Fort Worth Gardens – Texas, United States
What is It – Over the past few decades, Fort Worth has quietly emerged as a prominent Texas city with close to a million residents and a separate identity from the neighboring communities of Dallas and Arlington. One of the most impressive attractions in the downtown section of the city next to the Tarrant County Convention Center is the 5.4-acre park and water spectacle known as the Fort Worth Water Gardens. Completed with a donation from a private foundation, the Water Gardens provided a unique futuristic space for relaxation and reflection in the heart of the city. Designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the Water Gardens were dedicated in 1974 and immediately attracted attention. The park has been described as featuring “soaring mesas and deep canyons of concrete unified by displays of water and vegetation.”
There are four separate areas of the park scattered around a central square. The most prominent and popular one is the Active Pool. This is a recessed pool located thirty-eight feet below the square. It is constructed out of a series of concrete terraces and flat steps. The water cascades down the terraces to a square pool at the bottom where it is pumped back up to the top. The steps allow park visitors to walk down to the pool while the water rushes around them without getting wet.
The second pool is called the Aerating Pool. This pool has forty nozzles which spray water in small fountains and create a sensation of a mist dancing above the water. The third pool is designed as a mediation space. A large calm pool surrounded by cypress trees has been placed at the bottom of 22-foot-high walls and accessed by walking down steps. All three pools are illuminated at night. The final segment of the park is the Mountain which is a massive concrete plateau, grassy lawn and stage at the south end which buffers the park from the nearby city streets.
The Water Gardens are worth a stop on a visit to the Fort Worth area. They are quite different than traditional metro gardens and convey a sense of wonder and tranquility that downtown workers and tourists will find to be a respite from the day’s activities.
Interesting Facts – The Water Gardens have been used as a backdrop for movies, videos, and photo shoots. Four people also died there two decades ago after falling into the pump area of the Active Pool in a community tragedy.
How to Get Here – The Water Gardens are located between Houston and Commerce Street in the downtown section of Fort Worth where there is a local trolley system. Since that location is close to the intersection of Interstate 30 west and Interstate 35W, it is readily accessible by automobile. There is parking . available on the adjoining streets and the parking garages that service the Convention Center.
When to Go – Fort Worth is known for its heat and humidity during the summer months and more often than not the temperature exceeds 90 days from June to September. So, the park is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon during these times. The rest of the year temperatures are pleasant or slightly cool. Showers are most likely to occur during the months of May and October.