Fort Worth Water Gardens

The Fort Worth Water Gardens is an urban park and water feature complex in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, noted for its sculpted pools and modernist design. It opened in the 1970s as a civic project to create a public water landscape.

The site comprises several distinct water environments including a stepped Active Pool with dramatic cascades, an Aerating Pool with fountains and a Quiet/Reflecting Pool for calm views. Paths and terraces allow close-up viewing of moving water, and the complex is compact enough for short visits within a downtown cultural itinerary.

The gardens were created as part of downtown Fort Worth’s civic improvements in the 1970s and were designed by the firm of Philip Johnson and John Burgee. The layout and concrete forms reflect modernist landscape principles and have been preserved as a prominent urban landscape feature.

Set in the heart of downtown Fort Worth near Bass Performance Hall and Sundance Square, the gardens are within easy walking distance of other central cultural and commercial sites.

• Design history: Designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and opened in 1974, the gardens are an urban waterscape located in downtown Fort Worth.
• Location advantage: The site is adjacent to cultural venues in the Sundance Square/Bass Performance Hall area, making it easy to combine with visits to downtown attractions.

What to See #

• Active Pool: The Active Pool is a stepped, terraced water feature with descending concrete platforms and a strong cascading flow of water designed for visual drama and sound.
• Aerating Pool: The Aerating Pool is a shallow series of jets and fountains that create a spraying, bubbling surface framed by trees and seating.
• Quiet/Reflecting Pool: The Quiet or Reflecting Pool is a shallow, placid basin bordered by trees and paved paths intended for contemplation and quieter views of water.