The Latest Trinity River Vision Update Propaganda

In my mailbox this morning I was overjoyed to find the Volume VII - Issue 11 - Fall 2012 Trinity River Vision Update.

My little brother and my favorite ex-sister-in-law got to visit Russia back when it was still the Soviet Union and the center of the communist world.

I never visited an official communist country where the media is state controlled and propaganda flows unquestioned by the kowtowed citizenry.

And then I moved to Texas. My brother got to go to see Red Square. I've gotten to see Sundance Square. Both well known centers of propaganda.

Reading through this latest TRV Update makes me feel that I actually do get to sort of experience what it was like to live in the Soviet Union, with Pravda propaganda being my main news source.

In the Trinity River Vision's website we get to read what I think must be the Trinity River Vision Mission Statement:

The Trinity River Vision Authority (TRVA) is the organization responsible for the implementation of the Trinity River Vision (TRV) - a master plan for the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas. It is underway now - connecting every neighborhood in the city to the Trinity River corridor with new recreational amenities, improved infrastructure, environmental enhancements and event programming. The TRV will create Trinity Uptown, a vibrant urban waterfront neighborhood, expand Gateway Park into one of the largest urban-programmed parks in the nation and enhance the river corridor with over 90 user-requested projects along the Trinity Trails.

In the above piece of propaganda we read the surprising claim that the TRV has accommodated over 90 user-requested projects along the Trinity Trails?

Really?

What are these projects and who is it that did the requesting and how were the requests made, I can not help but wonder?

In the Trinity River Vision Update Fall 2012 Issue there is the following gem...

"The Trinity River is why we are here. Ironically due to the inherent dangers associated with the river we have never had the chance to build  near it and appreciate it for what it is," said Trinity River Vision Authority Executive Director, J.D. Granger. "As we move forward with Uptown revitalization it's important that we embrace Fort Worth's rich history and show our recognition with a memorial on the banks of the river," he said.

J.D. thinks we've never had a chance to appreciate the river for what it is? As in a ditched waterway that is seriously polluted?

J.D. thinks it is important that we embrace Fort Worth's history with a memorial? Has J.D. never heard of Heritage Park? Just a short distance east of the proposed memorial is an existing memorial to Fort Worth's history and founding, called Heritage Park.

Heritage Park over looks the confluence of the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River. Heritage Park is a closed, cyclone fence surrounded, deteriorated eyesore that any grown up town wearing its big city pants would not allow to exist in such embarrassing decrepitude.

The memorial, to which J.D. refers, is announced in the headline on the front page of the TRV Update, "New Park Coming to Fort Worth Will Honor Ripley Arnold and John V. McMillan." The article does not refer to this development as a park, except in the headline. Elsewhere it is referred to as a plaza.

I believe that Lenin-like statue you see on the cover of the TRV Update, above, is the Ripley Arnold statue.

Also in the TVR Update we learn that...

The plaza will be located directly behind Tarrant County College Trinity River campus at the confluence of the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not true that that historic confluence of the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River, formerly viewed so beautifully from the defunct Heritage Park  will be ruined by the Trinity River Vision if that vision ever becomes clear and actually builds the promised little pond at the location of the confluence?

So, this Ripley Arnold Memorial Plaza, that is being constructed on the north side of the defunct Radio Shack Headquarters, west of the defunct Heritage Park, will be on the shores of what many are already calling Granger Puddle.

And people wonder why I refer to this bizarre public works project, that the public has never voted on, as the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Looking Out For New Signage From TRVD Along The Trinity River

Continuing on with our look at the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Volume VII - Issue 1 - Summer 2012 Update.

As I read the TRVB Update, at times, what I was reading had me wondering if those who were writing the verbiage were just making it up, thinking that no one is going to read this, and of the few who do, few will have actually seen, in person, what is being described.

For instance, let's take the article in the Update titled LOOKOUT FOR NEW TRINITY TRAILS SIGNAGE FROM TRVD ALONG THE TRINITY RIVER.

Below is a blurb from that article....

At the community's request TRWD continues to expand their recreation efforts by providing the beloved Trinity Trails system with new amenities. One of the many requests has been to update the current signage along the trails as well as creating additional signs. TRWD has responded by placing new signs along the entire trail system that provide users better notice of trailheads and wayfinding.

In addition to the signs TRWD has added everything from new restrooms at trailheads to state-of-the-art canoe launches to the trail system. These improvements were a result of requests voiced by trail users and neighborhood improvement committees. A number of new signs are at the improved sites to explain the amenities provided for the public. In addition, there are signs letting trail users know every amenity each trailhead provides, acknowledging additional sponsors and directing trail users to the nearest access point.

The TRWD is expanding recreation efforts with new amenities at the community's request?

By what form does the community make these requests? To whom are the requests made? Is there some sort of request hotline about which I am ignorant?

One of the many requests has been to update trail signage?

Really?

Someone called the request hotline, or by some other request means, requesting trail signage be updated? Why does that seem really unlikely to me?

In addition to the updated signage these community requests have also resulted in new restrooms at trailheads and state-of-the-art canoe launches?

I have no idea what a state-of-the-art canoe launch might be. Do you?

New restrooms at trailheads? Where were the old restrooms at trailheads? The only thing I have seen added to the Trinity Trails that one might call a restroom is the outhouse that is part of the TRWD/TRVB's Woodshed Smokehouse. Those state-of-the-art "restrooms" also have an outdoor shower. Likely another amenity requested by the mysterious community.

As for the updated signage placed along the entire trail system to provide users better notice of trailheads and wayfinding.

Wayfinding? If you can't find your way on the Trinity Trail you really should just stay home.

Better notice of trailheads? What does that mean? A couple weeks ago I made note of these new signs on this very blog.  I saw a couple of the signs at trail junctions. The signs seemed fairly useless to me. I mean, does someone really need a sign pointing them to the direction of downtown?

The signage looked tacky to me, like temporary futuristic signage one might see at a World's Fair.

The signage could have had a cool/useful factor with just a little tweaking.

Why not Old West style signs, like one might come upon on a trail in the wagon train days.

Instead of just pointing towards Gateway Park, add the distance, as in Gateway Park 4.6 miles. That would be useful. Downtown 2.4 miles, Stockyards 3.5 miles, Interior Water Feature 1.5 miles.

Whimsical signage could be added, like San Antonio 230 miles, El Paso 605 miles, that type thing.

Instead we've got these tacky, plastic looking signs, with mostly useless information on them, and information that will soon be dated. Like pointing trail users to the soon to go out of business Cowtown Wakepark.

Has anyone from the community requested that J.D. Granger be fired and replaced with a qualified person?

Has anyone from the community requested that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle be put to a public vote?

Has anyone from the community requested that public funds cease being wasted on an un-needed flood control project and instead be spent on a needed flood control project, like fixing the killer Haltom City Fossil Creek flood problem?

Has anyone from the community requested that instead of wasting money on an un-needed flood control project that money be spent cleaning up the Trinity River so that sane people might enjoy floating in the river in Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats?