Fort Worth Water Gardens

If you’re downtown, be sure to walk through the Fort Worth Water Gardens (1502 Commerce St., 817/392-7111, water runs 7 a.m.–10 p.m.), a remarkable urban park with water cascading, flowing, bubbling, and sparkling in every direction. Designed by famed New York architect Philip Johnson (who also designed The Amon Carter Museum [1]), the Water Gardens are a perfect oasis in a hot, dry, Western town like Fort Worth [2].

Visitors, residents, and nearby office employees gaze upon the pleasant fountains and flowing water as it channels throughout this architectural marvel, which opened in 1974. The open nature of the park has had its drawbacks, however.

Over the years, several people have died at the Water Gardens, prompting a major renovation in 2007, with significant enhancements and changes such as interpretive plaques, additional railings, warning signs, seats, and barriers around the pools.