Fort Worth broke ground on Smiley Park in southeast Fort Worth’s Ash Crescent neighborhood, aiming to transform a vacant lot behind the Best Maid Pickles warehouse.
The $1.76 million park improvements will include a sports court, lighting, play equipment, site furniture, tree plantings, pavilion, drinking fountain and irrigation system.
City officials and residents broke ground Aug. 29 on the project, which is expected to be completed in February 2027.
“Today represents more than a groundbreaking,” said Fort Worth City Council member Chris Nettles, whose district includes the park. “It represents investment, commitment and the future of our neighborhoods.”
The park is named after the smiling girl on the jar of Fort Worth-based Best Maid Pickles.
About $1.16 million of the project is funded by the city’s neighborhood improvement program. The other $600,000 is from the city’s park dedication fees fund, consisting of funds paid by developers when parkland is not a dedicated part of their development.
A group of community members and city employees gathered for the groundbreaking.
Nettles welcomed and thanked the attendees. At that point, he was interrupted by a handful of protesters upset about his city council vote to approve a site plan for Black Mountain data center. Nettles previously accepted a campaign contribution from the data center developer.
The developer is allowed to erect the data center by right and had negotiated features of a site plan with the city.
Denise Kahn is a member of the Fort Worth Report Documenters crew. If you believe anything in this account is inaccurate, please email us at news@fortworthreport.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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