Bring your family to FWBG on free admission days and unplug, unwind, and let nature weave its magic.
FWBG’s free admission days* are an invitation for all to explore this 120-acre sanctuary of nature in the middle of the city. No tickets are needed, simply arrive during Garden hours.
Whether you seek solace, inspiration, or a moment of tranquility, the Garden provides the perfect place to reconnect with nature and create emotional souvenirs. It’s a place where memories bloom, and hearts find respite.
May 10 is our first free admission day of the year, kicking off the American Public Gardens Association’s Go Public Garden Days!
*Free admission days are for general admission tickets only. Group ticket sales, special events, and classes are not included.
With two decades’ experience in venue operations management and the equestrian industry, Allison McNamara, CEM, CVP, CMP, will assume the interim role of general manager at Will Rogers Memorial Center after the retirement of current general manager Kevin O Kemp, CMEC, CMP on April 30.
Kemp, after 23 years with the City of Fort Worth and 13 years as general manager, will pass the reins to McNamara, who will oversee all operations, personnel and sales functions for the 120-acre complex.
“With Allison’s experience in City operations, finance and team management, plus her education and enthusiasm for the equestrian industry, she will provide a smooth leadership transition for our key stakeholders,” said Mike Crum, director of the City of Fort Worth Public Events Department. “Claude Humphrey’s back-of-house crew leadership and longstanding relationships with clients and vendors will offer stability during the transition.”
McNamara has been operations manager for the Fort Worth Convention Center (FWCC) since 2021 and has 18 years’ experience in the City’s Public Events Department. She began her tenure as an event coordinator at Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) for seven years and advanced through department ranks with another seven years as account tech at the FWCC. She was then tapped as acting operations manager of FWCC through the COVID-19 pandemic and was promoted to that position.
Her previous equestrian venue experience also includes a six-year stretch at the Mississippi Horse Park as a student and graduate from Mississippi State University, where McNamara earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with an emphasis in equines and a minor in agribusiness. She holds numerous industry certifications, including Certified Venue Professional from the International Association of Venue Managers and Certified Exhibition Management from International Association of Exhibitions and Events. In May, she will receive her master of public administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.
“Will Rogers Memorial Center holds a special place in my heart,” said McNamara. “I grew up attending events as a spectator and often reflect on the years I spent as an employee there. I am grateful for the opportunity to return, and I look forward to working with the incredible team at the facility and continuing strong partnerships with our clients. Also, many important capital projects are in the works and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”
Claude Humphrey, longtime WRMC field operations supervisor, will step in as interim operations manager. With 37 years’ experience in Public Events at both Tarrant County and the City, Humphrey will lead day-to-day operations, event attendants, barn crews, maintenance and engineering. He will also be the main point of contact for multiple contractors.
Humphrey was named Manager of the Year at WRMC in 2018 and received Visit Fort Worth’s Beyond Award recognizing excellence in hospitality service in 2022. He completed the City’s yearlong management training program and is certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. A Fort Worth native, Humphrey is a graduate of Paschal High School.
Both interim managers will be supported by the department’s executive team, experienced mid-managers and skilled back-of-house crews at WRMC.
After launching the annual budget process in March – earlier than in past years – City staff has a good start on preparing a recommended Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund budget, the budget that covers police and fire services, community services and capital projects, among other things.
By the numbers: For now, staff is projecting a $1.049 billion budget, a $35 million, or 3.5% increase, from FY24. Competitive salaries to retain employees and higher insurance costs are contributing to the increase.
This year, staff and department leaders are leaning more heavily on a budget process called priority-based budgeting. Last year, three departments used this method and served as a pilot.
Now, nine departments are using this method, by which some 323 programs are undergoing peer reviews to determine how they align with the City Council’s goals and priorities. The remaining departments will be phased in over the next two budget cycles.
Priority-based budgeting augments traditional budgeting with new vantage points to make data-driven decisions, FWLab Director Christianne Simmons said. The method also means the City Council’s priorities and goals are aligned with recommended department budgets.
City Council FY25 budget priorities include economic development, community investment, community safety, infrastructure and responsible growth.
