Lake Wichita Bike Ride Finds Sickening Gusty Winds Sign

I do not remember a previous year during my long stay on this planet where I have been sick the entire year, such as is the case this year of 2019.

What began two days before the end of the old year, has extended into the second week of the new year.

I read in one of my local, as in, Texas, news sources this morning that there is a bug going around, that is not the flu that is also going around.

My symptoms sort of match that non-flu bug that is going around, though not as severe as described. Basically my woe is a mild congestion cough ailment, which comes and goes. I think I'm done with it, and then in the middle of the night it comes roaring back.

I have always had a problem with being sick, as in unless something totally knocks me out, I try and ignore it and just go about doing what I would be doing without that sickening thing happening.

Such as today, with almost zero wind blowing, and the temperature well above freezing I decided to roll my bike's wheels to Lake Wichita and beyond. When I passed under Kemp Boulevard the view of the Lake Wichita Dam spillway you see above came into view. I was surprised to see the lake is still spilling over the spillway. It has been several days since downpours poured down.

When I reached the top of the dam I soon saw possible evidence of how strong the wind has been blowing of late.

That or an inexcusable act of vandalism.

At both ends of the dam there is a sign warning "GUSTY WINDS AREA". Today the sign at the spillway end of the dam had been uprooted. I parked the bike on the Circle Trail on top of the dam and climbed down the dam to photo document the current status of this "GUSTY WINDS AREA sign.

I can't imagine why anyone would go through the effort to yank a sign out of the ground. Particularly with that sign in view of anyone looking from many directions. But, I also can not imagine we have had wind gusting strong enough to yank a gusty wind warning sign out of the ground.

Yet one more thing about which to be perplexed...

Wichita Falls Lucy Park Flood Gone But Not Forgotten

Last Sunday I found myself Checking Out Wichita Falls Lucy Park Flood.

A week later, on this first Sunday of the new year of 2019, what with the outer world temperature predicted to possibly get as high as 70, I opted to return to Lucy Park to check out the park's current status.

Well.

Driving into Lucy Park one would never guess that a week prior doing such was impossible, what with the Wichita River flooded up to the entry to the park.

Today the Wichita River is still running high, but leaving Lucy Park dry, except for a few ponds which have not yet evaporated.

I parked at the parking lot by the swimming pool and log cabin. There was no indication the flood had reached either. I then walked towards the Lucy Park Pagoda. En route I walked over some paved trails on which flood residue of the sticks, leaves and mud sort remained.

The Pagoda was untouched by the flood. But, in the photo you can see the area which flooded behind the Pagoda. Speaking of that Pagoda, can anyone tell me what the deal is with Wichita Falls and all the Japanese Pagodas in various forms ones sees around town?

Last week after I blogged about the Lucy Park flood I posted the blogging on the Wichita Falls Rants and Raves Facebook page, asking if this was the worse Lucy Park flood ever. And asked if the suspension bridge over the Wichita River survives such a flooding inundation.

Well, that Rants and Raves post generated dozens of informative comments, from which I learned there has been far worse flooding of the Wichita River. And that the suspension bridge always survives.

I confirmed the suspension bridge survival by crossing it. I had to make my way past the geezer who seemed to be fishing for something, and then cross a lot of flood residue piled up on the bridge deck. Crossing this was a bit unsettling. As there are some gaps in the planks one walks across on. Having those planks covered with mud rendered them disguised and not revealing any potential gaps.

But, turned out I have no reason to worry. I made it easily back and forth across the bridge. I did find the swaying more unsettling than the norm, what with the river still running high. That fisherman fishing for who knows what was also a bit unsettling.

Eventually during the course of my walkabout Lucy Park I did come to some areas where the flood was more evident.

Such as that which you see above. It appears flood debris shoved one of the park's swinging benches off its connection to the ground, pushing it up against some tree trunks.

All in all I had myself a mighty fine walkabout Lucy Park today, and was surprised by how little muddy residue was left behind when the Wichita River retreated.

Discussing Fort Worth's Island Of Doom Without J.D. Granger

I saw that which you see here, this morning, via an invitation on Facebook.

Apparently on January 26, after decades of hardly anyone discussing it, on that date there will be a Community Discussion about America's Biggest Boondoggle, I mean, the TRWD's Panther Island.

It seems as if it was almost a decade ago I experienced my first community discussion about this pitiful subject. That discussion took place in an auditorium in Fort Worth's Botanic Garden, with the discussion a product of an entity known at the time as TRIP (Trinity River Improvement Project).

