The Water Gardens were designed by noted New York architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and was dedicated to the City of Fort Worth by the Amon G. Carter Foundation. The park is frequently billed as a "cooling oasis in the concrete jungle" of downtown. Its focal points are three pools of water; the quiet meditation pool, the aerating pool which feature multiple fountains and the active pool which has water cascading 38 feet (11 meters) down terraces and steps into a small pool at the bottom. It also has over 500 species of plants and trees throughout the park.

Part of the film Logan’s Run was filmed in the active pool at the Water Gardens in 1976.