Panther Island has become one of Fort Worth’s most popular destinations for events and developments in recent years, but the one thing people still bring up is the fact that it’s not an actual island. The 800-acre area along the Trinity River is currently more of a peninsula. However, the city recently announced construction on a canal that will turn the area into an island could begin in 2024.
The plans to make Panther Island fully surrounded by water have been in place for years, but now things are moving forward rapidly after the city announced two major victories towards reaching that goal. According to WFAA, the Tarrant Regional Water District will spend $116 million on the flood control plan, which will include acquiring property, demolishing nearby structures, and completing environmental cleanup. With this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may be able to begin construction on the bypass channel that will form Panther Island by the end of 2024.
The hope is that once the project is complete Fort Worth will have a destination district similar to San Antonio's River Walk. "We've been waiting for this moment for nine years. It sounds like it's finally here,” said Ryan McWhorter, founder of Panther Island Brewing. Soon enough Panther Island will no longer be a fake island.
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