Starting earlier on the budget means City staff will begin asking residents to add their thoughts on the budget earlier as well. That will be done at a series of open houses starting in May, on Connect Fort Worth, a new online engagement platform, and other avenues.
Join City staff and departments at these open houses to provide feedback about the FY25 budget:
We also encourage residents to “Help us STEER the budget” by providing feedback and taking pictures with our mascot, Molly. Submit feedback and pictures via the website, the MyFW app or on Facebook. @fortworthmolly
Published on April 17, 2024
Of the 300 proposals submitted from across the U.S., the City of Fort Worth, in partnership with North Central Texas Council of Governments, has been awarded $2 million through the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants funding.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) announced Fort Worth is one of the 34 recipients of the Fiscal Year 2023 Planning and Prototyping Grants. The project will pilot low altitude weather sensors of freight routes used by autonomous vehicles (AV).
Why it matters: The project will provide insight in technology solutions to enhance safety and trip reliability in our changing environment. Adverse weather conditions pose significant challenges to the performance and safety of AVs. Weather phenomena like severe rainfall and dense fog can degrade the accuracy of critical vehicle sensors, potentially leading to inaccuracies affecting vehicle performance during hazardous road weather conditions.
Microclimate sensors offer a solution by providing precise, real-time localized weather data, enabling AVs to adapt to varying weather conditions and make informed decisions to enhance operational safety and reliability. The pilot will be used at the Alliance Truck Port.
Go deeper: In the winter of 2021, a tragic vehicle pileup unfolded on Interstate 35 in Fort Worth due to treacherous icy conditions, particularly black ice, which went unnoticed by drivers. This incident involved 130 vehicles, including cars, trucks and 18-wheelers, resulting in a nightmarish crash scene spanning nearly a mile.
Tragically, six lives were lost, and numerous others were injured. Notably, many of the 18-wheelers involved were fully loaded and headed to the Intermodal Truck Depot at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport for regional distribution. This disaster could have been avoidable if the appropriate weather sensors had been in place to warn drivers of the impending danger.
What would your Fort Worth be like in the year 2050? How can we make Fort Worth an even better place to live, work and play?
The 2050 Comprehensive Plan will establish a shared vision for the City. It will determine the goals, objectives, strategies and policies to ensure a high quality of life for all members of the community.
Why it matters: With the community’s help, the resulting plan will describe the community’s desired future for Fort Worth – from active and walkable neighborhood centers, to new housing options, vital business districts, invigorating parks and open spaces, new and enhanced transportation infrastructure and transit, robust public safety and community-building libraries and other facilities. The plan will establish the goals, objectives, policies and programs that will help to make the community’s vision a reality – while preserving the culture and identity that make Fort Worth special.
Learn more about the 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
The new 2050 Comprehensive Plan will be the result of the creative efforts of the community to lay a successful foundation for the future of Fort Worth.
Get involved: A robust community engagement campaign begins soon. There will be many opportunities to participate, both in person and online.
Join a Help Plan FW workshop at a location near you:
More dates and engagement activities will be announced soon. Follow City News to learn the latest.
Sign up for updates. Register for emails to learn about upcoming meetings and announcements. Share questions or ideas by email.
Story by Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
More premium office space is coming to Fort Worth’s Cultural District.
Crescent Real Estate LLC announced Thursday it plans to build a second 170,000-square-foot office building on the backside of its existing mixed-use development at 3300 Camp Bowie Blvd. The Crescent Office West will front West Seventh Street between Van Cliburn Way and Boland Street.
The current office development, Crescent Office East, is nearly completely leased up, which motivated this latest expansion, according to a developer press release.
Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank relocated members of its commercial, corporate and private banking teams to the building in September 2023, and Dallas based Duro Hospitality plans to open a new restaurant on the ground floor of the building later this year, the press release said.
“The market demand for best-in-class office space in a luxury, amenity-rich environment is strong, and we are ready to bring the next phase of the project to the city,” said John Goff, CEO of Goff Capital, which owns Crescent Real Estate.
Goff highlighted the success of other components of the Fort Worth development, including the recently opened 200-room Crescent hotel. The development also includes a Canyon Ranch spa location and a 169-unit luxury apartment complex.
