Fort Worth Looking At Improvements For Lake Arlington
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Fort Worth is hoping some federal help will lead to development of long languishing property along Fort Worth's side of Lake Arlington. One of the few developed properties there now is Eugene McCray Park which is accessible by a couple of well-worn roads and lacks amenities some people want.
"This is a lake, so I would think by being a lake, a recreational lake, you could come out here and people could play and you could have stuff for the kids and maybe a trail walk," said park user Derrick Ledford. "But there ain't none of that out here. Nice trees? None of that."
Ledford and Manuel Brown, who lives near the park, compare the Fort Worth side of Lake Arlington to the City of Arlington's side of the lake.
The Arlington side has lakeside property development, large, child-friendly park facilities and plenty of roads accessing the water. The Fort Worth side doesn't even have a permanent restroom.
"It's lovely man, just lovely," Ledford said of the Arlington side.
"This could be a hundred percent better," Brown said of the Fort Worth development. "I'm talking about a hundred times a hundred percent better."
In a recent study, planners stated what they're lacking are the roads to access the lake and develop it. In fact, much of the land between 820 and the lake is undeveloped and remote enough killers have dumped bodies there in the past several weeks.
"People are scared," Brown said. "There is starting to be a lot of uncomfortable stuff going on. Body being found. Three bodies within the last few months just around the certain area."
Fort Worth is now receiving federal help to draw up plans for developing Lake Arlington. A specialist from the National Park Service will help the city map out plans to develop trails and lake access. Key will be a lakeside road running along the shore. Once the planning is complete the city can apply for grants to get the project started.
"I could see a lot of development through here," Brown said "Some trails, some playgrounds, some excitement to bring the people out and enjoy this place!"
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