Fort Worth Neighborhoods Get National Recognition
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - Two Fort Worth neighborhoods are receiving top honors from a national organization.
"Neighborhoods USA" ranked Fairmount and Oakhurst the top two communities in America for social revitalization.
In the historic Near Southside neighborhood of Fairmount, "revitalization" is easy to see.
"If you drive through the neighborhood you'll see people working on their houses," said Riley Gaither, who has lived in the community for 23 years.
But that isn't the reason Fairmount is receiving national recognition.
Neighborhoods USA ranks it the number one neighborhood in America in the category of social revitalization.
One of the main projects that won the neighborhood association the honor is the community garden. But Gaither attributes the neighborliness to the front-porch concept that the historic homes provide.
"Great atmosphere, great people," Gaither said, "Every day, there will be somebody sitting out on their porch, you wave at them say hi, we're friends with just about everyone on our street."
Fort Worth didn't just take the top spot. It took the top two.
Oakhurst, off of Sylvania, is ranked second.
"Oakhurst has an old-fashioned neighborhood atmosphere," said Ginger Bason, the neighborhood association president. "So many places people drive in, check the mail, shut the garage door and you never see them, so it's like what does your neighborhood do to actually make it a NEIGHBORHOOD?"
"The thing I like about it is we're neighbors," said Greg Reynolds, who has lived in Oakhurst since 1983, "The people make the neighborhood."
"If you know your neighbors it helps reduce crime," said Bason, "people take more pride in their home and what it looks like."
While both neighborhoods are nationally recognized, the real winner, residents said, is the city.
"I think it's a big honor for Fort Worth to have two neighborhoods that would be considered for an honor like this," Bason said.
A third Fort Worth neighborhood, North Beverly Hills, was also a finalist.
