Originally Published on September 27, 2026 by Fort Worth Star-Telegram
After 25 years, Fort Worth’s Panther Island is finally purring with progress
Story by Emily Holshouser
For 25 years, Fort Worthians have been hearing about Panther Island, a gargantuan flood control and development project that will transform an area north of downtown to include a San Antonio-style river walk, high-rise towers and homes for 10,000 people.
These days, much of the area planned for the projects aren’t much but grass and concrete where buildings once stood – but that is expected to change soon.
There’s a lot to Panther Island besides the island itself. Here’s what to know about where the development stands:
Two projects
What people might know locally as “Panther Island” as a whole encompasses two projects.
There’s the island itself, which first was envisioned in the early 2000s as a waterfront district north of downtown with a town lake and waterfront space. The Tarrant Regional Water District, which is the Army Corps’ local development sponsor, has called the plan a “once-in-a generation opportunity.”
The vision for Panther Island has shifted over the years, but the core is the same today: a dense, walkable 300-acre district that supports 10,000 residents as well as retail and office space. The plan for development on the island got a facelift in 2024.
That new plan envisions bike paths, public transportation, nearly 200 acres of developable land, and four canals that will act as stormwater infrastructure.
The rest of the article can be found at Fort Worth Star-Telegram
