Fort Worth Water Gardens

The 4.3-acre (1.7 hectare) Water Gardens were designed by noted New York architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and were dedicated to the City of Fort Worth by the Amon G. Carter Foundation.

Interstate 30 was relocated from its former site immediately adjacent to the Water Gardens, making the south end of the park quieter.

On March 21, 1991, Larry James Watkins, 43, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was one of two people killed when the light pole toppled at about 6 p.m. in gusty winds.

[1] Libby Watson, an assistant Fort Worth city manager, said the following day that investigators had not determined what caused the metal pole to snap at the base and fall.

Juantrice Deadmon, 11, Myron Dukes, 35; his daughter Lauren, 8; and his son Christopher, 13, were drowned after being pulled down by the pumps at the center of the Active Pool.

[5] Later reports revealed that the water depth had been increased to 9 feet to keep the pumps working properly in spite of litter and tree debris that had created a 50 percent blockage of the screens covering the pool's drain.

[8] Representatives from Chicago and Fort Worth were part of the 2,000 people in attendance, including Mayor Mike Moncrief.