“Fort Worth, and the Cultural District in particular, continue to shine, and we are excited to be a part of the growth,” he said.
The Crescent Office West, which is scheduled to break ground late this year, will contain two restaurants, a gym, amenity deck and meeting space. It will have balconies on every floor, giving tenants a panoramic view of the Cultural District, the release said.
It will join a pair of projects from Nebraska-based Goldenrod Companies, which plans to build roughly 200,000-square-feet of office space in the West 7th entertainment district.
©2024 Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Visit star-telegram.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Leave your passport at home and come to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to experience some of the planet’s most beautiful pollinators in one convenient place. Butterflies in the Garden, presented by Central Market, will take flight, March 1 through April 14, in the Rainforest Conservatory. One of the Garden’s most anticipated seasonal exhibits, guests will enjoy thousands of breathtaking exotic and native butterflies as they flutter through the lush foliage and tropical flowers in the conservatory. Butterflies in the Garden is the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in north central Texas.
See butterflies of every size and hue, including Central American butterflies such as the Starry Night Butterfly (Hamadryas Iaodamia), the Mosaic (Colobura dirce), the elegant Glass Wing (Greta oto), the Pink-Spotted Cattleheart (Parides photinus), the green Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), the Tiger Longwing (Heliconius hecale), and the Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides). Species from North and South America, Africa, and Asia will also be flittering from flower to flower. Two lepidopterists, specialists in the study of butterflies and moths, will be onsite to oversee pupae arrivals and monitor the health of the Garden’s visiting butterflies once they emerge.
“There is no one place in nature where you could go to see the wide variety of butterflies that are a part of the Garden’s extraordinary exhibit,” said visiting lepidopterist Lucy Milas G. Salik, Ph.D. “It’s exciting to be able not only to share their beauty with guests, but also to educate them on the importance of these powerful pollinators.”
In nature, butterflies play a vital role as pollinators for many plants and flowers. These winged wonders inadvertently collect pollen on their legs as they land on flowers and then transfer it to other blooms they encounter. This process promotes cross-pollination and genetic diversity in plant groups.A massive 80 percent of land plants are pollinated by insects and animals.
Tickets for timed entrance to the butterfly exhibit may be purchased online at fwbg.org. Online admission prices are $12 for adults (16-64), $10 for seniors (65+), $8 for children (6-15), and free for children five and under. Combo tickets for both the butterfly exhibit and the Garden are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for children. Don’t miss out on this rare display of butterfly beauty!
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History are partnering for a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse experience! Both venues will offer eclipse viewing areas and exciting educational activities for guests on April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free activity stations will be located outside both the Garden and the Museum, while guests may also purchase general admission tickets at either venue to take part in additional activities. FWBG and FWMSH Members will receive reciprocal free admission and free solar eclipse glasses at each location.
“People in Fort Worth will talk about where they were during this eclipse for years to come,” said Patrick Newman, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. “The Garden is thrilled to provide a backdrop for this monumental experience. The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the research and conservation branch of the Garden, will also carry out key research into how solar eclipses affect plants and wildlife.”
Guests who choose to view the eclipse from inside the Garden will be able to gather at the expansive North and South Vistas, which offer unobstructed views of the sky. Prime eclipse viewing will also take place on the Museum's front lawn. Blankets and folding chairs will be allowed. To view the eclipse, guests may bring solar eclipse glasses or purchase them for $3 at either venue. Both venues encourage guests to follow NASA Eclipse Safety guidelines during the events.
Some of the Garden’s activities will include Sun Song Bingo, Pinhole Viewer Construction, Community Science with Members of FWBG’s Research Team, and Shadow Tracing. Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth will also have special activities available at the Garden for visually impaired guests. The Museum will have staff from the Noble Planetarium sharing information about the eclipse and will feature a performance from the U.S. Navy Band Brass Quintet before and after the moment of totality. Guests are invited to build a Pinhole Eclipse Viewer, create a Sun Print, make an Astronaut souvenir, participate in Sunshine Shenanigans, explore the eclipse with Chalk Art, and more.
