Fort Worth has joined a new program to boost park equity.
It's called the Ten-Minute Walk Park Equity Accelerator, and it's an initiative of the Trust for Public Land.
"We want to have a neighborhood park within a half-mile of everybody in the city," said Joel McElhany, assistant director for the Fort Worth Parks and Rec Department, "and that half-mile equates to a 10-minute walk."
The city says currently, 61% of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park, compared to the national median of 15%.
Amenities at newly established parks will vary.
"In some cases where we partner with schools, there can be playgrounds and fitness equipment and walking tracks," McElhany said. "In some cases, it may just be more passive open space like a bench and some trees and green grass."
Fort Worth's participation in the program will not cost the city a lot of money.
"Trust for Public Land will do the fundraising," McElhany said. "On our end, our cost is only staff time."
Fort Worth is one of six cities participating in the initiative.
The others are Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cleveland, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; Los Angeles, California; and Scranton, Pennsylvania.
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