City Of Fort Worth: LVTRise, Councilmember Crain Host State Of Las Vegas Trail Forum

Press release from City of Fort Worth:

October 27, 2021

Community stakeholders, city officials and LVTRise team members gathered Tuesday evening to provide a townhall update on the progress of work in the Las Vegas Trail/Western Hills neighborhood. The event marked more than four years since the start of studies, planning and implementation in the impoverished area.

District 3 Councilmember Michael D. Crain and LVTRise Executive Director Willie Rankin opened the evening by acknowledging the efforts of former Councilmember Brian Byrd and other stakeholders, such as TD Smyers, as the guiding forces to begin the initiative.

Speakers included Mayor Mattie Parker, Crain, Rankin and a panel of subject matter experts focusing on the efforts and progress that has been made since the beginning of LVTRise, a nonprofit organization.

Panelists focused on the collective efforts that positively impact the daily lives of the more than11,000 residents living in the high-density area that totals 1.7 square miles. The area is bound by Interstate 30 on the north, Cherry Lane on the east, Camp Bowie Boulevard West to the south and Loop 820 on the west.

In 2017, an estimated 71% of people living in the area were believed to be living at low to very low income levels. Since the work began, the City of Fort Worth has collaborated with LVTRise to develop a community center at the former site of the YMCA, 8201 Calmont Ave. With the completion of RISE Community Center Phase I in the second quarter of 2020, LVTRise has been able to provide much-needed social services and emergency services for the area. The center is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022 when Phase II is completed.

“Las Vegas Trail was a forgotten part of the city and needed strong advocacy in order to effect positive change,” Crain said. “The residents needed access to basic services, higher quality education, a focus on living conditions and more resources. Over the last four years, we have brought that increased attention, but there is still more work to be done.”

During the event, panelists reported that through the pandemic, more than383,484 pounds of food had been distributed by food pantries, COVID-19 vaccine clinics had been hosted and more than 154 households were served through the emergency rental assistance program, totaling more than $700,000.

Additionally, the city opened the RISE Library, 8201 Calmont Ave., offering literacy programs and access to technology.

“Our revitalization efforts didn’t include a communitywide pandemic response,” Rankin said. “But, we did plan to address the needs of the community, so we had to pivot to provide our residents the services they needed.

“Not only did we deal with the chaos of the pandemic, but we also dealt with the winter storm that hit us earlier this year,” Rankin said. “It was one pivot after another. We were truly committed to being a resource to our residents and providing them the assistance where they needed it.”

The panelists shared data focused on the four strategic pillars of LVTRise:

The evening included the announcement that a Property Improvement District had been formalized and was in its planning stages to primarily provide additional safety coverage to the area and to focus on other needs.

The forum ended with another announcement of a strategic plan for transformation.

“There is a strong desire to move this community forward, so we must continue to change the narrative through action,” Crain said. “With the forthcoming transformation plan, my hope is that Las Vegas Trail will once again be a thriving part of the city where people want to be, not where people end up.”

The City of Fort Worth has issued a request for proposal and gave the team the go-ahead to begin to formulate a plan for full implementation. The plan is scheduled to be delivered for review in the second quarter of 2022. Further work will begin at that time.

“We are looking forward to seeing the next phase of work take place at that time,” Rankin said. “By then, Phase II of the community center will be complete, and we can shift our focus to deepening our understanding of the root cause of certain issues in the neighborhood and addressing them holistically.”

Photo: The RISE Community Center, shown here in an architect’s rendering, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022.

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This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.