Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Adopted 3-17-2015 | Page 102

Parks and Open Spaces
Arlington’s environmental assets
include an extensive park and
creek system, the Trinity River, Lake
Arlington, and the Eastern Cross
Timbers forest. The West Fork of the
Trinity River and its area tributaries
flow through the northern part the
city. Today, the land surrounding the
river is mostly parkland in the 1,300acre River Legacy Parks system.
Maintaining Arlington’s reputation as a
city with a high quality of life involves
preserving these natural features and
open spaces. Open space is land left
in its natural, undisturbed state or
land for passive or active recreation,
scenic preservation, or wildlife habitat.
It is important to protect Arlington’s
natural areas and open spaces,
whether it is by helping a landowner
preserve private property or by
acquiring new, unique properties.
Through these actions, the city can
increase its park land and provide
some connectivity among the various
features, thus creating a green corridor

of both natural land and recreational
areas that residents can enjoy.
By acquisitions or donations of
unique properties, floodplain areas,
and additional rights-of-way, the
city can provide linear parks and
trails that connect new and existing
developments. Linear parks also serve
as convenient settings for recreational
opportunities and preserve critically
important floodways and wildlife
habitats. The linear trail along
Johnson Creek provides pedestrian
and bicycle access to amenities in
the Entertainment District and other
locations in the city, and serves as a
good model for future expansion of
the trail network.
The city’s Parks, Recreation and Open
Space (PROS) Master Plan lays out the
city’s strategy of developing parks,
open spaces, and quality facilities that
will promote healthy lifestyles and
recreation, while protecting the natural
environment and native ecosystems.

96