I think this is where, in a decade or two, you may be looking at the Kay Granger Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Puddle.
When I first checked out downtown Fort Worth, two things, only two, impressed me. One was the Water Gardens at the south end of downtown. The other was Heritage Park at the north end of downtown.
With Heritage Park, to me, being the more impressive of the two things that impressed me.
I was very unimpressed, one day in 2007, when I pedaled my bike up to Heritage Park from the Trinity Trail to discover it was closed, surrounded by tacky chain link fence. The curvy brick trail that leads from the Trinity Trail to Heritage Park had also fallen on hard times.
I was appalled. I webpaged my appallation. If appallation is a word. If not, it should be.
I thought to myself, what sort of self-respecting town would let such a thing, within a stone's throw of the county court house, be boarded up and neglected like this?
Outside the Heritage Park chained link fence barricade there is a three-sided sign, singing the praises of Fort Worth's heritage, and the park that celebrates that heritage.
One side of the three-sided sign says......
The Vision Endures
The people of Fort Worth look to the future with a vision shared by their first settlers. From a diversity of backgrounds, we stand together today with a spirit and determination that ensure a unique quality of life.
While purposeful growth continues on gently rolling plains, Fort Worth retains her rich heritage with inner city redevelopment and historic preservation. Businesses and industries stand strong against economic adversity while ample water resources and great open spaces of river banks, bluffs, lakes and parks make this city an ideal place to live and grow, just as Major Arnold envisioned on that day in 1849,
As Fort Worth began, so it continues. The enduring sprit that built the city keeps it growing, develops and preserves its green spaces, revels in its culture. Drama, dance, music, art, sports, parks---all the noble leisure pursuits of humankind---flourish alongside a stable education and business environment.
The vision is Fort Worth. The spirit is her people.
Oh. The PAINFUL IRONY.
In this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram we learn that "Fences that for years have blocked visitors from downtown's Heritage Park Plaza -- a landmark and site of where the city first began as a military outpost -- could come down in coming years."
We also learn that city officials learned on Tuesday that work to restore the park is expected to ramp up this summer when a study paid for by the Amon G. Carter Foundation gets underway.
Fort Worth's Mayor, Mike Moncrief chimed in with, "This is a major gateway to our city from North Main. I'm heartened by the fact we are continuing to explore options to be able to reopen this venue for those who live here and those who visit. As the Trinity River Vision unfolds, this will be a perfect spot to make memories with the growth of this city."
And then the Star-Telegram's Anna M. Tinsley, wrote, "After this summer's work, if studies show the plaza is safe to reopen, there is still much to be done to open the parkland on even a temporary basis -- such as filling water basins and runnels, creating new entry gates, developing lighting and safety railings, and more."
And...
"But many say these studies are the first step in reviving the area where the original military outpost was built, spawning the creation and naming of Fort Worth. The 112-acre park along the south side of Fort Worth's Trinity River bluffs has served as an urban oasis for decades."
Many say? Many say these studies are a first step? Who are the many? And upon what do they base the idea that studies are a first step?
Now, I am switching into spewing my opinion mode. First off, let's start with the real reason Heritage Park was closed. 4 people drowned in a dangerous pool in the Fort Worth Water Gardens. Fort Worth was sued and paid out a big chunk of money.
Heritage Park also had water features. Much more benign water features than the Water Gardens. But, powers that be, in their infinite wisdom, decided to turn off the Heritage Park water, thus ruining one of the features that made it such a cool attraction.
There are some elevated locations in Heritage Park, catwalks and overlooks high above the ground. Oh no. What if someone fell? We'd be sued again. We must close the park.
Oh oh. We need a reason why we closed the park. We'll just claim there are structural issues and the water pumps wore out. And other safety issues. Like concerns that bad guys my lurk in some dark corner of the park and hurt someone.
But that has never happened in Fort Worth's Heritage Park. However, a murder did take place in Seattle's very similar Freeway Park. Did Seattle close down Freeway Park and surround it with chain link fence? No. Security features like panic buttons and an increased police presence were added.
Fort Worth's Heritage Park is adjacent to a big police operation. How hard would it have been to regularly have a cop walking through that park?
How hard is it to add lighting?
How hard is it to add panic buttons?
And security cameras?
A price tag of around $7 million is being tossed around as the cost to get Heritage Park back.
I think that's nuts. I don't think there is anything structurally wrong with the concrete structures in the park. It is easy to get past the chain link fence and explore around. It looks unkempt and overgrown, but not like it is in a crumbled state of danger of falling.
When I was last in Heritage Park the pump room that powered the water features was lit up. Why?
Pumps need to be replaced every once in awhile. This should be no big deal and no big cost.
In Washington, on Whidbey Island, there is an old fort, now a state park, called Fort Casey. The fort was made of concrete, back in, I think, 1898, or thereabouts. You are allowed to climb all over Fort Casey. There are spots that actually could be dangerous, if one were not careful.
The idea that someone would claim that the relatively new concrete structures of Heritage Park are in fail mode after a few decades seems ridiculous to me.
In my opinion the chain link fences should come down, Heritage Park should be cleaned up and re-opened. Now. Then start to work on getting the water features back running. And make other improvements.
It is not worthy of a city that is the Envy of the Nation, to have such an outstanding eyesore blighting up a prime piece of its downtown real estate.
It is shameful.
