One hundred years ago, the city of Fort Worth just wanted clean water. Fifty years ago, the
Audubon Society members just wanted a small nature preserve where they could watch
birds.
The two conservation efforts grew into Fort Worth’s wild, green jewel. At 3,621 acres, the
center and refuge became one of the largest city-owned nature preserves in the nation.
The center, adjacent to Lake Worth, contains eight soil varieties, 997 species of plants, and the
pond boasts 308 species. The refuge is home to 40 bison. The wetland, Greer Island, teems with
bird life. The preserve has become an outdoor laboratory for the natural world.
The non-profit Friends group provides $160,000 to $180,000 annually. The judicious use of
these funds maintains, expands and protects the wild state of the center. Volunteers donate
many hours of service in every area.
If you are among the 50,000 visitors who arrive every year, you will feel you are out in the
wilderness. All you can hear are birds calling and armadillos rustling in the grass. As you walk a
trail, you may meet a fox or possum, and you never know when a bobcat or a wildflower display
is just around the corner.
In this special place, you are still in the city limits, but it’s an absolutely wild environment.
Fort Worth Nature Center Website
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