If I remember correctly during that time frame there were two such meetings in the Botanic Garden. I think it was at the second meeting I first experienced the wise words of TRWD Board Member, Jim Lane, with those words uttered from a panel of people involved in what has become an embarrassing boondoggle.

J.D. Granger was supposed to be on this panel, but he wimped out at the last minute, which caused a person within my hearing to utter the immortal words "J.D. Granger, what a gutless wonder". I will go see if I can find that blogging  by using the way back machine, well, search tool.

Okay, it was not quite a decade ago, the year 2011 to be more precise, with a blog post telling us Boos Greets News That J.D. Granger Bailed At Last Minute On Tonight's Trinity River Vision Open Discussion Forum. In that blog post I allude to, without detailing, the reason I was told Granger turned gutless.

Again, if I am remembering correctly, at that point in time J.D. Granger was upset that someone had photo documented landscape improvements to his home, which matched the look of the landscaping at the controversial Boondoggle product known as the Woodshed Smokehouse. Someone put those photos on a blog with the implication some shady dealing was involved.

Almost a decade later multiple Fort Worth officials have finally come to realize something is dire wrong with that which has become America's Biggest Boondoggle, and have called for some sort of forensic audit to look into the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision's various shenanigans which have sucked millions of dollars from the public trough, with little to show for the money wasted.

So, later this month there will be another discussion forum about that which has become America's Biggest Boondoggle. Below are the details from the Facebook invitation...

TRWD’s Island of Doom: The Panther Island Boondoggle
Suggested Donation: $10
Sat, Jan 26, 2:00 – 4:00 PM; at TCLP Auditorium – 5751 Kroger Drive, Fort Worth TX 76244

Join us on Saturday, Jan 26 from 2:00 – 4:00 to hear four speakers address growing concerns about the history and viability of Tarrant Regional Water District’s “Panther Island” project. With the project dragging out well over a decade with little to show; Nepotism running rampant; Eminent domain abuse; Astronomically increased budgets; Absence of promised federal funding; and increased flooding potential downstream – there’s no wonder that local news media outlets have begun to look more critically and closely at what appears to be a doomed $1 BILLION+ project.

Many people saw at the beginning, that this project, ostensibly framed as a ‘flood control project’, was really a publicly funded real estate development – with the property provided by theft via eminent domain. Some of these people who saw the problems were Fort Worth City Council members; State Legislators; and even a TRWD Board Member! So many questions remained unanswered by the water district: 

-Where was the funding really coming from – and why is the budget spiraling out of control?
-What land was going to be used – and how was the flooding going to be mitigated?
-What were the US Army Corps of Engineers original recommendations?
-Where would the leadership for such a massive project be found?
-Who really has oversight over this project?

Well, these questions and more were asked (and will be answered) by the speakers you’ll hear at this event:

-Clyde Picht, Former Fort Worth City Council Member
-Lon Burnham, Former State Representative, District 90 (covering Downtown Fort Worth)
-Mary Kelleher, Former Tarrant Regional Water Board Trustee
-Layla Carraway, local activist – who made a documentary, “Up A Creek” about Panther Island (then called ‘Trinity Uptown’) Clips from “Up A Creek” will be shown throughout
-John Spivey, moderator

Learn what happened, how it happened, and what we can do now.

__________________

Reading the list of speakers on the Facebook post I feel compelled to remove one of the 'r's from Ms. Caraway's name. But, now that I am thinking about it, maybe she has gone all Hollywood and has changed her original name by adding another 'r' to it.

I don't think I will be able to make it to this discussion, I don't know if I can afford that $10 suggested donation. I wonder if that gutless wonder, J.D. Granger, will be there...

Winter Snow Leaves Wichita Falls For Now

Less than 24 hours ago the scene you see here was two colors. White and gray.

And now, today, the 4th day of the new year, the regular color palette of blue and mostly brown has returned.

With this weekend the temperate scheduled to be near 70 it is almost like this winter nightmare has ended two weeks after winter began.

It is highly likely though, judging by years previous, that winter will make a return before reliable warm returns.

Snow Turns Wichita Falls White Ahead Of Schedule

 Last night I barely made it to ground level without crashing to the ground, due to ice coming to town, covering my patio stairs, without me being aware of such, and almost falling when I first walked onto the ice

But, I remained vertical and to my vehicle in which my sister, who lives full time in Arizona, rode with me to Walmart.

