Child Care Associates marked a significant milestone on Tuesday with the grand opening of its first child care center in Fort Worth’s Riverside neighborhood. The new facility, located at 2400 E. First St., is part of a larger plan to open six child care centers throughout Tarrant County, funded by millions in federal COVID-19 relief money. These centers aim to expand infant and toddler classrooms, a priority for local officials since the pandemic.
The Child Care Studio at Riverside, which began serving children in September, currently enrolls about 80 students, primarily infants and toddlers. The center was previously known as the Gwendolyn C. Gragg Child Development Center. Kara Waddell, President and CEO of Child Care Associates, explained that the rebranding of this and other centers, using neighborhood or street names, will help parents more easily find child care options online. The term “studio” was chosen to emphasize a creative space where children can engage in active learning through play rather than sitting at desks.
“This Child Care Studio is a great example of how community collaboration can improve the lives of our youngest residents,” Waddell said. “Our investment in early learning infrastructure, like this center, is a shared commitment to enriching children’s experiences and fostering a love of learning.”
At the grand opening, city officials, including City Councilmember Jeanette Martinez and Mayor Mattie Parker, expressed their pride in the new facility. Martinez called the center a “huge asset” to the community, while Parker praised the center as an example of how early investments in child care can improve lives and set a standard for the nation.
The center features three separate outdoor play areas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, each designed to encourage physical activity, curiosity, and developmental growth. On opening day, children enjoyed various outdoor activities, including playing in sandboxes, experimenting with a sound wall, and painting on easels with a view of downtown Fort Worth. Leslie Fierro, the center’s director, noted that children spend 30 to 45 minutes outdoors daily.
The infant play area was named in honor of Happy Baggett, a local developer and supporter of Child Care Associates, who passed away before the space was completed. Baggett’s daughter, Maggie Baggett Shori, who once worked for the organization, said her father’s legacy would live on in the space designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for infants.
“He believed every child deserves a safe and loving space to grow and explore,” Baggett Shori said. “This play area is a tribute to his passion for caring for the youngest members of our community.”
The City of Fort Worth contributed $2 million in American Rescue Plan funds toward the development of the center. The PNC Foundation also provided funding through its Grow Up Great program, which supports high-quality, nature-based outdoor learning environments. The program aims to help children from birth to age 5 prepare for school and life.
The new center is part of a larger initiative spearheaded by the Blue Ribbon Action Committee on Child Care, which includes Mayor Parker, former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, and Child Care Associates. The committee is working to address child care challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, with a goal of opening 50 new classrooms across six facilities by the end of 2026. These centers will have the capacity to serve over 900 children.
The other five child care centers currently under construction by Child Care Associates include:
Child Care Studio at Las Vegas Trail, 8201 Calmont Ave., Fort Worth
Stop Six Hub, 5100 block of Avenue G, Fort Worth
City of Arlington Facility, 696 N. Fielder Road, Arlington
Tarrant County College South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth
Tarrant County College Northwest Campus, 4801 Marine Creek Parkway, Fort Worth
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