Fort Worth Botanic Garden
A $500,000 grant from the estate of Beverly Hudgins Ray Parkhurst is helping bring the two-acre Baker Martin Family Garden at Fort Worth’s Botanic Garden closer to reality.
Officials broke ground in November, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2026. It marks the first major element of the Botanic Garden’s 20-year master plan.
The grant was awarded through the North Texas Community Foundation.
"We are grateful for the significant gift from Beverly’s estate,” said Patrick Newman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. “Her support brings us closer to realizing our vision, creating a space that not only nurtures beauty and tranquility but also fosters connections with nature for generations to come."
Parkhurst’s gift was made in honor of her lifelong love of gardens. It was designed by the nationally renowned Terra Design Studios,
Beverly Hudgins Ray Parkhurst, who died in November at age 88, was born in Fort Worth. She attended Carter-Riverside High School. She earned a degree in business administration from TCU.
After graduation she moved to New York City to help open the Texas Pavillon at the 1965 World's Fair. In New York, she founded an interior design business. She married Bill Ray. They moved to Newport Beach, California, and together they purchased The Balboa Bay Club and later combined other properties under the umbrella parent, International Bay Clubs, or the IBC.
She died in Dallas.
The Baker Martin Garden won’t just be there to look at.
Eleven themed galleries will invite hands-on exploration for children and families. A shallow, 150-foot creek edged in native Texas limestone will offer a cool respite for barefooted wanderers. A “Texas pond” will teem with amphibians, dragonflies, and fish. Wide lawns will give children room to roam.
At the garden’s center, the Discovery Center — an air-conditioned, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building — will host educational programs, children’s book collections, and community events year-round. Designed with comfort and accessibility in mind, the new space promises shaded seating, family restrooms, a parent’s room, and no extra admission fees.