This morning when I opened my window blinds after the sun had begun trying to do some illuminating I was soon dismayed to see that snow flakes were arriving before their scheduled arrival later in the date.

Apparently the temperature was below freezing, because the snow piled up instead of melting. I took the white photo you see above soon after the snow began attaching itself to earth. The snow is now deeper, and continues to flurry off and on.

Currently the road I see from my computer room window looks shiny and wet. I can not tell from this vantage point if the shine is from ice. I can see that the few vehicles moving on the road seem to be doing so cautiously.

I have been sick this entire year with a sore throat and coughing episodes. This frigidity will not help with my recovery.

I will not be driving anywhere until this nonsense is history. I do not like driving on ice...

Freezing MSU Walk With Santa, Humpty, Dorothy And A Pirate

To try and recover from last night's rollicking New Year's Eve festivities I decided to layer on the insulating outer wear and venture to the abandoned campus of Midwestern State University to have myself a shivering sub-freezing walkabout.

At one point whilst walking I saw a window which seemed more like a mirror than a window. And so I aimed my old-fashioned non-phone digital camera at the window so as to take a primitive version of a selfie photo.

As you can see I am still wearing part of my Santa outfit, in the spirit of the holiday.

Oh. Before I forget.

Happy New Year.

I do not succumb to that tiresome New Year's Resolution thing.

But, if I did, I would resolve to drop a few pounds. I returned from my last visit to Arizona having gained some poundage, as in this is the first new year in years in which I start the new year weighing more than 200 pounds. I do not like being so hefty. So, I think I will melt off this excess poundage this month.

Or at least get rid of it before heading to South Padre Island for this year's Spring Break.

The New Year's Day walkabout on the MSU campus took me by the Fantasy of Lights Merry Christmas Happy Holiday installations. Some of these installations are a bit perplexing as to what the Happy Holiday Merry Christmas connection is.

Such as the Humpty Dumpty Egghead you see above. Maybe I am not remembering Humpty's connection to Christmas.

And, behind Humpty Dumpty, Dorothy is leading Toto, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow away from the Emerald City of Oz, on the Yellow Brick Road. In addition to the Wizard of Oz not seeming to have a Christmas connection I do not remember Dorothy leading the way away from the Emerald City on the Yellow Brick Road. Dorothy directed her gang towards Oz and the Emerald City on the Yellow Brick Road, if my memory is serving me correctly.

But, I suppose some poetic license is to be expected with installations of this sort.

Does poetic license explain the next entry in the Fantasy of Lights?

A pirate ship, with some damsels in jeopardy, tied to a mast, whilst a pirate wields a sword.  Maybe this is part of a Christmas tale which I was not blessed with when I was a youngster being read Christmas stories.

I do remember when I was a wee lad, dad would every Christmas read my brother and me that Christmas story or poem or whatever it is which begins something like "T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse..."

Anyway, let me say it again...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

David, Theo & Ruby Refuse Visit To Fort Worth's Botanic Garden

A couple days ago I blogged that David, Theo & Ruby Won't Climb Or Swim In Any Fort Worth City Park.

In that blogging I made mention of the fact that Fort Worth, population over 800,000, has zero public swimming pools, while Tacoma, population a little over 200,000 has multiple public swimming pools.

Thinking about how some towns in America are modern, whilst other towns in America seem to be more what one might expect to see in a not so modern, advanced country, had me also wondering how some towns manage to have modern city parks, with running water, and no outhouses, whilst no running water and outhouses are the norm in Fort Worth's few city parks.

At some point whilst writing the blogging about Tacoma's pools I found Wikipedia has a long article about Tacoma's Point Defiance Park. In that article there is a section about the Formal Gardens in Point Defiance Park.

Point Defiance Park's Formal Gardens reminded me of Fort Worth's Botanic Garden, a location which I have long thought is the one and only thing about Fort Worth, other than the Stockyards, that is well done and tourist worthy.

So, yesterday I asked David, Theo and Ruby's mom, my little sister Michele, if at some point in time in the near future the kids might go to Point Defiance to take some photos of the park's gardens. I also asked if Tacoma charged an entry fee to the Point Defiance Park gardens.

A response arrived quickly, with photos taken over the years, when the kids were younger. Along with those photos the possibility was mentioned time might be found to take some new photos. That time was found and new photos arrived later in yesterday's afternoon. Those photos are what you are seeing first, followed by older photos when David, Theo and Ruby were younger.
.

