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Tracy Cliburn is a Fort Worth native and the community and donor engagement director at KWC Performing Arts. She has also served on several nonprofit boards across Fort Worth, which is helping her reach her goal of knowing half of Fort Worth. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report)
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By Tracy Cliburn

Born and raised in Handley, I’ve experienced the Eastside through different periods of growth and change.After living in various parts of Fort Worth, I returned to Handley in 2003 and then moved to Ryanwood in 2020. Ryanwood’s old trees and incredibly cool homes reflect our community’s unique character. While we’re still on our journey, the dedication and passion of our residents make it a special place to call home. We’re steadily progressing, and being part of this evolution is exciting.

Big things are happening here. The Eastside YMCA, set to reopen in fall 2024, is undergoing significant renovations with $500,000 from the City of Fort Worth and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. This includes updates to the swimming pool and sports fields. Additionally, the $13 million overhaul of Meadowbrook Golf Course just down the street, slated for completion in 2025, promises to bring new energy and opportunities to East Fort Worth.

To our north, Will Northern’s Crescendo Development is taking on the redevelopment of the Woodhaven Golf Course. New businesses and improved transit options mean more grocery stores, restaurants and amenities for all of us. Unlike the stereotypical “squeaky wheel,” our community’s progress comes from relentless effort and unwavering belief in our potential.

East Fort Worth is full of resilient, kind and forward-thinking people. Yes, we face challenges like any other community. But the incredible humans here work tirelessly to make tomorrow better than today. It infuriates me when people make blanket statements about the east side of Fort Worth. I invite them to walk with me through my neighborhood, Handley and the surrounding communities to see the reality — a place full of life, hope and potential.

I remember dragging a table across the street for the Handley Neighborhood Street Festival and significantly scraping my leg during the process. So when I say blood, sweat and tears are involved in making this place better, I mean it quite literally. But that’s what makes our community so special — we roll up our sleeves (or occasionally scrape our legs) and get things done!

My commitment to Ryanwood and Fort Worth is deeply personal. I know I cannot leave any financial legacies behind, so the legacy I strive for is to leave this place better than I found it. Every day, I work to improve my community and positively impact those around me. It’s about making a difference, one step at a time, and contributing to the collective effort of building a better future for our community and, ultimately, our city.

We need developers committed to long-term investment and ownership who include the community in their plans from start to finish. Building on our culture and enhancing our community fabric is crucial for East Fort Worth to thrive. We are on the path to achieving this vision with ongoing projects and future developments. It takes a village to raise a city, y’all.

East Fort Worth is a hidden gem in Fort Worth. I’m thrilled to see more people talking about it. Here’s a fun fact I bet you didn’t know: Fort Worth’s Gateway Park is larger than New York’s Central Park! Central Park is 843 acres – Gateway Park spans 1,000 acres, offering vast space for recreation and nature!

Living in Ryanwood is about embracing the community’s spirit, being part of its growth and contributing to its future. It’s about everyday acts of kindness and shared efforts in community events.

Tracy Cliburn is a Fort Worth native and the community and donor engagement director at KWC Performing Arts. She has also served on several nonprofit boards across Fort Worth, which is helping her reach her goal of knowing half of Fort Worth.

Ryanwood

Total population: 4,705Female: 49% | Male: 51%

Age0-9: 20%10-19: 11%20-29: 18%30-39: 16%40-49: 12%50-59: 8%60-69: 6%70-79: 5%80 and older: 4%

EducationNo degree: 17%High school: 31%Some college: 27%Bachelor’s degree: 16%Post-graduate: 9%

RaceWhite: 16% | Black: 51% | Hispanic: 30% | Asian: 2%

Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:

East Handley Elementary

Sagamore Hill Elementary

Eastern Hills High School

Eastern Hills Elementary

Uplift Mighty Preparatory

ILTexas Woodhaven Elementary

Newman International Academy at Fort Worth

Dunbar High School

West Handley Elementary

T.A. Sims Elementary

ILTexas Woodhaven Middle School

Ignite Community School Fort Worth