Accessibility

Physical Access to the Garden and Buildings | Financial Access | Other Accommodations

All guests are welcome at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

The Garden does not discriminate on the basis of disability and strives to provide its guests with disabilities equal access to its facilities, programs, services and activities. Upon request, the Garden will provide appropriate aids and services and make reasonable modifications to its policies and practices so that guests with disabilities may have an equal opportunity to access the Garden’s facilities and participate in programs, services and activities. The Garden will not impose a surcharge to cover the cost of providing these accommodations.

We are also committed to ensuring that individuals may enjoy the Garden no matter what their financial circumstances. Multiple options are available to make the Garden available to all.

For assistance planning your visit, specific questions, or feedback, please get in touch with us by email at admissions@fwbg.org or by phone at 817-332-4441. TTY users may dial 711 to be connected to our main line.

Physical Access to the Garden and Buildings

The Garden’s interactive map contains a wealth of information about the Garden and is an excellence reference for guests. A detailed map of the Japanese Garden is also available.

Parking and Transportation | Garden and Garden Center Entrance | Garden Accessibility | Garden Center | BRIT Building

Parking and Transportation

Accessible parking is available in the main parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two large van-accessible parking spots located to the south of the Garden Center entrance and two located close to the Lecture Hall entrance. The parking lot and pathways to and from the Garden Center building are illuminated at night. The parking lot is mainly smooth concrete with some semi-porous concrete sidewalks that can be slightly bumpy for small wheels.

Periodically, special events happening on or near the campus may result in temporary road closures or rerouting. Please be aware of local events such as concerts, races, and events at the Will Rogers Memorial Center or Dickies Arena as you plan your visit to the Garden.

The Trinity Metro #53 bus route stops in front of the FWBG|BRIT entrance along University Drive every 60 minutes seven days a week. As bus schedules can change, please confirm all transit information with Trinity Metro by calling 1-817-215-8600 or visiting the Trinity Metro website.

The Garden is also served by Trinity River ZIPZONE. This is an on-demand ride service that provides easy access to locations within specific geographic boundaries. The Garden is located with the Southside ZIPZONE, which includes the Cultural District, Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University. Guests who show proof of riding Trinity Metro public transportation to get to the Garden are eligible for a $2 admission discount. Learn more from Trinity Metro.

For your use this spring…
25% off a Trinity Metro Local Day Pass when purchased in the GoPass mobile ticketing app.
Adult: FWBG24A
Reduced*: FWBG24R
* Available (with valid ID) for seniors 65+, persons with disabilities, Medicare card holders, youth ages 5-19 and veterans with proof of status. No ticket needed for children ages 4 and under.
Promo codes valid through May 31, 2024. May be used up to four (4) times.

Garden and Garden Center Entrance

The Garden Center building Main Entrance is covered and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. There is a passenger drop-off area in the circle drive close to the front entrance with a textured ramp. The main entry doors and interior vestibule doors are automatic and motion-activated.

Garden Accessibility

Exploring the Garden

Large portions of the 120-acre Garden campus are easy to navigate for those with limited mobility. A wheelchair-accessible route extends from the Garden Center to the Garden’s main attractions including the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden. This pathway is marked as the “Main Route” on our interactive map.

The wheelchair accessible path through the Garden is composed of hard surfaces including large flagstones, concrete, asphalt, exposed aggregate concrete and wooden decking. Other surfaces in the Garden include large smooth pavers, smaller coarse brick pavers, crushed stone (similar to very fine gravel) and various mulch, grass, and dirt paths.

Guests can also use the Beauty Bus shuttle to travel the Garden. The bus travels from the Garden Center to the Japanese Garden and the Shelter House above the Rose Garden every half hour from 11 a.m. until close each day the Garden is open.

The Beauty Bus is free with admission and wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchairs and Electric Scooters

Self-powered wheelchairs of standard width with foot rests are available for guests at no cost. Electric scooters may be rented for $30 per day (no in/out privileges). Scooter carrying capacity is 400 pounds. Wheelchairs and scooters are available at the Admissions Desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

To rent an electric scooter, guests will need to complete a liability form and leave a valid photo ID at the Admission Desk as a deposit. The ID is returned to the guest upon return of the scooter.

Restrooms

Gendered restrooms are located at several points in the Garden. All restrooms are clearly marked, and can be located on the interactive map.

The majority of restrooms are wheelchair accessible and include baby-changing stations. The exceptions are two small restrooms, one on the north side of the Rock Springs Café and the other in the Japanese Garden near the entrance from Old Garden Road.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells

The Garden is filled with the sounds and smells of nature, with background noise of traffic from surrounding roads and the interstate. Sometimes Garden maintenance requires the use of noisy equipment, but staff do their best to schedule maintenance so as not to disturb guests.

