By Fran Lowe\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When I moved to Fort Worth from Houston in 1985 to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I was impressed by the small-town feel even though the population at the time was about 420,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Servers at local restaurants and grocery stores remembered my name and made me feel like a family member. This gracious hospitality even extended to casual conversations with passersby on a regular basis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even though I didn\u2019t graduate from the seminary, Fort Worth appealed to me so much that I stayed and got married here in 1996. My husband and I settled in a rental home in an older neighborhood in south Fort Worth off Westcreek.<\/p>\n When my elderly hearing and visually impaired mother-in-law required more care, my husband persuaded her to relocate from Austin to Fort Worth. We frantically searched for houses in the rapidly developing neighborhoods along the Chisholm Trail Parkway in southwest Fort Worth. We finally discovered Llano Springs, a quiet community that had two older sections and one with lots available. We didn\u2019t want to wait that long, so we bought a new building near completion and moved in October of 2015.<\/p>\n As our family watched the neighborhood grow, we appreciated the caring nature of the people who live here.\u00a0<\/p>\n One day, while I was out, Mom went to the mailbox and became disoriented due to her lack of vision. A concerned man walking by noticed her plight and escorted her back to the front door.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another older lady with dementia used to wander the streets daily in her bathrobe, no matter the weather. She would often get lost, but kind neighbors escorted her home and then contacted her relatives.<\/p>\n Residents often contact the Llano Springs community about anything from lost pets to service requests (roofers, plumbers, electricians) through the homeowners\u2019 Facebook page. Many respond with practical suggestions and advice. Several months ago, when a family nearby lost their home struck by lightning, sympathetic neighbors quickly responded to the post by generously donating money and clothing to meet their immediate needs.<\/p>\n We have year-round neighborhood events that foster a relaxing family atmosphere. The Easter egg hunt at the pool, seasonal garage sales, National Night Out, and Halloween trick or treating at participating homes serve to bring the community closer together as friendships are formed and built. I\u2019ve even been able to invite new neighbors to church through these outings.<\/p>\n Sometimes, however, unwelcome visitors commit crimes of vandalism and theft. Fortunately, a police officer living in our neighborhood listens to our security concerns and takes action when necessary. Llano Springs is indeed a community whose people look out for one another. It\u2019s reassuring to me that I can freely walk the streets of the neighborhood at night without fear of being assaulted or harassed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the explosive urban sprawl of new condos and shopping centers, Llano Springs keeps its friendly neighborhood feel. It truly is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.<\/p>\n Fran Lowe is a book editor. She moved to Fort Worth in 1985 and never left.<\/p>\n \nLlano Springs<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n Total population<\/strong>: 3,717 Age<\/strong>
Female: 62% | Male: 38%<\/p>\n
0-9: 8%
10-19: 12%
20-29: 20%
30-39: 21%
40-49: 14%
50-59: 17%
60-69: 2%
70-79: 5%
80 and older: 1%<\/p>\n