Trinity River Vision
TRINITY RIVER VISION
A Master Plan for the Trinity River
and Major Tributaries in Greater Fort Worth

The Trinity River is a major part of Fort Worth's rich and colorful history. In 1849, an army outpost was established on the banks of the river at the confluence of the West Fork and the Clear Fork, and that convergence anchors our downtown today.

The "Master Plan" for the Trinity River is a concept literally decades in the making. Encouraged by community volunteers in the 1980s, developed by urban designers and specialty consultants in the 1990s, and adopted by City Council in 2003, the Trinity River Vision Master Plan encompasses 88 miles of the Trinity River and its greenbelts and tributaries throughout the Fort Worth area. The "vision" has always been to advocate for this natural resource, keeping the river beautiful, accessible, enjoyable, and productive and to make sure it remains a valuable asset for the entire community.

The master plan addressed such issues as the environment, ecosystems, flood protection, recreational opportunities, access to the waterfront, preserving green space, and urban revitalization based around the river.


Click here for a larger view of this map

The plan focuses on eight segments of the Trinity River and its tributaries: Clear Fork North, Clear Fork South, Marine Creek, Mary's Creek, Sycamore Creek, West Fork East, West Fork West, and the Central City area now called Trinity Uptown. It considers environmental quality, conservation, recreation facilities, trail developments, reforestation, beautification, and linkage to neighborhoods, downtown, and other special districts. The plan also addresses adjoining land uses, transportation and how other facilities best complement and benefit from the greenways.

The planning process was sponsored by the Tarrant Regional Water District and Streams and Valleys in association with the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the architecture/planning firm GideonToal.

Community input was gathered from public meetings and from various stakeholders, special interest groups, trail users, and interested citizens. The plan was adopted by the City of Fort Worth in 2003 and is now included in the City's Comprehensive Plan.

The purpose of the Master Plan is to:

  1. Help assure the greater Fort Worth area has open space, recreation and conservation areas to support a growing population, while continuing to provide essential flood protection;
  2. Provide trails and greenways that link major recreation areas, park areas, neighborhoods, and districts of the city;
  3. Provide and preserve the open space and vegetation that is needed to maintain air and water quality and wildlife habitat that will help assure we can sustain environmental health over the long term;
  4. Improve the river's accessibility to the public, attract more people to its banks, and increase its prominence within the city; and
  5. Provide these quality-of-life elements and environmental integrity while assuring that the watercourses can manage storm water runoff, water conservation, and flood protection in a manner that protects public safety and property.
Paddock Viaduct

East bank of Trinity River
northeast of downtown Fort Worth

Kayaking on the Trinity
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