Jackson led in forming the Riverwalk Residences Neighborhood Association<\/a> in 2024 in Riverside as well as the neighborhood\u2019s homeowners association that was formally launched in early March.<\/p>\n The nomination cited Jackson\u2019s leadership in both organizations \u2014 he\u2019s president of the neighborhood association \u2014 in the rapidly emerging neighborhood of high-end and luxury townhomes off of South Sylvania Avenue and along the east side of the Trinity River.<\/p>\n Jackson and his wife, Carmen Castro, bought their townhome in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since then, he\u2019s pushed for essential services \u2014 such as mail and cable \u2014 that were lagging in the neighborhood. He urged the city and police to curb troublemakers zooming down Sylvania Avenue, doing doughnuts in nearby parking lots, setting off illegal fireworks and indiscriminately firing weapons.<\/p>\n Jackson, a digital media producer for the federal government, shot and archived a library of videos documenting these issues and others, such as elderly people and families trying to navigate stretches of South Sylvania and its dearth of sidewalks. He also pushed for quiet zones at nearby rail crossings.<\/p>\n Jackson joined Riverside associations in addressing common problems and helped create a new community culture in Riverwalk, including starting a house-to-house holiday crawl.<\/p>\n And when it became clear that Riverwalk had its own set of neighborhood problems compared to others \u2014 such as the historic United Riverside that runs along the east side of South Sylvania \u2014 Jackson and others formed the Riverwalk associations.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of the things that happened over here don\u2019t necessarily always happen over in United Riverside,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n Jackson, 45, grew up in Washington, D.C., and migrated to Texas to be closer to family in DeSoto, south of Dallas. He and his wife, who is from Fort Worth, chose the Riverwalk area for its city feel and were among the early residents of the development\u2019s first building. Now, several multi-floor buildings offer striking, westward rooftop views of downtown.<\/p>\n Jackson is adept at working with other leaders in the seven-neighborhood Riverside Alliance, said Rick Herring, a longtime Riverside leader and winner of Neighbor of the Year in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s been particularly evident given his rapport with leaders of United Riverside, a modest, mature neighborhood long wary of gentrification and developers. Jackson joined United Riverside as a member before forming the Riverwalk associations.<\/p>\n Even though Jackson has a \u201cdifferent mindset\u201d than United Riverside leaders about development on the river, \u201cthere have been no disagreements,\u201d Herring said.<\/p>\n Several years ago, when interest in the riverfront surfaced, United Riverside leaders raised concerns ranging from viability to fear of the unknown and an anticipation of arrogance from residents in the adjacent, luxury development.<\/p>\n Some of United Riverside\u2019s fears \u2014 Riverwalk Residences, for one, has run through multiple developers \u2014 have been realized. But the luxury townhomes have worked well along the Trinity, notes Phyllis Allen, president of the United Riverside Neighborhood Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n Allen admits she and Jackson disagree at times. For example, United Riverside is opposed to the idea of quiet rail crossings, citing the neighborhood\u2019s seniors who are hard of hearing and need the warning when a train is nearby.<\/p>\n Still, the longtime community leader says Jackson and Castro are \u201cgreat partners to United Riverside. We appreciate having them, and I couldn\u2019t be prouder they have won Neighbor of the Year.\u201d<\/p>\n Castro and friends in the council district nominated Jackson for the engagement award.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to tell him anything because he\u2019s very humble and doesn\u2019t grasp the level of impact he\u2019s had on this city,\u201d Castro said. \u201cI\u2019m born and raised here, so I know how the city works. I just wanted to get him to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Herring said he, like Jackson, was surprised by the nomination and victory.