Smith-Wilemon Park, a 3.2-acre pocket park in east Fort Worth’s White Lake Hills, is getting a new playscape, swings and pickleball court.
Lorie Kinler, city of Fort Worth project manager, reviewed four options for the park’s update — as gleaned from previous feedback — while leading a public meeting at East Fort Worth Montessori School on July 13.
Three of the four options are within the $212,000 budget. The over-budget option would require raising additional funds, such as a contribution from the neighborhood association.
The four options cover different playground packages. Those are added to the projected $100,000 cost of the pickleball court.
Option 1: Leaves the existing swing set and adds a rocket ship climber something like this one. This option was estimated to cost $20,000.
Option 2: Leaves the existing swings, while adding the VistaTree Top 1 and a vine climber. The city estimated this option would cost $40,000.
Option 3: Removes the existing swings and replaces them with a large climbing and play structure something like this one. This option will also include a free-standing play structure consisting of musical instruments like these. It was estimated this option would cost about $125,000, which would push the total project above its budget.
Option 4: Removes the existing swings, provides a smaller play scape and adds two swings. The swing set would consist of an expression swing and a belt swing. Struthers Recreation describes an expression swing as one that “promotes intergenerational play as adults and children swing together. The face-to-face design features a bucket or toddler seat for children under 5 and a comfortable adult swing seat that allows adult and child to interact with each other.” A meeting attendee asked whether this swing would promote inclusion, and Kinler said it does. The estimated cost of this option would be about $80,000.
Attendees, mostly members of the White Lake Hills Neighborhood Association, chose the fourth option with no opposition.
Smith-Wilemon Park Public Meeting
Documenter: Patrick Banis
Date: July 13, 2026
Learn more about this meeting by clicking here.
Some of the attendees asked whether the musical instruments from the third option could be attached to this structure. Kinler said she believed that was possible and that the staff will investigate pricing.
The pickleball court will be off the road about 50 feet and nestled behind trees.
The city will add low fencing around the court to keep the ball from rolling away and install an accessible route. It was asked whether the court would have a picnic table. The staff said there was no plan for a picnic table, but they would look into pricing. The estimated cost of the court is about $100,000.
The placement of the pickleball court will accentuate the wooded features of the park.
Once the project plan is completed, the city will open the project for bids in October. After the city accepts a bid, it will take 60-90 days to go under contract, the staff said. The city expects construction to begin in early 2027.
Patrick Banis is a member of the Fort Worth Report Documenters crew. If you believe anything in this account is inaccurate, please email us at news@fortworthreport.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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