Fort Worth ISD News

The City of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) have entered into an interlocal agreement to open select schoolyards to the community during non-school hours.

By transforming schoolyards into after-hours neighborhood parks, Fort Worth is taking a significant step, once again, towards improving its standing in the Trust for Public Land (TPL) ParkScore Index, the national measure of equitable access to parks. Increasing community access points directly supports the City’s “10-minute walk” score, the percentage of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space.

According to the latest ParkScore Index, Fort Worth ranks 72nd among the 100 most populous U.S. cities, with 69% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, up from 61% in 2022, when the city ranked 87th.

“I believe wholeheartedly that every Fort Worth resident should have easy access to a park or open space,” said Mayor Mattie Parker.  “This partnership with FWISD builds on our Good Natured initiative to continue to grow green space opportunities to better serve the community.”

FWISD leaders echoed that sentiment. “Fort Worth ISD schools are at the heart of Fort Worth neighborhoods. We are thrilled to partner with the City of Fort Worth to open our schoolyards after hours, offering welcoming and safe spaces that support healthy communities,” said Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar.

Through the agreement, FWISD will designate outdoor recreation areas on specific campuses for community use outside of school hours. A complete list can be found here. Both organizations will collaborate on maintenance, security and future improvements to enhance recreational opportunities.

“When we asked residents what they wanted most during the GreenPrint Fort Worth planning process, the No. 1 answer was more access to safe, nearby parks and open spaces,” said Dave Lewis, director of Park & Recreation. “This agreement is one of the first major steps in implementing GreenPrint. It shows we are not just talking about a vision on paper, we are putting it into action, creating real change and delivering what our community asked for.”

The agreement supports Parker’s Good Natured greenspace initiative, which works to preserve the city’s natural heritage and improve its park system to meet the growing needs of the community, and GreenPrint Fort Worth, the City’s comprehensive parks, recreation, open space, and public realm master plan.

Both initiatives call for collaboration between public, private, and nonprofit partners to expand green space access in underserved areas and ensure Fort Worth keeps pace with its rapid growth.