Jacksboro Highway Plans

Neighbors have asked about the proposed plans for Jacksboro Highway and the Lake Worth bridge. There is some work that will begin soon and other plans that will be done far in the future.

Short-Term Plans:
In the short-term, the bridge will get traffic dividers. Currently, there is no physical barrier between east and west bound traffic. While dangerous enough in clear conditions, icy conditions make the bridge particularly dangerous. The homemade memorial on the east end of the bridge shows evidence of the deaths that have already occurred there. Installation of the traffic dividers should start in mid-June.

Long-Term Plans:
In the long-term, Jacksboro Highway will become a large, raised, divided highway (like an Interstate). As anyone who drives the highway knows, much of the work has already been completed past the Fort Worth city limits. In the future, a large "mix master" will be built where Jacksboro Highway crosses I-820. A new bridge will be built just north of the current Lake Worth bridge. The current bridge will then be used for carrying access road traffic across the lake. Currently, there is no schedule or budget to complete this work.

To see the long-term plan in more detail, click the image below.

Love Circle Park - Recommendations

(Click image to see larger picture.)

Overall Park Improvement Objective: Maximize Love Circle Park's potential value to the City of Fort Worth as well as the local community.

Specific Objectives:

• Build on park's proximity to the Fort Worth Nature Center and Lake Worth.
• Restore park to a more natural state.
• Make park more useful to community's recreational and physical fitness needs.
• Create a plan that complements The Lake Worth Vision effort.
• Create a plan that coordinates with the values and goals of the Fort Worth Nature Center.
• Look for design features that enhance the safety of park users and the neighborhood.

Specific Proposals:

1) Finish park cleanup.
Undoubtedly, Love Circle Park is in much better condition today than just a few months ago. The park has been cleared of the terrible garbage, abandoned structures, and large piles of dirt left by the previous tenant. However, there still remains a tremendous amount of cleanup. Many trees in the "mowed area" are covered with vines and surrounded by brush. These "brush islands" make it impossible for mowers to get under trees and for park users to enjoy the trees' shade. Moreover, these dense brush globs attract people who want to misuse the park. For example, neighbors recently found a man in one of these clumps "huffing" spray paint.

• Raise tree canopy in mowed area (so mowers can reach under trees).
• Remove vines and brush from under trees.
• Remove unsightly fencing in and around park and smooth for mowing.

2) Preserve and increase tree canopy coverage.
While a "diamond in the rough," Love Circle Park already enjoys a significant amount of natural habitat and lush tree canopy. The plan would build on these assets by preserving the existing canopy and planting more trees.

• Leave dense vegetation on east end of park for animals and as a buffer to Jacksboro Highway.
• Plant 50+ new trees to reforest damaged area.

3) Build professional grade jogging trail in park with connections to existing and forthcoming park assets.
Currently, neighbors and citizens from around the area daily converge on Love Circle to walk around the park. The plan would build on this community need for a walking and jogging area by including a scenic course. Moreover, this track would provide a connection to new and existing recreational assets such as Casino Beach and the Fort Worth Nature Center.

• Plan for under-bridge connection to Casino Beach (when redeveloped) and Trinity Bike Trails (when installed).
• Connect to new pedestrian entrance to Fort Worth Nature Center.

4) Enhance Park and Neighborhood Safety.
In its abandoned and neglected state, Love Circle Park and some of the adjacent land has been a magnet for crime and misuse. Vagrants have been found living in the dense brush clumps. Sexual and drug offenders have been found parked on the abandoned roadbeds. Drive by theft continues to occur on a regular basis. While no plan can completely eliminate crime, measures can be taken to reduce the area's attractiveness for misbehavior.

• Remove old unused and unnecessary roadbeds.
• Install new parking lot.
• Install traffic control around park (e.g. cabling).
• Secure TXDOT property on west end of Jacksboro Highway bridge with traffic control measures.
• Reduce potential crime by reducing traffic from Jacksboro Highway.

• Turn the east end of Love Circle into a cul-de-sac.
• Post signs at west end that Love Circle is "Not a Thru Street."