The City of Fort Worth is set to honor one of its most enduring public figures with the opening of the Betsy Price Community Center. The center, located at 8475 Blue Mound Road, will celebrate its grand opening at 10 a.m. on June 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Betsy Price, recognized for her tenure as the city's longest-serving mayor, has shaped Fort Worth's trajectory through her dedicated service of 10 years, across five terms.
Fort Worth has a tradition of honoring local leaders by dedicating community centers in their names. For instance, the Atatiana Carr-Jefferson Community Center at Hillside commemorates a Fort Worth resident who met a tragic end in 2019. Similarly, the R.D. Evans Community Center highlights the legacy of a key figure in the development of the city's recreation opportunities, R.D. Evans, who started with the department the year it was founded and later became its second superintendent in 1924. According to the Fort Worth government website, both centers offer unique features and programming tailored to the needs of their communities.
Further enriching the city's commemorative landscape, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center serves as a poignant symbol of the civil rights leader's enduring struggle for justice and equality. Planning is currently underway for the new Martin Luther King Community Center and aquatic center, aiming to further the cause King fought for. Eugene McCray, another celebrated figure, is honored through both a community center and a park that bear his name. McCray, a former All-American football player and mayor pro tem, made substantial contributions to southeast Fort Worth, including advocacy for community center funding.
Lastly, the Andrew “Doc” Session Community Center recognizes the significant impact of an educator and counselor. This center, funded by community activists including Session himself, provides essential services to local families. Notable for its engagement with the neighborhood, it extends support through programs like Community Action Partners. Each community center across Fort Worth encapsulates the spirit of its namesake, offering facilities and services that uphold the values for which they stand.
