You may be familiar with the “Sleeping Panther” statue downtown, which snoozes at Main Street and Weatherford. Well, now there’s a new panther sculpture in the neighborhood.
You’ll find the shrubby feline lounging in Burnett Park, adding a fresh (and fuzzy) chapter to Panther City’s favorite origin story.
Placed with purpose
Burnett Park’s new installation plays off the Fort Worth “Panther City” legend — which dates back to the 1870s — when a Dallas newspaper joked that Fort Worth was so quiet a panther could sleep in the street.
Instead of bristling, Fort Worth embraced the jab, turning the panther into a symbol of resilience, independence, and just the right amount of swagger — a spirit which still defines the city today.
Managed under Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. (DFWI), the installation is part of its light-touch urban advocacy work, using small creative moments to activate spaces in downtown and tell FTW’s story in different ways. Passersby are invited to sit, play, climb, and jump on it.
“We installed the piece intentionally with its back to Dallas to blend history, humor, and a sense of civic pride,” DFWI Special Projects Manager KayLee Pratt told FTWtoday.
This panther needs a name
Be a part of its story. Residents can submit name ideas online. Got something clever? This is your moment. The form closes on Wednesday, April 1.
