Al Rollins Park Opens in Southwest Arlington

Published on June 23, 2026

Arlington residents now have a new neighborhood destination to enjoy with the opening of Al Rollins Park on June 20, 2026. The 2.4‑acre park, located next to the Southwest Branch Library, represents years of planning and community collaboration aimed at creating a welcoming public space while honoring one of the city’s most influential early leaders.

Al Rollins served Arlington in several key roles beginning in the 1950s, including city engineer, director of Public Works, director of Utilities and city manager. His work helped guide Arlington through a period of rapid expansion, and many of the city’s foundational public projects were shaped by his leadership.

The park’s design reflects input gathered from neighborhood meetings, a citywide survey conducted in 2022, and a creative partnership with second‑grade students from Wood Elementary. Their ideas helped shape a space that blends recreation, nature and quiet gathering areas. The park includes:

• Play areas for children ages 2–5 and 5–12 in an ability-inclusive playground
• A 0.14‑mile walking trail designed for casual strolls and daily exercise
• A dry creek feature with native landscaping
• Pollinator and wildflower gardens
• Open green space for unstructured recreation
• An interactive pipe‑style park sign inspired by student sketches

"We're thrilled to open Al Rollins Park and celebrate the incredible legacy of a man who gave so much to this community,” said Parks, Recreation & Culture Director Gary Packan. “Al Rollins literally helped build this city and it's wonderful that residents will now have this beautiful space to enjoy while honoring everything he contributed. This park is a gift to the neighborhood, and we couldn't be more thrilled to see it come to life. There's truly something here for everyone, from the youngest visitors to folks just looking for a peaceful place to stroll. And being right next to the Southwest Branch Library makes this spot extra special. We're already looking forward to the programming possibilities that connection brings."

The opening of Al Rollins Park adds to Arlington’s growing network of public spaces at a time when the city continues to receive national recognition for park accessibility. With 103 parks and 60 playgrounds, Arlington’s recent ParkScore® rankings show 77% of Arlington residents now live within a 10‑minute walk of a park, well above the DFW and national averages.