Northwest Community Park

Northwest Community Park is a sprawling 244.5-acre green space located in Fort Worth, Texas. As the fifth largest park in the city, it offers visitors a diverse range of natural landscapes and recreational facilities. The park features a 25-acre lake, which serves as a focal point for many activities and provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

The park's terrain includes bottomland hardwoods along the creek and edges of the lake, as well as pockets of Fort Worth Prairie species in the upland areas. This mix of ecosystems supports a variety of wildlife, from fish and aquatic species to mammals and neotropical migratory birds. The park is also home to numerous plant species, including native grasses and wildflowers.

For those interested in outdoor recreation, Northwest Community Park offers a paved one-mile loop trail and natural surface hiking trails. These paths wind along the lakeshore, up onto the prairie, and lead to scenic points of interest such as a small limestone waterfall. An 80-foot railed ADA-compliant dock on the south end of the lake provides accessible fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.

The park also includes several sports facilities, catering to various athletic interests. Additionally, it features public art installations that recognize the pollinators and prairie ecosystems of the area. The park's design aims to balance recreational use with conservation, with nearly 50 acres set aside as natural area open space.

Geologically, the park sits on Early Cretaceous limestone formations, which contribute to its unique landscape. Big Fossil Creek, which runs through the park, is known for the large fossils found along its course, including marine megafossils such as ammonites and echinoids.