Unity Arch Set to be Installed Jan.19
By Parks & Recreation
Posted on January 11, 2017, January 11, 2017

Unity Arch Set

Unity Arch, a key centerpiece of Arlington's Entertainment District Sculpture Trail within Richard Greene Linear Park and Robert Cluck Linear Park, will be installed on Jan. 19, 2017. The piece was designed by famed sculptor Owen Morrel of Coral Gables, Fla.

Morrel's Unity Arch was selected out of 21 proposals as the best representation of the community spirit supporting Arlington's growing Entertainment District, which is home to the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor theme parks.

Morrel said he came up with the design by wrapping a piece of chicken wire around a football. The Unity Arch will have a much larger presence at nearly 14 feet tall and 25 feet wide.

In December 2015, the Arlington City Council approved a construction contract for the construction of a plaza for the Unity Arch. Unity Arch is an aluminum infinity sculpture that symbolizes the passion, dedication, and unwavered spirit of the people of Arlington. The scope of work for the contract included the construction of the sculpture pad and other site work such as earthwork, grading, flatwork, planter beds, and lighting.

UnityArchLandscaping2UnityArchBase2UnityArchLights2

"The Unity Arch is reflective of how Arlington is aligning to create growth and opportunity by uniting through our
diversity, education, aspirations and spirit, and it reflects the 'can-do' spirit of our city," said Ronnie Price, president of the
Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We support this effort in the community, as it not only pushes Arlington in the direction of creating more authentic and
ongoing local engagement, but also opportunity for our tourists to engage in cultural arts around Arlington," he said.

The Entertainment District Sculpture Trail was conceptualized in 2011 when Super Bowl XLV was hosted here in Arlington,
Texas. Six years later, this idea is now a beautiful reality. Spanning the length of both the Richard Greene Linear Park and
Robert Cluck Linear Park, art and nature combine into something extraordinary. Set against the beautiful backdrop of
Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium, the Sculpture Trail provides a unique combination of art, nature, and architecture that
can only be found here in The American Dream City.

Upon build out, the Sculpture Trail will showcase 15 and 20 sculpture sites at any one time. In May 2016, one phase of the
master plan was completed. This completed phase features nine pieces of art located on the bit of trail between Randol
Mill Road and Cowboys Way, on the east side of Johnson Creek, and was underwritten by the Arlington Tomorrow
Foundation.

The artwork for the trail is determined by the Sculpture Trail Committee, which is comprised by members from the City of
Arlington, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, University of Texas at
Arlington and local artists. Each sculpture will remain on display for three years and then it will be rotated out to
showcase a new piece. This will provide park patrons with a new experience every few years. If a sculpture is sold while on
display, the city will collect a percentage of the commission and the artist will be responsible for installation of a
replacement piece.

"Art is an important piece of any community," assistant parks director Gary Packan said. "If we can continue to work to
expand that within our park system to celebrate people and events that have happened in Arlington through sculptures,
it's an exciting opportunity for our parks to become more engaging for our residents."

A formal dedication ceremony for the Unity Arch sculpture is scheduled for April 6, 2017. For more information on the
Entertainment District Sculpture Trail, visit NaturallyFun.org/sculpturetrail.

Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Park, Richard Greene Linear Park, Public Art
Parks & Recreation, News