Cutting Costs, Growing Communities: Mobile Tool Shed Program Takes Off

“One, two, three, it was easy!” Rosa Gomez beamed as she admired her freshly cut yard — the result of a weekend spent outdoors in the Worth Heights neighborhood. Her once overgrown lawn had received the TLC it desperately needed, thanks to a little help from the City of Fort Worth’s new Mobile Tool Shed program.  

“I rented a lawn mower and a tree trimmer to cut a few branches in the front yard,” said Gomez. Her lawn equipment had broken earlier this spring, and the rain didn’t help matters. “The grass was already up to my knees!” she exclaimed. 

Fortunately, help arrived right at her doorstep.   

Code Compliance Officer Gaylon Johnson gently unloaded a lawnmower and trimmer near Gomez’s driveway, tools she had reserved online just days earlier. “Residents sign up for the tools they need, choose a drop-off time, and we show up at their doorstep,” Johnson explained. “Each piece of equipment comes ready to use.” 

Johnson showed Gomez how the equipment worked, unscrewing the gas cap to give a quick tutorial. “This is where the gas goes,” he said. “But you won’t have to worry about that, we drop it off full, and you can return it empty.” 

The process is simple and free. Gomez said it took just minutes to visit the city’s code compliance website, select her tools and schedule delivery. “It was great,” she said. “And the tool pickup was even better. I was heading to work in the morning, and they told me they could come anytime, it was very convenient.” 

Now, she’s helping spread the word. “I told my neighborhood association about it, and they were like, ‘How does it work?’ They’re excited and said they’ll definitely look into it.” 

The Mobile Tool Shed is part of the city’s effort to support residents in maintaining their properties while also boosting neighborhood pride and compliance with local codes.  

“The tools are there for them,” said Brian Daugherty, director of code compliance. “We're working to break down barriers, whether it’s financial or lack of transportation, that can make it difficult to access lawn equipment.”  

For each home that borrows from the Tool Shed, the city avoids potentially costly abatements. This program can save residents hundreds of dollars that would otherwise be spent on contractor fees to clean properties that fall out of compliance.  

The Code Compliance Department is closely monitoring the program in its early stages. “If it proves successful in our pilot neighborhoods, we absolutely want to explore expanding it to more communities across Fort Worth,” added Daugherty.  

For residents like Rosa Gomez, the program is a timely lifeline ahead of a rainy spring and summer. “I’m just really grateful the City of Fort Worth is offering something like this. It makes a big difference,” she said.  

Watch the Tool Shed in Action!

Mobile Tool Shed Information