"The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is thrilled to invite the community to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of a total solar eclipse. Nature's grandeur is on full display, and we are honored to be part of this rare cosmic event," said museum President Regina Faden, Ph.D. "We are excited to share the spirit of exploration and discovery that defines our museum with everyone in Fort Worth and beyond."
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon crosses directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or allthe Sun’s light. Solar eclipses happen on Earth two to five times a year, and total solar eclipses happen on average every 18 months. So, if total solar eclipses are not so rare, why has Fort Worth not seen one since July 29, 1878? This is because total solar eclipses only recur in one given place within the span of 360 to 410 years. Fort Worth will be in the path of totality, the point of the eclipse where the Moon fully covers the Sun to produce total darkness, for two and a half minutes starting at 1:41 p.m.
Both the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History are official NSTA/SSI Solar Eclipse Partners. The Museum’s work is supported by the Simons Foundation and is part of its ‘In the Path of Totality’ initiative.
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is pleased to announce its successful reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), signifying the museum's ongoing dedication to the highest standards of excellence in the museum field.
Reaccreditation reinforces the museum's position as a member of a community of institutions committed to holding themselves publicly accountable to excellence. By meeting these rigorous standards, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History continues to be recognized as a trusted institution, ensuring the public's confidence in its operations.
"This reaccreditation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards in all facets of our museum," said Regina Faden, Ph.D., museum president. "It signifies that we not only meet the benchmarks set by the American Alliance of Museums but also actively engage in a philosophy of continual institutional growth."
The process of reaccreditation involves a comprehensive self-assessment and peer review, demonstrating that the museum is a responsible steward of the resources held in the public trust. This commitment to accountability ensures that the museum remains at the forefront of best practices in the museum field.
"We take great pride in being recognized as an institution dedicated to excellence and continual improvement," added Faden. "Our team's hard work and dedication to these standards contribute to the vibrant and enriching experiences we provide for our community."
As the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History moves forward with reaccreditation, visitors can trust in the museum's commitment to providing a space for exploration, education, and innovation.
For more information and to learn more about the museum's commitment to excellence, please visit www.fwmuseum.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
FORT WORTH, Texas (OCT. 10, 2023) — The Fort Worth Botanic Garden will incorporate the beauty of tradition, culture, and botanicals for Día de Los Muertos, Oct. 28-Nov. 2. Widely observed in Hispanic cultures, Día de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, is a tradition where the living prepare for and celebrate the souls of the departed.
As a part of the Garden’s presentation, guests will be able to enjoy more than 46,000 marigolds (Taishan Orange & Coco Gold) that will be “rolled out” to create a show-stopping “carpet” down the Rose Garden stairs. These strongly scented flowers are believed to help deceased ancestors find their way home to the ofrendas prepared for them in conjunction with this special day. Ofrendas, or offerings, typically include food, photos, and mementos that are displayed on an altar with candles and incense. Garden guests are welcome to bring non-food items to add to the altar located at the Shelter House near the marigold exhibit.
Visitors will also be able to see more than 300 hand-painted wooden bricks that will line the marigold carpet. Several community organizations partnered with the Garden last year to create these beautiful pieces of art. They include Artes de la Rosa, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (FW Chapter), Fort Worth Sister Cities (Toluca Committee), Federación de Clubes Zacatecanos de Fort Worth, Mana de North Texas, All Saints Catholic Church, Carrillo Funeral Home, and the Kimbell Art Museum.
Additionally, two trajineras, or colorful boats used to navigate the canals surrounding the floating gardens of Xochimilco (a borough south of Mexico City), will be on display near the marigold carpet. The boats were constructed by Garden volunteer Don Irwin and painted and decorated by Garden staff and members of the Garden !Celebramos! committee.
Inside the Garden Center, volunteer Cathy Kyle, has installed a beautiful example of a Mexican folk art calaca (skeleton). Titled La Diosa, this unique piece of living art features a succulent-covered dress accented with gomphrena plants from FWBG. Cathy has also been an instrumental part of creating the Garden’s breathtaking marigold display.
As of Oct. 1, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the fall and winter. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for children (6-15), and free for children 5 and under. For more information, visit FWBG.org.
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