The Arlington Parks and Recreation Department is marking its centennial from the ground up, literally.
While making note of its first park, Meadowbrook Park and Meadowbrook Golf Course on Abram Street, the city is moving toward a ribbon-cutting this fall for its newest – and 100th – facility, the Active Adult Center in west Arlington.
“It’s great timing, with the opening of the Active Adult Center,” said James Orloski, the director of Arlington Parks & Recreation, who explained that the 72,000-square-foot center geared toward 50-plus adults will include a full gymnasium, workout room, two bodies of water for swimming and recreation, classrooms, rental spaces, areas for passive use and other indoor and outdoor amenities.
“It’s a testament to Arlington to see the commitment to this,” Orloski said.
He said that up till now, senior activities had been spread across facilities throughout the city, which still provided services to that age group, but lacked the connectivity and social component. “That group hasn’t had a place of its own for the past two or three years,” Orloski said.
In the time between the openings of Meadowbrook and the Active Adult Center, the city has added indoor and outdoor recreation amenities broad enough to satisfy any resident or visitor. That includes lakefront sites offering a base for anglers – or photographers – to dog parks for four-legged frivolity, to athletic fields providing a space for children to learn the games and socialize with friends. 
For longtime Arlington resident Jimmy Burch, the city’s parks span generations and serve as a milepost for a family’s life.
In his younger days, Burch kept golf clubs in his car while working near Meadowbrook Park, and took to the golf course after work. Now, he and his grandson visit Bowman Springs Park for walks and bonding time.
With a population of nearly 400,000 residents and limited open space, Arlington needs to be forward-thinking and innovative in order to keep providing for its residents.
One way the city did that was to place the oncoming Active Adult Center on land that the city already owned, which previously served the water department.
“Arlington’s population curve is flattening out a little bit, but we occasionally work with real estate folks to find open space,” said Orloski, who added that the city benefits from partnerships with several entities for land or activities. Among those are the University of Texas at Arlington, the Texas Rangers, and the Levitt Pavilion. 
Arlington also taps into park fee ordinance funds – submitted by developers when they build new housing – for new park development, or re-development of existing sites.
Also furthering the department’s cause is a robust network of volunteers, who step up for tasks such as cleanup, planting, and weeding, all the way to coaching sports teams.
“We couldn’t run the department without them,” Orloski said, adding that the department hopes to add a volunteer group to maintain a greenhouse at the new Active Adult Center.
With the extensive collection of parks facilities in Arlington, it’s difficult to name a favorite. But Orloski did extol the quality of two specific sites: Meadowbrook Park and River Legacy Park.
For Meadowbrook, the history is what strikes Orloski, and the way it’s evolved over time. “I love the historical part of Meadowbrook Park,” he said.
As for River Legacy, the natural aspects make it a valuable asset to the community. “To have a space like that in the middle of a community like Arlington is phenomenal,” he said. “It has active space, ballfields, open spaces, and a nature center too.”
Arlington resident Rhonda Aghamalian who returned to the city after growing up there and later moving away, is effusive in praise of Arlington’s parks.
“I’m a big fan of parks in general and have always been appreciative of Arlington’s parks. I love expansive green space,” said Aghamalian, who listed River Legacy, Doug Russell Park, and Veterans Park as among her favorites.
“It’s a wonderful space,” she said of Veterans Park, in southwest Arlington. “I spent a lot of time there as a child, so there’s that nostalgic factor for me. The veterans memorial aspect lends an extra layer to the space.”
For Burch, Bowman Springs Park gives his family another connection. It’s walkable from his house, it’s where his children learned to ride bikes.
“I also love being there at sunset, when the sun reflects off the water,” Burch said. “Long ago I posted a sunset photo on Twitter and it got a lot of traction. People were asking me, ‘Where’s that?’”
Aghamalian echoed that appreciation of the natural aspects. “There are so many vistas in Arlington parks that are downright gorgeous,” she said.
And there’s more ahead. Orloski said the parks department’s 10-year master plan, which was initiated in 2020, is due for updates. “We’ve made really good progress on it,” he said.
Aghamalian is one Arlington resident who’s happy to hear that about her hometown’s park system.
“I just enjoy the fact that there are families there, spending time together, kids playing sports, UTA students going for walks,” she said. “It makes you feel connected to your neighbors.” 
Visit arlingtonparks100.org to share your experiences in Arlington’s parks facilities, and keep up with the activities and celebrations marking the department’s centennial.
