Exclusive: Fort Worth Parks Under Scrutiny – Are Your Tax Dollars Being Wasted?

Fort Worth residents are demanding accountability as new reports reveal potential mismanagement in the city's parks and recreation department. With millions in tax dollars at stake, community watchdogs and citizen journalists are digging deeper into where the money is really going.

Key Findings Spark Public Outrage

A recent investigation by local documenters has uncovered concerning patterns in park funding allocations:

• Delayed Maintenance: 37% of playground equipment inspected was rated "poor" or "failing"
• Budget Discrepancies: $2.3 million earmarked for park improvements remains unspent
• Priority Shifts: High-income neighborhoods received 62% of recent upgrades

Citizen Journalists Lead the Charge

The grassroots DocumentersFW initiative has trained over 150 local residents to:

1. Attend public meetings
2. Analyze budget documents
3. File open records requests
4. Publish findings through community networks

"This isn't about politics – it's about making sure our kids have safe places to play," said Maria Gonzalez, a volunteer documenter from the Stop Six neighborhood.

City Officials Respond

Parks Department Director Robert Clayton disputed some findings but acknowledged room for improvement:

• Pointed to supply chain delays affecting project timelines
• Promised equity audits for future spending
• Announced new public dashboard for tracking expenditures

What's Next for Fort Worth Parks?

The controversy has sparked calls for:

• A full forensic audit of park funds
• Revised budget approval processes
• Community oversight committees
• Mandatory documenter access to all planning meetings

What Do You Think?

• Should citizen journalists have access to all government financial records?
• Is it fair to prioritize park upgrades in wealthier neighborhoods that generate more tax revenue?
• Would you volunteer as a documenter if it meant exposing waste in your community?
• Are government transparency efforts just creating more bureaucracy?
• Should park funding be slashed to address more "urgent" city problems like homelessness?

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