Inspiring the Next Generation
An exclusive opportunity for Fort Worth’s most committed philanthropists and communities to create lasting impact through nature’s transformative power.
Construction
Underway!
Step into the Baker Martin Family Garden, a transformative, two-acre oasis destined to set a new standard for green space in Fort Worth. As the flagship expansion of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s 20-year vision, this project creates hands-on learning and play experiences that celebrate nature and unite families across generations. The Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund generously pledged the lead gift to the Family Garden. In recognition, the garden is named the Baker Martin Family Garden.
$17.5 Million Raised
Educational Opportunities
Every feature fosters curiosity about the natural world, laying foundations for scientific wonder and appreciation that will last a lifetime.
Community & Inclusion
Accessibility was a guiding principle in every plan. The garden’s spaces ensure everyone can engage, relax, and belong.
“We have taken a historic and beautiful garden and planned meaningful new spaces for the community to gather and create lasting emotional souvenirs.”
—Patrick Newman, FWBG President and CEO
Design Excellence & Lasting Legacy
Crafted by Terra Design Studios, visionaries behind more than 25 celebrated family gardens in 12 states, this new garden aligns seamlessly with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s mission for sustainable, engaging, and restorative public spaces. Every path and corner reflect a commitment to innovative, inclusive landscape design, ensuring the Family Garden will inspire Fort Worth for generations to come.
A Vision of Environmental Leadership
The Baker Martin Family Garden represents more than beautiful landscapes—it embodies Fort Worth’s commitment to environmental stewardship through groundbreaking sustainable design. In addition to the 17.5M raised toward our $19M campaign goal, Mr. Ed Bass has donated $1M to elevate the Discovery Center to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification standards.
The Vital Role of Green Space in Fort Worth
As our city grows, green spaces like the Baker Martin Family Garden become essential for residents’ health and happiness. They do more than add beauty, they improve air quality, reduce stress, and create spaces for all ages to connect with nature. The City of Fort Worth has allocated $6 million for the infrastructure of the Baker Martin Family Garden, investing in these areas for a better quality of life for Fort Worth families now and in the future.
Design Excellence & Lasting Legacy
Crafted by Terra Design Studios, visionaries behind more than 25 celebrated family gardens in 12 states, this new garden aligns seamlessly with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s mission for sustainable, engaging, and restorative public spaces. Every path and corner reflect a commitment to innovative, inclusive landscape design, ensuring the Family Garden will inspire Fort Worth for generations to come.
A Vision of Environmental Leadership
The Baker Martin Family Garden represents more than beautiful landscapes—it embodies Fort Worth’s commitment to environmental stewardship through groundbreaking sustainable design. In addition to the 17.5M raised toward our $19M campaign goal, Mr. Ed Bass has donated $1M to elevate the Discovery Center to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification standards.
The Vital Role of Green Space in Fort Worth
As our city grows, green spaces like the Baker Martin Family Garden become essential for residents’ health and happiness. They do more than add beauty, they improve air quality, reduce stress, and create spaces for all ages to connect with nature. The City of Fort Worth has allocated $6 million for the infrastructure of the Baker Martin Family Garden, investing in these areas for a better quality of life for Fort Worth families now and in the future.
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"It’s important for families to have a place to go and play and do things together. I think that children need to explore and find things for themselves. This garden will give children freedom to learn and to grow, something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives."
— Louella Baker Martin, Family Garden Naming Donor
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"The ability to include parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in the sensory experience of nature is restorative. Listening to flowing water, smelling the greenery, seeing what nature has to offer are great ways to provide a reset in our busy lives."
— Laura Bird, Campaign Co-Chair & Leadership Donor
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“It’s wonderful to see a space that combines education with unstructured outdoor play, it’s exactly what families in Fort Worth need.”
— Nancy Hallman, Donor & Longtime Garden Supporter
Build Your Family Legacy
Create a living monument to your values that will flourish for decades. The Baker Martin Family Garden offers meaningful naming opportunities and recognition that honors your commitment to community connection and environmental conservation.
Schedule Your Private Preview
Exclusive preview tours are available for potential partners interested in supporting the Baker Martin Family Garden.
- Explore detailed architectural plans and garden layouts.
- Meet with leadership to discuss naming opportunities and recognition options
- Receive a comprehensive partnership proposal tailored to your philanthropic goals
Watch our progress
Ready to Make an Impact?
Contact Sara Richardson, CFRE, Vice President for Advancement at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, at srichardson@fwbg.org
Office: 817.332.2748 or Cell: 817.614.6516
- Your legacy grows here.
- Your community flourishes here.
- Your impact begins with a single step.
Dive into adventure at our interactive creek, inspired by the beautiful Paluxy River! Triple-treated for safe water play, this creek is the perfect spot to splash, explore, and connect with nature. With plenty of areas to play and engage in fun, nature-based activities, kids can develop their gross motor skills while making unforgettable memories.