<\/p>\n \u201cI was thrilled for AJ,\u201d Herring said. \u201cOn that list of nominees, there were quite a few folks who had a lot of years and a lot of working in their neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n Award winners:<\/p>\n Neighborhood of the Year<\/p>\n Winner: Lake Como Neighborhood Advisory Council<\/a>. Lake Como won this for the third consecutive year and took home several other awards.<\/p>\n 1st runner-up: Park Glen Neighborhood Association<\/a>, one of several awards Park Glen won<\/p>\n 2nd runner-up: Oakhurst Neighborhood Association<\/a>, one of several awards the association won<\/p>\n Fort Worth Pride-Voluntary<\/p>\n Winner: Lake Como Neighborhood Advisory Council<\/p>\n Fort Worth Pride-Voluntary-HOA<\/p>\n Park Glen Neighborhood Association<\/p>\n Spirit of Fort Worth-Voluntary<\/p>\n Spirit of Fort Worth-HOA<\/p>\n Community Collaboration and Engagement-Voluntary<\/p>\n Community Collaboration and Engagement-HOA<\/p>\n Rainbow Ridge Homeowners Association<\/p>\n Healthy Neighborhood-Voluntary<\/p>\n Healthy Neighborhood-HOA<\/p>\n Safety First-Voluntary<\/p>\n Safety First-HOA<\/p>\n Winner: Rainbow Ridge Homeowners Association<\/p>\n Partners in Learning-Voluntary<\/p>\n Winner: Oakhurst Neighborhood Association<\/p>\n Partners in Learning-HOA<\/p>\n Winner: Park Glen Neighborhood Association<\/p>\n Distinguished Service to Veterans<\/p>\n Organization 1st runner-up: Roll Call<\/a> Newsletter<\/p>\n Heart of the Community Special Award<\/p>\n Lake Country Property Owners Association<\/p>\n Special Community Recognition Award<\/p>\n Code Officer of the Year<\/p>\n Winner: Tessa Booth, Lake Como Neighborhood Advisory Council Neighborhood Police Officer of the Year<\/p>\n Winner: Officer Aric Phillips, Fairhaven Neighborhood Association Danny Scarth Trailblazer<\/p>\n Neighbor of the Year<\/p>\n Scott Nishimura is senior editor for local governmental accountability and a Fort Worth City Hall reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Reach him at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AJJackson-CarmenCastro-RiverwalkResidences-IMG_0169-1024x747.jpg\")
AJ Jackson and wife Carmen Castro, in the kitchen of their townhome in Riverwalk Residences in Fort Worth\u2019s Riverside neighborhood. (Scott Nishimura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RiverwalkResidences-FortWorth-March2026IMG_0166-1024x867.jpg\")
Riverwalk Residences is an emerging neighborhood being developed in Riverside, west of South Sylvania Avenue, south of East 4th Street, north of Fisher Avenue, and along the east side of the Trinity River. (Scott Nishimura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Goss-FourthofJuly-01-1024x683.jpg\")
Don Diego and the Razz Band perform during ComoFest on July 3, 2025, at Lake Como Park in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0008-1024x683.jpg\")
Lake Country residents enjoy strong community. (Sandra Sadek | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/470197247_10162428704466092_3928010090002613485_n.jpg\")
Volunteers in the West Meadowbrook area raised $10,000 to replace a senior citizen\u2019s fence that had been destroyed by vagrants. (Courtesy photo | Mike Phipps)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WIL-3-1024x819.jpg\")
Trees line the streets in the north Fort Worth Oakhurst neighborhood. (Photo by Cristian ArguetaSoto\/Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
\nIndividual 1st runner-up: Marquita Foxworth
\nOrganization winner: NextOp<\/a>
\nIndividual winner: Rick Irving<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FrankDiazJr-1024x737.png\")
<\/p>\n
\n1st runner-up: Taborah Reed, Far Greater Northside Historical Neighborhood Association
\n2nd runner-up: Matthew Hayes, Uptown Fort Worth Neighborhood Association<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1st runner-up: Officer Dustin Lamb, North Beverly Hills Neighborhood Association
\n2nd runner-up: Officer Kirk Massey, Far Greater Northside Historical Neighborhood Association<\/p>\n