Apartment dwelling

Hang your visor at 6 top apartment homes near parks in Fort Worth

There are a few parks just steps from the front door of The Venue at 8651.

Photo courtesy of Apartment List

It’s peak outdoor season in Fort Worth, so take advantage of spring by finding your spot outside. Whether you want to run around with your dog, play a quick game of pick-up basketball with friends, or just enjoy soaking up the sun and fresh air, there’s nothing better than relaxing at the park.

If you're in the market to move or downsize, check out these six apartment communities within a short distance of some of Fort Worth’s best parks.

Parkside So7
Fort Worth shows off its cosmopolitan side in the Cultural District. Parkside So7 is a new luxury community located on West 7th Street, one of the most vibrant places in the city. The jogging trails and community fields at Trinity Park wind along the Trinity River for miles. You’ll see lots of your neighbors jogging and biking on the riverside trails. Then when you’re done at the park, all of the city’s cultural amenities and nightlife are just outside your front door.

Overton Trails
The area of Fort Worth along Chisholm Trail Parkway is a well-established neighborhood that’s also bustling with new activity. Texas Christian University and the new luxury Shops at Clearfork shopping center are close by. With a pet spa and bark park onsite, this pet-friendly community makes it comfortable to relax at home. Residents also are close to Overton Park, a beautiful area with lots of mature trees and trails for walking.

Sagewater Village
The residential area around the Alliance Town Center shopping district in far north Fort Worth is growing fast. Sagewater Village brings an urban village setting to the midst of an otherwise suburban area with lots of shopping and dining options. Prairie Vista Park is next door to the luxury apartments. With events like “Food Truck Fridays” and lots of opportunities for walking and relaxing outdoors, there's no need to jump on congested I-35W and head to the heart of the city to play.

Magnolia at Mistletoe Heights
Fort Worth residents know that the Magnolia area of the Near Southside is a hot spot. With easy access to the Hospital District and minutes from downtown, Magnolia is home to some of the city’s most eclectic, artsy shops and eateries. Magnolia at Mistletoe Heights are luxury apartments with new techy amenities and an urban feel. In a landlocked neighborhood like this, you wouldn’t expect to find large parks. Instead, residents of this famously friendly neighborhood came together to create a micro-park, the first of its kind in Fort Worth. The experimental space has kid-friendly interactive art exhibits and artists painting onsite.

The Scenic at River East
The scenic bluffs of Fort Worth are bustling with new residents. With views of the Trinity River and next to Riverside Park, The Scenic at River East is for those who enjoy natural scenery. The apartments are located in the Race Street area, one of the city’s up-and-coming urban villages. Residents love the innovative eateries in the neighborhood, from a Cajun café to a new artisanal doughnut shop. Bonus that they get to take in beautiful views of Fort Worth’s skyline at night.

The Venue at 8651
If location is everything, it doesn’t get more convenient than The Venue at 8651 — especially for commuters. Just south of Interstate 30 in the Meadowbrook neighborhood, the location means drivers can get to get to either Arlington or downtown Fort Worth minutes, and Dallas is much closer, too. Recently renovated apartments have the features today's apartment dwellers want, like hardwood floors and in-unit washer and dryer hookups. There’s also more than one park in the budget-friendly neighborhood. The nearby Sandy Lane Park got a $1.3 million facelift in 2016, with new playground equipment, tennis courts and basketball courts. The Quanah Parker park has long trails for hiking and biking.

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A version of this story originally was published on Candy's Dirt. Sydney Bennet is a senior research associate who writes about apartments and more for ApartmentList.

There are a few parks just steps from the front door of The Venue at 8651.

Photo courtesy of Apartment List

There are a few parks just steps from the front door of The Venue at 8651.

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Plant News

Fort Worth 'backyard' greenhouse sells grow-your-own plants and herbs

CBG

Greenhouse at Cowtown Backyard Growers

A Fort Worth mom-and-pop is helping to make the city a little more green: Cowtown Backyard Growers is a family-owned micro urban nursery, providing everything from potted peppers to starter flowers and herbs.

Founded by husband-and-wife Ed and Mandy Prince, Cowtown strives to provide great quality plants at a good value. Their goal is to assist new gardeners and share the knowledge they've gained in their 20+ years of growing food in North Texas.

They grow and sell small plants from their "Backyard Greenhouse" at their southeast Fort Worth home, open by appointment or during limited hours through the week.

Their goods include rosemary, thyme, African and French marigolds, sweet and hot peppers, and a recent addition, asparagus beans. Most of their items are between $2-$8.

The two Fort Worth residents and one-time chefs started growing food on the patio of their apartment 15 years ago.

"We are both foodies, we love to cook and eat great food," Mandy says. "When we were newlyweds, we looked for ways to get the best produce we could."

The couple met in culinary school at Aims Academy, and worked at some well-known restaurants such as Aquaknox, a now-closed seafood restaurant from chef Stephan Pyles.

But gardening was always a shared interest, and Mandy had it in the family: Her grandfather, William Lee Foster, owned a produce company in Missouri.

The concept for selling potted plants was an idea of their daughter's, Mandy says.

"Our daughter loves house plants and wanted to start a business," Mandy says. "I was also inspired by a podcast by the Savvy Dirt Farmer. He does landscape planting and has a nursery in his backyard — but we wanted to focus more on herbs."

They eventually got their nursery floral license, required for businesses growing flowers and plants for sale.

Cowtown Backyard Growers is a part-time venture. Ed works in the medical equipment industry, and Mandy homeschools their two daughters. In the hours in between and on weekends, they cultivate and pot their plants to ready them for clients.

"What we focus on is aiding people new to growing to help them incorporate it into their lives," Mandy says. "I can give them one-on-one attention for plant care and tips."