Out and about: Fort Worth Water Gardens

I took a ride on Christmas Eve and took several pictures, including a bunch at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. The Water Gardens are situated at the south end of downtown, literally in the middle of the city. Even with the stark concrete forms, the cascading water and plants can make you forget where you are. If you want to ride your bike there, I included directions at the end of this post.

For the most part, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.



These pictures were taken at the Active Pool





The story behind this sign is that four and a half years ago, four people visiting from Chicago drowned at the Water Gardens. Prior to that, lots of people dipped their toes in the water.










SciFi fans may think this looks familiar. The Water Gardens were used as a setting in the 1976 movie "Logan's Run".


Michael York, Jenny Agutter and Peter Ustinov as Logan, Jessica & Old Man, at the Fort Worth Water Gardens in Logan's Run

And this is the Quiet Meditation Pool






Flags at the Water Gardens, with the Omni Hotel in the background.


If you want to ride your bike there from the Fort Worth Trinity River Trail, there are two ways to approach it.

One way is to get off the trail at West 7th Street (at the north end of Trinity Park, just east of the Montgomery Place shopping center). Turn right (east) on W 7th and proceed over the Trinity River toward downtown, staying on W 7th for about a mile. There is a sidewalk elevated to curb level that can keep you out of car traffic on the bridge. 7th will take a slight bend to the left; stay on it. A few blocks later, turn right (south) on Houston Street* and it will lead you to the entrance to the Gardens on the left, just south of the Fort Worth Convention Center on the left and Omni Hotel on the right. Total from the trail to the Gardens is about a mile and a half.

FW Water Gardens 1

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The other approach is to get off the trail at Heritage Park (there is a bicycle/foot bridge that goes over the river from the main part of the trail). Ride (or walk your bike) up the steep hill to get to downtown along N Taylor Street. Proceed along Taylor until W 5th Street and turn left (east) on W 5th. Two blocks later, turn right (south) on Houston Street* and it will lead you to the entrance to the Gardens on the left, just south of the Fort Worth Convention Center on the left and Omni Hotel on the right. Total from the trail to the Gardens is about a mile.

FW Water Gardens 2

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*When I went there, Houston was closed due to the construction of the Omni Hotel, so if necessary, turn left (east) to detour on W 9th Street past the Fort Worth Convention Center and turn right (south) on Commerce Street; the Gardens will be on the right just after the Convention Center.

If you want to make a day of it, there are several places to eat in Downtown Fort Worth within a couple blocks each way of Main Street between the Convention Center and the Court House.