Today, Cowtown's downtown is heralded as one of the country's best revitalized urban areas, where thousands of people return after hours to take in the excitement of big city bustle. Dedication and planning lead to developing an inviting, fun and friendly city center. An earlier recognition of Fort Worth's downtown advancements came in 1995, when the city was awarded the prestigious James C. Howland Award for Urban Enrichment by the National League of Cities for innovative redevelopment programs that demonstrate good planning and imagination. Located on the north end of downtown is Sundance Square, considered an urban renaissance model. This 20-block area attracts thousands of visitors and local residents with its outstanding dining, entertainment and exciting nightlife.
Businesses occupy the upper levels in many of the renovated buildings.
Sundance Square is named for the notorious Sundance Kid, who along with Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall Gang, spent time in Fort Worth. The Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall capped this downtown revitalization effort when it opened its doors to worldwide acclaim in 1998. Bass Hall will also serve as the permanent home of the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The elegance of the hall is reminiscent of Europe's grand opera houses, taking many of its design features from Milan's La Scala, the Paris Opera House and Carnegie Hall in New York. Cool jazz, blues and other hot sounds can also be found downtown.