Streams & Valleys, in partnership with the city of Fort Worth, officially broke ground Friday on a new public plaza in Trinity Park — an initiative that marks a significant milestone for both the long-standing nonprofit and the community it serves.
More than 50 community members, donors, and local leaders gathered on the southwest side of the Phyllis Tilley Memorial Pedestrian Bridge to celebrate the start of construction. The project will bring new amenities, natural features, and gathering spaces to one of Fort Worth’s most iconic and well-loved parks.
“Trinity Park holds a special place in Fort Worth’s story, and projects like this one remind us that public-private partnerships have been shaping this park and this city for more than a century,” said Lauren Deen, executive director of Streams & Valleys, in a statement. “Today’s groundbreaking is part of that same legacy: people and partners coming together to make our greenspaces better for everyone.”
The new plaza is designed to enhance connection, nature, and community throughout the park. Features will include a Butterfly Garden funded by William and Betty Hudson; a Sixty-Three Tree Flowering Grove honoring Streams & Valleys founder Phyllis Tilley and funded by the GWR Foundation; a Harvest Table for community gatherings and reflection; a Wildflower Meadow planted with native grasses and blooms; and additional amenities such as benches, shade trees, and a new drinking fountain.
Streams & Valleys board chair Jennifer Harnish opened the ceremony by noting that “the enhancements shared this morning will reshape the west bank by the Phyllis Tilley Memorial Bridge, not far from the very spot where Streams & Valleys began in 1969.”
Phyllis Jones Tilley served as a driving force for Trinity River beautification, beginning in the late 1960s. Her concern that “we’ve got this natural resource, and it looks like a sewer” helped spark the founding of the nonprofit Streams & Valleys Inc. in 1969.
In 1972, Tilley’s idea for celebrating the river’s revitalization gave rise to Mayfest, the spring festival held in Trinity Park, along the river.
Deen reflected on Trinity Park’s evolution, emphasizing how civic-minded groups and visionary leaders have consistently propelled improvements. “From the beginning, Trinity Park grew because Fort Worth citizens believed in it and invested in it,” she said. “Today’s groundbreaking is a continuation of that commitment.”
The city of Fort Worth through the use of designated Community Funds matched $750,000 of the more than $1 million raised through private donations.
The Children’s Choir of Texas opened and closed the program with special performances.
Construction, which will begin this month, is expected to be completed in April.
In addition to the city, notable donors include The Ryan Foundation, GWR Foundation, North Texas Community Foundation, Amon G. Carter Foundation, Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund, William E. Scott Foundation, William and Betty Hudson, and Garvey Texas Foundation.