Citywide Conversation To Shape Fort Worth’s Future

For Immediate Release May 6, 2008

Media Contact
Dennis Shingleton, Chairman
Let’s Talk Fort Worth Committee
817-735-2672 (office)

FORT WORTH — It happened in 1963 and ’92. Now, it’s happening again — a citywide conversation to stimulate dialogue among Fort Worth residents.

Appropriately called Let’s Talk Fort Worth, the event includes a series of planning and discussion meetings, culminating Sept. 25 in a citywide conversation that will generate ideas, suggestions and dreams to help shape the city’s future for the next 20 years.

The citywide conversation starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Center Auditorium, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave.

“Let’s Talk Fort Worth is an opportunity for each of our more than 700,000 residents to tell the mayor and City Council how we can all work together to make Fort Worth even better,” says longtime resident Dennis Shingleton, chairman of the citizens’ committee behind the event. “It’s our town, our time, our talk.”
 
Shingleton is assistant dean of Finance and Administration for the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

The first citywide conversation took place in 1963, with nearly 2,000 residents turning out for the historic event and hundreds more turning in written ideas. From that first town hall meeting came ideas and projects like the Fort Worth Convention Center, renovated in 2003; the upgrade of Arlington Stadium, now the Ballpark in Arlington; Tarrant County Junior College; the removal of toll booths from the what is now the East Freeway; and the purchase of the first tracts destined to become Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

1n 1992, residents again made history by convening to help craft a vision of a better, reimagined Fort Worth. From that second citywide conversation came suggestions that blossomed into an effective curbside recycling program, the reintroduction of minor league baseball and a renewed commitment to public safety, with an emphasis on neighborhood policing.

Residents will have the opportunity to share their vision for Fort Worth’s future in person at the Sept. 25 event or in writing via e-mail or regular U.S. mail. Residents also can submit ideas, suggestions and dreams for Fort Worth’s future by calling the TalkLine at 817-392-2008.

Mayor Mike Moncrief and City Council members are invited to attend the citywide conversation on Sept. 25 to hear resident comments.

“Usually this council and I are the ones doing the talking, but this is our time to listen to you, Fort Worth,” explains Mayor Moncrief. “We want to hear the concerns, observations and suggestions of our residents as to how we can make the best city in the country even better for future generations.”

Nine pre-meetings, dubbed Time To Talk, are scheduled throughout the summer, giving committee members and residents an opportunity to discuss Fort Worth’s current challenges — everything from rapid growth and development to aging infrastructure, environmental concerns and educational issues. The first Time To Talk is set from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 5 at Travis Avenue Baptist Church, South Complex, 717 W. Berry St.

For more information, visit www.LetsTalkFortWorth.org.

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