Past Citywide Conversations Helped Shape Fort Worth’s History
In the early 1960s, Fort Worth’s economy was in a desperate slump. Thousands of residents were idled by industrial layoffs, and more than 100 downtown stores stood vacant. Times were tough, and city officials sensed growing public concern.
They struggled to find a way not only to get the city moving again, but also to involve citizens in the process. How could they turn 375,000 residents into a committee dedicated to envisioning Fort Worth’s future as well as ensuring that vision came to fruition?
Then-City Councilman Willard Barr had a simple solution — ask them. Hold a town hall meeting where all citizens would have the chance to voice their opinions. The idea took hold and, in 1963, the first Fort Worth Town Hall Meeting took place. Nearly 2,000 residents turned out for the historic event, and hundreds more turned 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; Tarrant County Junior College; and the purchase of the first tracts destined to become Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. So successful were their efforts that, in 1965, Fort Worth was designated an All America City.
Flash forward to 1992: Once more, Cowtown’s economy was reeling from layoffs, Carswell Air Force Base faced closure, crime was on the rise and city leaders again sought input from those they served.
Mayor Kay Granger decided to resurrect the town hall concept and turn Fort Worth’s citizens — now more than 450,000 strong — into another civic committee. Once again, residents made history by coming together to help craft a vision of a better, reimagined Fort Worth.
From that version of the town hall concept came suggestions that eventually blossomed into an effective curbside recycling program, the return of the Fort Worth Cats minor league baseball, the magnificent Bass Performance Hall and trailblazing community policing efforts such as CODE BLUE, Citizens on Patrol (COPS) and Neighborhood Policing Districts. Again, Fort Worth was named an All America City.
Now the 17th largest city in the country, Fort Worth’s population has topped 700,000 residents, with more moving in every day. Still, Fort Worth is dealing with such challenges as rapid growth and development, congestion and environmental concerns. Current city leaders believe it’s time to talk again.
Appropriately called Let’s Talk Fort Worth, the 2008 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.