Hillside Park
Dedication
Size
Additional amenities
- Backstop
- Basketball Court
- Benches
- Bike Rack
- Bleachers
- Drinking Fountain
- Grills
- Multi-use/Purpose Slab
- Park Lighting
- Parking lot
- Playground
- Shelter
- Softball/Baseball Field
- Stand Alone Swing
- Tables
- Tennis Courts
Fun Facts & History
Looking northwest from Hillside Park, one gets a stunning few of downtown Fort Worth’s skyline. The aptly named park is located on rolling land once owned by E. B. Daggett, son of Ephraim M. Daggett who many consider to be the father of Fort Worth because of his civic boosterism during the city’s formative years. In 1885, Daggett paid R. Vickery, another early pioneer, $4,966 for 24.8 acres. In 1911, Daggett sold 8.62 acres of this parcel to the city for $15,000.
The park was enlarged with additional purchases from E. B. Daggett in 1923 and the Freehold Property Company in 1927. By 1930, Hillside Park consisted of approximately thirty-three acres. By that date, general improvements had been made to the park, including the construction of roads and walks, a combination shelter house with toilets and stage, and general plantings in accordance with a plan developed by Hare and Hare. From December 1933 to June 1934, additional improvements were made through the Civil Works Administration. These included more sidewalks, grading and sodding, and the planting of approximately one hundred trees of various sizes. Maddox Avenue adjacent to the park was hard-surfaced in 1936.
As the demographics of the surrounding neighborhood changed during the mid-twentieth century, Hillside Park was designated for the use of African Americans. In 1960, a swimming pool was constructed there following the closure of nearby Dixie Park. The engineer for the project was Robin Llewellyn. The landscape architect was the firm of Carter and Burgess. The park’s hilly terrain makes it less conducive for athletic fields. The shelter house was later replaced with the Hillside Community Center in 1970. The center, designed by Adams Reid & Associates, now offers after-school programs, free-play basketball, and a variety of other programs. In addition to the community center, the 24.1-acre park also contains a playground and grills. A much sought-after walking trail was opened to the public on June 14, 2014. Lifelong Hillside resident Mary Ellen Blakemore spearheaded the effort to bring the trail to the park.
View animal, plant and insect species observed at Hillside Park and make some of your own observations through iNaturalist. See link under the "Related information" Section.
Reserve this park on ActiveNet
Location
1201 East Maddox Avenue, Fort Worth 76104 View Map
32.728148,-97.3120598
1201 East Maddox Avenue ,
Fort Worth 76104
1201 East Maddox Avenue ,
Fort Worth 76104
Hillside Park