Fort Worth City Council approved the acquisition of two land parcels during their regular meeting Nov. 19. The purchases support Mayor Mattie Parker’s Good Natured Greenspace Initiative goal of preserving 10,000 acres of greenspace across Fort Worth in the next five years.

The big picture

According to a city news release, City Council approved the following two purchases of land:

• $1.7 million for 42 acres along Mahafy Street in Northwest Fort Worth
• $3.9 million for 153 acres in Northwest Fort Worth located within the Silver Creek watershed

A closer look

The news release states the Mahafy Street property includes an old-growth riparian tree canopy, as well as previously disturbed areas returning to high-quality prairies. The intent is to incorporate the property into the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge in the future.

The Silver Creek property was acquired from Pioneer Land & Cattle Co. and W.R. Collier. The news release states the Open Space Working Group identified the property as moderate to high priority for conservation and is a water quality priority zone that includes:

• High-quality, endangered Cross Timbers forest
• Fort Worth Prairie ecosystems
• Riparian ecosystems and floodplain along Silver Creek

The news release states funding for the Mahafy Street property comes from the 2022 Bond Program Fund. Funding for the Silver Creek property is budgeted in the Water/Sewer Gas Lease Capital Project Fund and the 2022 Bond Program.