By Hiya Bhatte
I am originally from Prosper, around an hour northeast, but have been calling Fort Worth home for nearly four years now.
Moving here was never part of the plan until I made the decision to do my undergrad at TCU. When I first moved to town, settled into my on-campus dorm and saw the Trinity River, I didn’t think much of it. The water was brown, and the trails alongside the riverbanks were littered with garbage.
It wasn’t what I considered beautiful.
As an upperclassmen two years later, I moved into my first “adult apartment” in the Clearfork neighborhood. It was 10 minutes from campus, a skip from Trader Joe’s and close to the Trinity Trails. My perspective began to change as I started to see the beauty which surrounded me.
The river became my escape.
Whenever I felt stressed, I knew I could take a 10-minute walk and feel surrounded by nature. I could watch for hours as the ducks dived for fish under the river surface and emerged flapping their wings. The peaceful scenery has a calming effect on me, helping me feel more grounded.
My favorite memory on the trails is when I walked along a section I hadn’t been to before with my best friend. I had slowed down to take in my surroundings, but this time we stopped to watch.
The baby frogs hopped through the grass and the minnows raced along the riverbank. At that moment, I felt connected not only to nature, but to the community.
What makes these trails so special is how accessible they are. No matter what area of Fort Worth you’re in, there is seemingly always a way to the river.
The Trinity connects Fort Worth’s neighborhoods as it flows through them, reminding us to slow down and appreciate where they are. Whether the river becomes a place for exercise, relaxation or a special moment, the trails are a welcoming space for all.
While pollution and environmental concerns remain a concern, the river is my favorite part of Fort Worth. It reminds me that beauty is not found in perfection, but in places that provide comfort and a sense of belonging.
For me, the Trinity Trails have become a place where I can step away from the stresses of life, slow down and appreciate the small things that truly matter.
Clearfork
Total population: 1,048
Male: 62% | Female: 38%
Age
0-9: 0%
10-19: 10%
20-29: 31%
30-39: 10%
40-49: 10%
50-59: 31%
60-69: 7%
70-79: 1%
80 and older: 0%
Education
No degree: 0%
High school: 14%
Some college: 19%
Bachelor’s degree: 35%
Post-graduate: 33%
Race
White: 68% | Asian: 9% | Hispanic: 23% | Black: 0% | Two or more: 0%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Source: Census Reporter
Hiya Bhatte is a registered behavior technician in Fort Worth. She’s lived in Clearfork for about two years.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/20/where-i-live-tcu-grad-finds-connection-and-community-in-clearfork-neighborhood/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
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