The Arlington Parks and Recreation Department will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Al Rollins Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 3311 SW Green Oaks Boulevard, adjacent to the Southwest Branch Library. Parking for the event will be available at the library lot.
The ceremony will include remarks from city leaders, project consultants, and members of the Rollins family. Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and photo opportunities following the program. The public is invited to attend and celebrate a new chapter in Arlington’s public space development.
A Thoughtful Addition, Years in the Making
The 2.4-acre Al Rollins Park is set to open in late 2026, with Phase I construction expected to take approximately 12 to 15 months. During construction, city officials have confirmed that operations at the adjacent Southwest Recreation Center will not be interrupted. “We’ve coordinated efforts to ensure that park development complements—not disrupts—our existing recreational services,” said a city spokesperson.
The Southwest Recreation Center currently offers a wide range of community services, including fitness classes, indoor courts, youth and adult programs, after-school activities, and summer camps. The new park will expand outdoor opportunities and serve as an educational and environmental complement to the center’s programs.
Designed with Community in Mind
Features of Phase I will include:
- Playgrounds for ages 2–5 and 5–12
- 0.14-mile walking trail
- Interactive park signage and educational elements
- Dry creek lined with native plantings
- Pollinator and wildflower gardens
- Open green spaces for passive recreation
The park’s layout reflects community feedback gathered in 2022 through public surveys, stakeholder meetings, and even a collaborative design session with second-grade students from AISD’s Wood Elementary.
Honoring a Civic Giant
The park is named after Al Rollins, who served as Arlington’s City Manager and Director of Public Works in the 1950s and 1960s before co-founding one of Texas’s most influential engineering and landscape design firms. Rollins left a lasting imprint on Arlington’s infrastructure and public spaces—making the park a fitting tribute to his dual legacy in public service and private development.
A Smart Investment in Public Health, Environment, and Community
With 71% of Arlington residents now living within a 10-minute walk of a park, expanding green space access has become a city priority. Parks promote mental and physical wellness, offer safe spaces for children to play, and provide a natural habitat for wildlife—particularly when native plantings and pollinator gardens are integrated into the design.
“Growing and investing in Arlington’s park system isn’t just about beautification—it’s about equity, education, and creating a higher quality of life,” said James Orloski, Director of Arlington Parks and Recreation. “Al Rollins Park will be a place where generations can connect, explore, and thrive.”
Arlington’s rise from 74th to 46th in the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore® rankings in just two years is a testament to that vision. And with the city now ranked 4th in Texas for park access, projects like Al Rollins Park demonstrate that Arlington is not only growing but growing thoughtfully.
For more information about the groundbreaking event or ongoing park development, please contact the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department at [email protected].
