is leaning into Halprin’s original recommendations, including making Weatherford and Belknap streets more pedestrian friendly, improving Paddock Park on the north side of the courthouse and adding a bluff-traversing connection between downtown and the river. Additional gathering spaces, performance areas, utilities and other amenities are planned.
The total fundraising goal is $55 million, and the BNSF Foundation’s contribution brings the current funding total to about $44 million. A 2026-27 construction start depends on fundraising success, design completion and regulatory approvals.
“Heritage and Paddock parks are city and county open space gems in the rough,” said project fundraising co-chair Louise Appleman. “This project will transform the north end of downtown by converting unused park land into beautiful, active spaces for residents, visitors and guests to enjoy. These gems, once polished, will be new Fort Worth attractions that share our story, showcase our topography and create joyful memories for everyone.”