At the top you are seeing David, Theo and Ruby at the gate to enter the Rose Garden part of the Point Defiance Park Formal Gardens. There is no one charging a fee to enter. You just walk on in. In the next photo the kids are inside the Gardens, with the boys traversing a small pond whilst their sister watches.

The Japanese Garden is what you are seeing here. The Pagoda in the Japanese Garden is the location where David, Theo and Ruby's parental units got married. Can you find the kids in the above photo?

Recently those in charge of badly misgoverning Fort Worth decided to start charging an admission fee to gain admittance to the Botanic Garden. Doing this appalled me. Just like years prior when I was disgusted and appalled when Fort Worth began charging an admission fee to the Fort Worth Nature Preserve.

When that entry fee was imposed the preserve was not a heavily visited location. I have seen no followup investigating in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as to what the attendance numbers are for the Nature Preserve, pre and post fee. How much money is raised. How much it costs to charge a fee, as in paying someone to collect it.

Another look at the Point Defiance Park Japanese Garden.

I have never returned to the Fort Worth Nature Preserve since an admission fee was charged. My personal protest. I probably have blogged about my disgust about this previously, but I do not remember doing so.

I remember being at the Prairie Dog Town part of the Fort Worth Nature Preserve and a family showed up, dad driving an old station wagon, six kids. I could tell they were not too prosperous. And that the kids were having themselves a mighty fine time. It was this family I thought of when I read Fort Worth was going to charge a fee to enter one of its parks.

I looked at the Fort Worth Nature Preserve website and saw it cost $5 for an adult to enter. A discount for seniors and kids. I do not know what $ figure has been arrived at to gain entry to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Above is the last of the photos taken yesterday. What you are seeing here is the marina at the east end of Point Defiance Park. And the more interesting thing is the almost completed walkway which will connect Point Defiance Park to Point Ruston and the rest of the Tacoma waterfront. This will be a fun new addition to an already impressive development.

Point Ruston is a massive private development, well there may be some public help, what with it being the location of what at the time was the most expensive Superfund cleanup in EPA history. I do know that no local politician's unqualified son was hired to be the executive director of the Point Ruston development, hence this massive project is a growing, completed HUGE success.

Seeing this was one of the highlights of my last visit to the PNW, back in August of 2017. I blogged about my Point Ruston experience at the time in Point Ruston Ruby, Theo & David Surrey Survey Of Tacoma's New Waterfront Development.

Fort Worth's embarrassing Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, which has boondoggled along for most of this century, has not reached the point, if it ever will, where ground pollution triggers an EPA Superfund cleanup. Though there has already been a chemical leak, or two, into the Trinity River, from ground work on the Boondoggle's imaginary island.

Continuing on we get to the older photos of Ruby, Theo and David in Point Defiance Park's gardens.

In answer to my question asking of a fee is charged to enter the Point Defiance Park Formal Gardens, my sister said "The only thing that costs at Point Defiance is the zoo/aquarium." Later amended to add that a fee is charged to rent a venue for an event, such as a wedding.

In the blogging from a couple days ago about Tacoma's pools in which I mentioned Point Defiance Park I also made mention of the fact that none of Fort Worth city parks were Wikipedia article worthy. However, this morning I did discover there is a short Wikipedia article about the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

That article, in total, and please note the irony...

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden (109 acres) is a botanical garden located at 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas. The garden was established in 1934 and is the oldest botanic garden in Texas, with 2,501 species of native and exotic plants in its 21 specialty gardens. It is open daily. An admission fee is charged for the Conservatory and Japanese Garden; the other gardens are free. 

Someone needs to edit the Wikipedia article to add that soon the other gardens will no longer be free to visit.

Now, that is some Ruby and Theo garden cuteness above.

Among what gripes me about charging an admission fee to a city park property is someone opining that it makes sense, why those who actually use the park should be the ones paying for it. Well, simplistically that may make sense to someone simple. But, all the citizens of a town help the town raise money to pay for city services, such as parks.

Fort Worth takes a piece of every cent paid in sales tax. Then there's the various ways everyone pays property tax. Even if you are a renter you pay property tax, though not directly via property you own.

A well managed city, like Tacoma, Wichita Falls, and many others use funds raised via various methods to pay for city services which add to the city's livability. If one feels the need to take a break with the kids at a city park one should not have to feel like it's a trip to Six Flags, paying an admission fee.

