Sunset Neighborhood Park

Dedication

1918

Size

10 acres

Additional amenities

Bench
Electrical box
Grill
Park lighting
Playground area
Restroom
Stand-alone swing
Table
Trash receptacle
Water feature

Fun facts

Sunset Park is one of numerous parks located around Lake Worth. Although the City of Fort Worth acquired over two thousand acres of land for the construction of the lake, most of these parks were not officially designated as city parks until 1970, Sunset Park being one of them.

History

Sunset Park sits on the shores of Lake Worth; which was the second municipal water supply built in Texas, constructed shortly after Dallas’ White Rock Lake. The man-made lake was constructed for $1.6 million and was first filled on August 19, 1914. It is situated six miles northwest of Fort Worth on the West Fork of the Trinity, covering 8.48 square miles.

Recreation

This is a shaded, lakeside neighborhood park with a relaxed atmosphere. The park is a great spot for a picnic. Although there is not a paved boat launch, kayaks can easily be launched from the sandy shoreline.

Geology

The park's geology is split between Paluxy Sand of the Early Cretaceous on the northern half of the park and ancient Terrace deposits from the Pleistocene and Holocene on the southern half.

Soils

The soils closer to the shoreline are of the Bastil Series comprising loamy alluvial sediments formed on stream terraces on river valleys. Further away from the shore, the soil transitions to Windthorst Series formed in sand and clay weathered from claystone and sandstone of Cretaceous age. These soils occur on summits, shoulders, and backslopes of ridges on hills.

Ecology

The park sits on the shores of Lake Worth. Alligators live in the area and it north Texas is part of their natural range. If you see an alligator(PDF, 17MB), keep your distance and do not feed or harass it. Pack out your trash or dispose of it properly in a trash receptacle. You can learn more about alligators here. To avoid luring wildlife to food waste, please pack out your trash or dispose of it properly in a trash receptacle.

Several species of geese have been spotted at the park including Canada goose, swan goose, and greater white-fronted goose.

The park historically would have been Western Cross Timbers upland species such as post oak and blackjack oak with shade-tolerant grasses and shrubs. Typical Cross Timbers understory consists of inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), hairy woodland brome (Bromus pubescens), Cherokee sedge (Carex cherokeensis), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana), coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), leafy elephant's foot (Elephantopus carolinianus), and several species of ferns.

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

Reserve this park on ActiveNet