DIY Out West: Walsh Launches Open-to-the-Public Makerspace
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Activities at the village market and maker space. (Photo: Richard W. Rodriguez)
From Staff Reports
Walsh is now home to Fort Worth’s newest makerspace. The Walsh Makerspace, located in the heart of the growing 7,200-acre neighborhood in west Fort Worth, is the first of its kind to be built from the ground up around a new development, and is available to residents and the public.
Aiming to provide public access to 21st century technology and tools, the Walsh Makerspace includes a woodshop, computer design software and 3D printers, laser cutter, robotics lab, an electronics lab, and kid-friendly ways to learn and create with your hands, such as a giant Lego Wall and Makey Makey Invention Kits. Makerspaces have grown in popularity across the globe, operating as shared workshops that house specialized tools that are impractical for the traditional hobbyist or entrepreneur to own individually.
Founding member of Dallas Makerspace, Scott Sumner, will manage the Walsh Makerspace. Before joining Walsh, Sumner was the Assistant Manager of the Charlie Nobel Planetarium at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
Photo: Richard W. Rodriguez
“The Walsh Makerspace is a great win for the greater Fort Worth community and will be a space that harnesses creative talent as people dream up businesses or the next big idea,” said Sumner. “We’re also very excited to be offering year-round programming that is family friendly and will help children explore new skills and passions.”
The Walsh Makerspace is open to residents, students, local organizations and businesses, and interested makers of all ages. A series of events – Weekends at Walsh – will give the public a chance to see the makerspace first-hand (driving directions found here).
Maker movement pioneer Mark Hatch, who wrote the book The Maker Movement Manifesto, consulted with developers at Walsh on the design and programming for the community’s first makerspace.
Classes will be offered on basic and advanced operation of the Makerspace tools and on specific building projects beginning this spring. Residents of the Walsh community have access to the makerspace as part of the amenity village in the fast-growing Fort Worth neighborhood. Organizers at Walsh also plan to host regular programs at the makerspace for local student groups, including those at Aledo ISD.
Non-resident makers may purchase membership access to the Walsh Makerspace. For more information, visit walshtx.com.