In other words, in my humble opinion, a city's parks should be readily available to all of a town's citizens, no matter how much discretionary income they may have at their disposal.

I do not know by what magic Theo and Ruby are levitating in this area of the Point Defiance Park Formal Gardens.

Fort Worth already cheaps out on its few city parks, what with already minimal services, such as not providing running water and modern restroom facilities.

This scene looks a lot like one one might see in Fort Worth's Botanic Garden. I think Ruby, Theo and David are waving at us, but I am not sure about this.

Fort Worth, as represented by its elected officials and the town's newspaper, semi-regularly deludes itself that the town might somehow successfully attract a corporation to re-locate its headquarters to Fort Worth. Such as Amazon HQ2. Or like when Intel was looking for a place to build a big development.

Intel checked out Fort Worth. Fort Worth offered incentives. Intel instead chose to build its enormous new plant in Chandler, Arizona. If you have visited both Fort Worth and Chandler you have seen why Fort Worth would not be the chosen one.

Don't those who run Fort Worth so poorly, in what is known locally as the Fort Worth Way, realize how bad it looks to a business looking to locate in Fort Worth seeing the town's few city parks so lacking in basic amenities. And no public pools. And streets without sidewalks. And any park with any semblance of being a decent attraction charging a fee to enter.

Such things do not leave a good impression on a town's few tourists.

It's all way too perplexing. What I got out of thinking about all this is I am looking forward to my next visit to Tacoma...

Checking Out Wichita Falls Lucy Park Flood

Earlier today I mentioned I was going to be going to Lucy Park today to see if the Wichita River has flooded into the park.

And that if Lucy Park was flooded I would make my way to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area's west end, because I assumed if Lucy Park was flooded, then the east entry to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area would also be flooded.

Well.

Lucy Park was flooded beyond what I thought possible. A gate blocked access to Lucy Park, with the Wichita River flooded to a point just a few feet past the gate.

The paved trail you see above leads from the currently gated entry to the now flooded Circle Trail. To the right the Circle Trail underwater leads to the manmade Wichita Falls. Likely currently not falling any water.

A look deeper into flooded Lucy Park, looking in the direction of the swimming pool and log cabin. To the left would be the duck pond we visited last Sunday. I was unable to tell if the swimming pool, log cabin and duck pond are flooded.

Leaving Lucy Park I headed west to the east access to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, expecting the parking lot to likely be flooded.

I was wrong. The parking lot was not flooded, and the Circle Trail was not underwater for, maybe, a quarter mile, when I came to the location above, where the Circle Trail is underwater, a condition also known as flooded.

The above view looks across the flooded Circle Trail to the Wichita Bluff, where you can see a flood viewer standing on the bluff, who would have accessed the Wichita Bluff Nature Area from the far above the flooded river west parking lot.

Above, you are looking north at the Wichita River, the main channel of which is past the trees you see making the scenic shadows in the muddy water.

I have no idea if this flood is record breaking. I hope it has not damaged, or destroyed, the suspension bridge across the Wichita River. Or damaged the log cabin and duck pond. Or anything else. Like the Japanese Pagoda.

I am ready for warm air to return in the new year for some drying out action...

Santa Checking Holliday Creek Flood Before New Year's Eve Smoked Salmon

On this icy cold Sunday before the last day of 2018 I stepped outside for a minute to see if Holliday Creek was still running excess water due to last Wednesday's extreme downpours.

Yes, as you can see to the right of the extremely rare selfie of me, Holliday Creek is still running excess water.

Regarding that selfie.

As you can clearly see, I am still sporting part of my Santa Claus disguise.

Back to Wednesday's storm's aftermath.

Wichita County was declared a disaster area, following the storm, due to flood, wind, and loss of power, damage.

Near as I can tell this disaster area declaration has been a local county declaration, not the state of Texas declaring Wichita County a disaster area, or the federal government doing such.

I may be wrong about this, but I do know I've seen nothing of FEMA anywhere I have been.

In a few minutes I will exit my abode again, and this time use my mechanized motion device to drive to Lucy Park to see how high the Wichita River is, and if Lucy Park is flooded.

If Lucy Park is flooded I will continue on to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area where the Circle Trail from the western entry is high above the river, and thus no possibility of being flooded. If Lucy Park is flooded, the east entry to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area is likely also flooded.

