Arlington Highlights Beautification and Sustainability for the World
Published on March 20, 2026
By Cynthia Lemus, Office of Communication
As Arlington prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2026™, City teams are working to ensure the community is ready to shine — not just for visitors, but for the residents who call Arlington home.
In the second episode of Arlington Welcomes the World, City leaders highlight ongoing beautification and sustainability efforts across parks, roadways and public spaces.
The Parks and Recreation Department has been laying the groundwork for years, focusing on key areas like the Entertainment District and major corridors across the city.
“The world’s coming — and we need to be ready,” said Parks Director Gary Packan. “We’re taking what we already do every day and giving it that extra polish because Arlington is on a global stage.”
Recent improvements include enhanced landscaping, upgraded maintenance efforts and new public art installations, along with large-scale planting initiatives. The City has already planted more than 1,300 plants along major corridors and continues to expand tree planting across Arlington.
“We’re planting things that are going to be here for 50, 100 years,” Assistant Parks Director Michael Debrecht said. “Long after FIFA is gone next year, these corridors will remain. We’ll continue maintaining them at a high level—ensuring they’re beautiful not just for a global event, but for our residents every day.”
These efforts extend beyond the Entertainment District, ensuring neighborhoods and major roadways across Arlington reflect the same level of care and pride.
Sustainability is also a key focus as Arlington prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors. Meghna Tare, Chief Sustainability Officer for the North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee, said hosting an event of this scale requires a coordinated effort to reduce environmental impact while engaging the entire community.
“When you have a mega event of this magnitude, the environmental impact can be massive — our role is to reduce that impact for the community as a whole,” Tare said.
Efforts include reducing waste, conserving resources, improving air quality and expanding green spaces, all while working closely with cities, local organizations and businesses. Programs like the Green Business Certification are helping highlight companies that are already leading in sustainability.
For Tare, the goal goes beyond the six-week tournament. It’s about creating lasting change in how the community thinks about sustainability.
“My goal is to make sure that after the last whistle is blown, we still continue the work,” she said. “That’s where the real impact happens — when these efforts become part of everyday life in our community.”
Residents can learn more and get involved by visiting ArlingtonTX.gov/WorldCup.