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.
Options for the Park
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, which 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. 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, which would also include a free-standing play structure consisting of musical instruments. 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. 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.
Pickleball Court Details
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. 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.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