Tomorrow my New Year's Eve Party begins promptly at 6 pm.

Smoked Sockeye Salmon from Anacortes will be the main protein on the buffet table. If you are planning on bringing anything to contribute to the buffet table please make sure it does not conflict, taste-wise, with Smoked Sockeye Salmon from Anacortes.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this serious taste conflict issue...

David, Theo & Ruby Won't Climb Or Swim In Any Fort Worth City Park

Subject line this morning in incoming email from Tacoma...

No PNW pics today.

Which means no new photos of scenery of the Pacific Northwest today, featuring David, Theo and Ruby.

I recently opined that the PNW pics of David, Theo and Ruby were my new favorite thing. Except seeing such does make me a bit homesick.

So, this morning's Tacoma email did not have any photos of David, Theo and Ruby having outdoor fun, but it did include photos of David, Theo and Ruby having some indoor fun.

The explanatory text in the email explained that the kids had taken their parental units to a new Tacoma Metroparks facility, with a swimming pool, which is just part of a "giant new community center in an East Tacoma neighborhood which really needed it."

 A modern American town building a giant new community center in part of the town needing such put me in mind of another American town. More about that later in this blogging.

But first, I must point out that above that is Ruby climbing a climbing wall in this giant new community center. You can see Theo a bit higher on the wall than Ruby.

And in the above photo we see Theo and David and one of their friends up super high on the climbing wall. I have never climbed a climbing wall. Climbing walls have always looked a bit scary to me, even though one is tethered to a rope obviating the danger of falling.

And here we see the boys in something called the Vortex Pool. I am guessing due to the vortex word that the water in this pool must circulate creating a vortex whirlpool of some sort.

And here we see Ruby shooting out of a tube which apparently is part of a slide which looked weird to the parental units, but which the kids indicated was awesome.

And now back to that which I to alluded previously.

Tacoma is a modern American city. Rubes in less modern parts of America would refer to Tacoma dismissively as a liberal town, full of progressives and democrat socialist sorts.

Tacoma has multiple incredibly well done parks, including one of the biggest in the world, that being Point Defiance Park. There is a Wikipedia article about Point Defiance Park.

There is no park in Fort Worth with a Wikipedia article about it. Fort Worth has a population over 800,000 and is sadly lacking in parks and park amenities. Tacoma's population is a little over 200,000. You could fit all of Fort Worth's city parks into Tacoma's Point Defiance Park and still have a lot of land left over.

Yes, I know I am always being critical of Fort Worth. Well, I lived in the town for several years. It did not take long for multiple problems with the town to bother me. Such as the craptacular quality of Fort Worth's city parks. Each month I return to Fort Worth, and DFW, and am freshly reminded that Fort Worth is not a modern American town.

For instance, there is Fort Worth's lack of public pools. Years ago Fort Worth closed its few public pools, due to supposed budget woes.

How does a modern American town like Tacoma have multiple public pools, such as the one photo documented above, or the outdoor wave pool I had fun with David, Theo and Ruby in back in August of 2017? I blogged about this in Riding Tacoma Waves With David, Theo & Ruby. When I visit Arizona, same thing, towns with multiple public pools, some of the waterpark sort.

What do these towns know about operating like a modern American town that Fort Worth can't seem to learn?

It is not like Fort Worth does not have some nearby examples of modern American towns. A short drive to the northeast, to the suburb of Hurst, and you will find Chisholm Park. With the Chisholm Aquatic Center, which is a waterpark of the sort I see in Arizona, and Tacoma, and Wichita Falls.

Yes, the little Texas town of Wichita Falls is more of a modern American town than Fort Worth. Wichita Falls has public swimming pools, such as the one in Lucy Park. And then there is the city owned Castaway Park, which is a full size waterpark, open during the warm time of the year.

And unlike Fort Worth, the Wichita Falls city parks, and there are a lot of them, have no outhouses, but do have modern restroom facilities, and running water of the wash your hands and drinking fountain sorts.

So, I see something like this new pool complex in Tacoma, and having just been in Fort Worth yesterday, eye witnessing that town's incredibly inept urban planning, and you have the reason I feel compelled to verbalize my disdain, a disdain I would never verbalize if it were not for the town's tendency to be delusional, as represented in the town's sad excuse for a newspaper, and the utterings of many of the town's officials, hence the desire to point out, over and over again, that this emperor really has no clothes, and really needs to come to grips with that embarrassing reality and do something about it...