[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E591-E592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FORTH WORTH IS ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST LIVABLE CITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the city of 
Fort Worth on being named one of nine ``America's Most Livable Cities'' 
by the Partners for Livable Communities.'' In order to be recognized, 
Fort Worth was compared with other cities throughout our Nation and 
judged on creativity and the ability to prepare for the new economy.
  America's Most Livable Communities is a project of Partners for 
Livable Communities, a national non-profit organization working to 
restore and renew America's communities. Founded in 1977, Partners was 
the first national group to raise the banner of livability as both a 
consumer goal and a standard of excellence for municipal performance. 
This new project recognizes the necessity for communities to increase 
the standards for quality of life in order to attract better businesses 
and promote economic growth.
  As one of the nine cities recognized in the large cities category, 
Fort Worth is recognized as a place where the economy is strong, the 
community is handling challenges and it is able to respond quickly to 
difficult situations. Fort Worth has shown to have long term strategies 
that are driven by quality of life standards. As a city it ensures that 
the climate, setting, intelligence of the labor force, downtown 
amenities, partnerships, and leadership agendas are above the standards 
necessary to survive.

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  Fort Worth has been able to maintain the Nation's third largest 
cultural district to supplement the incorporation of modernization and 
community outreach. Partners are impressed with efforts to transform 
many of Fort Worth's older, central city commercial districts into 
vibrant urban communities. The City Council has worked with private 
developers, business groups and neighborhood associations to create 13 
urban communities, all with unique qualities specific to the areas they 
serve. These urban communities help promote the inner city as an 
appealing alternative to the basic and usually overcrowded parks and 
subdivisions common to suburbs. Inner-city villages also serve as 
methods for public and private ventures to support and renew economic 
activity to downtown Forth Worth. Buildings are able to be connected 
with neighborhoods effectively without depriving citizens of the 
quality of life they were seeking in the suburbs.
  In 2001, Fort Worth established the goal of being the most livable 
city in Texas. As the only Texas city recognized by Partners at the 
America's Most Livable Awards Program on April 20th, 2004, that goal 
has been achieved. I commend the city on setting its goals and 
standards high. It is my hope that we can continue to keep the bar high 
and continue to strive for excellence.

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