Travel from sun, moon, and star-inspired landscapes to playful urban agriculture plots and living earth art. Every themed area invites exploration and imagination.
Splash and play along a 150-foot-long shallow creek, safely nestled among Texas limestone bluffs and native plantings—an invitation for hands-on interaction with flowing water.
Peer into a dynamic habitat teeming with amphibians, fish, and dragonflies. This living ecosystem invites close-up ecological learning and awe.
Roll, run, and play on expansive, green lawns. These gathering spaces encourage healthy activity for guests of all ages.
Enjoy an air-conditioned, LEED-certified hub for educational programs, special events, and enrichment activities. Inside, young readers will delight in a rotating selection of children’s books.
The family garden welcomes everyone—no extra entry fees are required. Thoughtful amenities include inclusive family restrooms, a dedicated parents’ room for recharge and privacy, flexible seating, and shaded areas with overhead fans.
Watch native birds and butterflies find sanctuary in spaces designed specifically for their nourishment and your discovery.
Exclusive Naming Opportunities at the Baker Martin Family Garden
Transform Fort Worth forever while honoring your family’s commitment to community and nature—discover premier naming opportunities that celebrate your philanthropy for generations to come.
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Sun, Moon and Stars Welcome Garden
Create the magical first impression for every family entering the garden. Your named space will feature misting planets, interactive art installations, and the stunning Flower Burst Kaleidoscope where children spin bronze bowls of colorful blooms to create ever-changing explosions of refracted light. This solar system-themed wonderland includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars represented by misting boulders to scale, creating beautiful rainbows while providing cooling relief on hot days.Imagine That! Interactive Play Area
Inspire countless children through unstructured play in this engaging space featuring Jammin Jupiter’s musical corner with Tuned Drums, Flower and Lilypad Cymbals, Pagoda Bells, and a Marimba under Jupiter’s shade structure. Young explorers discover the Run-Around area’s open green space, the Plateau’s hognose snake tunnel and spider web climber, plus the beloved Hackberry Hideout with stump jumps and organic balance beams.Discovery Gardens
Surround the Discovery Center with educational magic through the Turn-The-Page Courtyard, where children become immersed in their favorite nature-themed books, and the Bird Garden, featuring the remarkable holotype American Elm where BRIT botanists discovered a new species -
The Canyon and Creek
Bring the beauty of central-north Texas’ Paluxy River valley to life through this 150-foot-long interactive creek experience. Triple-treated water flows safely from two to four inches deep, creating stroller and wheelchair accessible exploration where children float leaves, build temporary dams, and discover hands-on learning among limestone bluffs. -
The Run Around Experience
Foster gross motor development through the Rollin’ and Tumblin’ Lawn, Hackberry Hideout, and Plateau areas where families create active memories together.Bird Garden Sanctuary
Create a living classroom where budding birdwatchers observe native species through the Discovery Room’s bird blind window wall, while families explore a rotating collection of nature-themed children’s books. -
Hackberry Hideout
Shelter young adventurers under hackberry trees while they enjoy stump jumps, organic balance beams, leaf hoppers on springs, and a sand dig area.Rollin’ and Tumblin’ Lawn
Provide space for hula hooping, lawn games, and joyful tumbling on mounded grassy areas designed for gross motor skill development.The Plateau Adventure Zone
Delight children with the artistic hognose snake tunnel segments, 24-inch toad sculpture, and the innovative web climber designed low for younger children and high for older adventurers.Grass Meander Pathway
Guide visitors through tall grasses and prairie forbs to an artistic windmill and cascading stock tank water feature with brightly colored glass and ceramic mosaic runnel.Grassland Studio
Encourage creativity through loose parts play with permanent weave frames and changing props for gathering, weighing, building, and creating with prairie gifts.Rain Garden Conservation
Demonstrate environmental stewardship through this innovative water management system featuring two 7,500-gallon underground storage tanks that capture stormwater for garden irrigation.Jimmie’s Pavilion Education Center
Anchor learning at the southern end through this shaded teaching station, supporting the Early Childhood Impact Series and Parent/Caregiver Classes on Unstructured Play in partnership with TCU LiiNK program. -
Donor Wall in Sun, Moon and Stars Welcome Garden
Join Fort Worth’s most generous families with prominent recognition on an artistic donor wall within the shaded seating area of the Welcome Garden.
Join Fort Worth's Leading Philanthropists
Major supporters include:
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Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund
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Sid W. Richardson Foundation
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Bird Family Foundation
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Amon G. Carter Foundation
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Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation
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The Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
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Mr. Edward P. Bass
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Leo Potishman Foundation
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The Junior League of Fort Worth, Texas, Incorporated
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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
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William E. Scott Foundation
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Paul E. Andrews, Jr. Foundation
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George C. and Sue W. Sumner Fund
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Fort Worth Garden Club
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Qurumbli Foundation
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Moncrief Endowment Fund
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Beverly Ray Fund at North Texas Community Foundation