Certain Garden areas can be crowded and noisy during events such as the Japanese Festival or Celebramos. Check the Main Event Calendar to find out when and where events are scheduled, or call ahead or email to inquire about the day’s events. On weekdays during the school year, student field trips can bring large groups of children, as can camps during the summer.

Fortunately, the Garden is large enough that guests can usually find a quiet corner with few interruptions. Morning and afternoons are usually the quietest and least busy times at the Garden; remember that members can access the Garden at 7 a.m., an hour before regular admission opens.

Water

Water fountains and water bottle refill stations are located throughout the Garden. A map of these stations is available at the Admissions Desk. We encourage guests to bring refillable water bottles on trips to the Garden. Refillable bottles are also available for sale at the Trellis Gift Shop. To reduce waste, the Garden does not sell water in disposable plastic bottles.

Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center

Flooring and Surfaces

The Garden Center features several flooring types throughout the building:

Main Admissions Foyer & Meeting Rooms. Hard, smooth tiled flooring is present at the Admissions Desk and hallways, main restrooms, and kitchenettes. Meeting rooms have smooth linoleum flooring. The large catering kitchen has smooth tiled flooring. The VIP Room has slate flooring with a rug, and the Bridal Room is carpeted. The Trellis Gift Shop has low-pile carpeting with a small lip at the threshold of each gift shop door. There are no stairs in the Main Admissions Foyer & Meeting Rooms.

The Rainforest Conservatory. The Conservatory entrance vestibule has linoleum flooring, with a small metal threshold at each set of doors. The interior Conservatory pathways are uneven flagstone. Handrails are available to assist guests along a marked accessible route, if needed. The accessible route loop includes an incline/decline at its furthest point. The Conservatory also includes a steep curved footbridge near a waterfall feature.

Due to the nature of the Conservatory as a exhibition space for tropical plants, the pathways surfaces are often wet and potentially slick. Caution is advised for all guests visiting the Conservatory. There are no stairs in the Conservatory.

Elevators

The Garden Center building is one-story and has no elevators.

Restrooms & Water Fountains

Accessible, gendered, multi-stall restrooms are located near the Admissions Desk. These each include a baby-changing area, an accessible stall reserved for guests with accessibility needs, and an extra extended-length stall with handrails.

Water fountains are located just outside this restroom area and include fountains at two heights as well as a bottle-filling station. A map of water stations throughout campus is located at the front desk.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells

The Garden Center can be noisy and crowded during busy periods. Check the Main Event Calendar to find out when and where events are scheduled, or call ahead or email to inquire about the day’s events.

The Rainforest Conservatory is kept warm and humid year-round to accommodate the tropical plants that grow there.

Personal Care Assistants

Free admission to all fee-based Garden programs for a paid Personal Care Assistant (PCA) accompanying a guest with a severe disability who needs the PCA’s assistance due to that disability is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Guests may request a free admission for the PCA at the Admission Desk, and the PCA will receive, free of charge, the same admission pass that was purchased by the guest. If the guest is a Member, the PCA does not count as one of the Member’s guests.

Service Animals

The Garden allows service animals trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability into all public areas.

Fire Evacuation

In the unlikely event of a fire evacuation, proceed to the nearest exit.

BRIT Building

Accessible Entrance

The BRIT building Main Entrance is covered and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. There is a passenger drop-off area in the circle drive close to the front entrance. The drop-off, textured ramp is 125 feet (38 m) from the front doors. The far right door is button-activated for automatic opening and closing of both the outer door and the interior vestibule door.

Wheelchairs & Reduced Mobility

One self-powered wheelchair of standard width is available for guests to borrow at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. It is located at the reception desk inside the Main Entrance. Most public areas feature low or no door thresholds; there is a slight elevation transition from terrazzo flooring to carpet when entering the Commons and the Exhibit Hall areas on the first floor. Seating is scattered throughout the building.

Flooring & Surfaces

The BRIT building features several flooring types throughout the building. Hard, smooth terrazzo is present in the first floor hallways, the main foyer (Atrium I and II), the main stacks of the Library, the first and second floor Herbarium, and the first floor bathrooms. Soft, low-pile wool carpet is present in the Commons and Exhibit Hall.

Recycled rubber flooring is present in the Classroom, Tree House, Catering Kitchens, Plant Preservation Studio, and Digitization Studio on the first floor. The second floor is mostly carpeted except for a smooth wood-like flooring in the hallway outside the second floor elevator bank (connecting to the family bathrooms, the Libraries, and the upstairs Herbarium). The main elevator features this same flooring. The service elevator has hard plastic flooring with slightly raised traction bumps. The grand staircase has smooth wood steps with traction grooves.

The landscape and hardscape surrounding the building feature multiple pathway types. These include large smooth limestone pavers, smaller course brick pavers, and semi-loose decomposed limestone (similar to very fine gravel). The back prairie also features a grass pathway.

