The iconic Fort Worth Water Gardens, a staple of Texan pride and architectural wonder, is slated for a much-needed overhaul. The City Council has greenlighted a plan to spend $366,877 on assessing the condition of the garden's aging bones. According to the City of Fort Worth, the engineering firm Freese & Nichols, with a history of previous Water Gardens projects, will carry out the evaluation.
The firm's experts are set to plunge into the depths of the Water Gardens' infrastructure, examining the pipes, pumps, concrete, and electrical systems to determine what needs a refresh. Freese & Nichols, which has prior experience with the gardens, should know their way around its deep waters. But it's not just about fixing what's old; it's about preparing for the future, with their findings intended to forge the path for a sweeping renovation.
The Water Gardens, designed by the acclaimed New York architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and completed in 1974, sits adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center. Not just a feast for the eyes but also a slice of pop culture, the park gained fame in the sci-fi classic "Logan's Run" in 1976.
The project is part of a larger vision for Fort Worth, with voters authorizing the Park and Recreation Department to spend $124 million in park improvements citywide, sourced from the 2022 Bond Program. The Water Gardens' refresh is just a fraction of the $560 million bond package approved by the voters. This renovation is expected to complement the ongoing expansion of the Convention Center, which was augmented last year when Broaddus & Associates was given the nod to manage both the Convention Center expansion and the Water Gardens' facelift.
