Harrold Park

Dedication

1950

Size

2.3 acres

Additional amenities

Benches
Playground

Fun Facts and History

In 1947, the park board voted to accept the gift of two acres in the 1500 block of Summit Avenue for use as a city park. Mrs. M. M. Barnes bequeathed the property as a memorial to her father, E. B. Harrold, an early Fort Worth banker and businessman. The park was the original location of Mrs. Barnes’ childhood home which had been built in the early 1880s by George B. Loving. The tract was known for its lovely gardens, lily pond, small greenhouse, and statuary. The gift stipulated that all of the buildings were to be removed prior to the property being developed as a park to be known as E. B. Harrold Park and that any building constructed on the site must be used for park purposes only.

At the time of Mrs. Barnes’ bequest, Summit Avenue was in a state of transition. Stately homes built in the late 19^th and early 20^th-centuries were being replaced with modern commercial buildings. In 1952, the park board considered erecting a shelter in the park but later voted to replace it with a flower bed.

The city’s first Living Legacy Forest was dedicated in Harrold Park on April 30, 1993 in conjunction with Texas Arbor Day. Participating in the dedication were the Parks and Recreation Department and Re-leaf Tarrant County, a group devoted to the preservation of urban forests. Offspring of seven historic trees were planted in honor of the following organizations and individuals: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital planted two trees in honor of its relationship with the nonprofit Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County; 1992 Mayfest Committee by its chairwoman, Sally Keiss; Peggy Knapp, founder of Re-Leaf; Elaine Petrus, Re-Leaf’s 1992 chairwoman; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Williams by their daughter, Carolyn Bellah, Clean City director (today’s Keep Fort Worth Beautiful); and the late Mary Jo Harrell, long-time park department employee, by her co-workers. Today, Harrold Park is mostly used as a playground.

View animal, plant and insect species observed at Harrold Park and make some of your own observations through iNaturalist. See link under the "Related information" Section.

Reserve this park on ActiveNet