Elevators

There are two elevators for access to the second floor. If entering the BRIT Building via the Main Entrance, elevators are located to the left down the hall. When facing the elevator bank, the right-side elevator is a larger service elevator but is available for public use anytime.

Restrooms

Accessible restrooms are located on both floors. Both multi-stalled restrooms off the main foyer downstairs include baby changing tables. Two single, private, family restrooms are located upstairs on either side of the elevator bank. Low-height toilet (women’s) and urinal (men’s) are available in the Education hallway restrooms on the first floor. All restroom sinks are accessible from a seated position.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells

The BRIT building can at times be very busy and very loud inside the main foyer. We encourage our guests with noise sensitivity to call ahead or email to inquire about the day’s events. The BRIT building currently has two video displays on the first floor, one of which also plays sound at a low volume. The elevators make a chiming sound that can be heard from a distance. The Herbarium can at times smell strongly of various plant-based odors.

Personal Care Assistants

Free admission to all fee-based BRIT-building programs for a paid Personal Care Assistant (PCA) accompanying a guest with a severe disability who needs the PCA’s assistance due to that disability is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Guests may request a free admission for the PCA at the BRIT building reception desk, and the PCA will receive, free of charge, the same admission pass that was purchased by the guest. If the guest is a Member, the PCA does not count as one of the Member’s guests.

Service Animals

The Garden allows service animals trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability into all the public areas. However, because of contamination concerns, we are not currently able to allow service animals into the Herbarium, Library, or laboratories without prior consent.

Fire Evacuation

In the unlikely event of a fire evacuation, do not use the elevators. Guests on the second floor should proceed to the closest of our four stairwells. Upon arrival, the fire department will check all stairwells to aid any guests who need assistance exiting the building. Guests on the Ground Level can exit the building through the closest exterior door.

We are dedicated to accommodating all guests with disabilities and providing the best possible guest experience. Garden staff receive ongoing training and information about interacting with guests with disabilities. At times, however, certain alterations may not be possible. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require the Garden to take any action that fundamentally alters the nature of our programs or services, or imposes undue financial or administrative burden.

If you need an aide, extra service, or a modification to the above policies or procedures, please contact the Garden at least 48 hours before your visit. You are also encouraged to contact us with feedback at any time at 817-332-4441 or info@brit.org.

Financial Access

The Garden provides several opportunities for guests to visit no matter what their financial circumstances.

Access Programs | Free Admission Days

Access Programs

The Garden provides several opportunities for guests to visit no matter what their financial circumstances. Options include:

Lone Star Card Discounts: Through the Museums4All program, those receiving SNAP/WIC benefits can visit the garden for free. Simply show your card along with a photo ID at the Admission Desk. (Eligible for adults and children living same household. Includes general admission only. Not applicable for special events). These guests can also purchase a discounted family membership for $30 per year by speaking with a member of guest services.

MusePass. Free family passes are available to check out at all City of Fort Worth public libraries with your valid Fort Worth Library card. Passes can be obtained in person at library locations or reserved through the Libby app–just search for “Botanic Garden” within the app. (Other municipal library cards not accepted.)

Trinity Metro Discount. Guests who show proof of using Trinity Metro (either bus or ZIPZONE service) receive a $2 admission discount.

Blue Star Program: Active military personnel (with military ID) plus up to five family members receive free admission between Memorial Day and Labor Day

Family Community Pass Program: 5,000 admission passes are distributed annually through nonprofits to provide to their clients, ensuring transportation is also available.

Free programs: Free after-hour family and cultural events are hosted at least quarterly..

Children under age 18 with FWISD school ID: Free admission is available between 3 to 6 pm every school day (Not valid on summer vacation or school holidays/breaks. Applies only to students of Fort Worth ISD.)

Free Admission Days

The Garden is open to all guests with no admission charge several days each year. Learn more about this program and the dates for this year.

Other Accommodations

Dual Language Programs | Water Refill Stations

Dual Language Programs

The BRIT building currently offers the following features in both English and Spanish.

Self-guided campus sustainability tour (Spanish audio by phone only, not print)
Books and field guides in the gift shop
Some of our early childhood education programs, such as Bella Book Club and Story Time
Phone navigation menu
Video captions

We hope to add more Spanish language amenities over time to better serve our community. If guests need emergency Spanish-language assistance, there is usually a Spanish speaker on-site.

Water Refill Stations

Water fountains and water bottle refill stations are located throughout the Garden. A map of water stations is available from the Front Desk. We encourage guests to bring refillable water bottles on trips to the Garden.

Refillable bottles are also available for sale at the Trellis Gift Shop. To reduce waste, the Garden does not sell water in disposable plastic bottles.