The Fort Worth City Council has approved a $1.59 million expenditure to acquire an additional 58.8 acres of open space adjacent to Rock Creek Ranch Park, located in the southwest region of the city. This acquisition will make the park the largest community park in Fort Worth's park system, surpassing other parks except for Gateway Park and the Fort Worth Nature Center.
Richard Zavala, the Park & Recreation Director, emphasized the long-term impact of this strategic acquisition, stating, “The strategic acquisition of this natural and historical property will have long-reaching effects for current and future generations.”
The newly acquired land is situated next to the Rocky Creek Ranch development and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land at Benbrook Lake. This purchase follows previous acquisitions, including over 275 acres purchased in 2021 for $6.75 million and an additional 22 acres of ranchland the following year.
The conservation of this property aligns with the City’s Open Space Conservation Program, which focuses on ecosystem preservation, stream and river health, community wellness, and flood control. Additionally, this initiative supports Mayor Mattie Parker’s Good Natured Greenspace Initiative, aiming to preserve 10,000 acres of greenspace in Fort Worth over the next five years.
The property, originally established as a cattle ranch in 1848, features diverse topography and vegetation, presenting opportunities for archaeological and historical interpretation. The land is partially intersected by the Fort Worth and Western Railroad along its western boundary.
Future development and land uses for the park will be determined through a master planning process that will actively involve community participation.
