DAMC Bark & Brew Engages Community in Placemaking

Attendees share ideas and priorities for future Downtown Arlington initiatives

The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation recently hosted a first-ever Bark & Brew Pop! Up Partner event. While there was plenty of fun for kids and dogs alike in the pop-up park, the nearly 100 attendees also shared ideas on how to shape the future of Downtown Arlington.

Building our future, together

Nearly half of the attendees lived or worked within a mile of Downtown Arlington. Together, they took a deep dive – some for the first time -- into several important Downtown initiatives.

They learned about the myAbram Revitalization project by studying the architectural and streetscape plans. They provided feedback on future placemaking concepts for Downtown and offered ideas of their own. They met and mingled with other neighbors and business owners, building stronger bonds with each other and to Downtown.

Most importantly, attendees began thinking strategically about how current and future initiatives can build on each other to enhance the district for residents and visitors alike. Six placemaking concepts rose to the top of the list.

The results are in

From the sixteen placemaking concepts discussed, these six concepts received 62% of the votes cast:

• More plazas and gathering spaces
• Native flowers at intersections
• Vacant building pop-up events
• More trees throughout Downtown
• Creative crosswalks
• Interactive public art

Other popular ideas included more outdoor games, bike lane pop-ups, vacant land pop-ups, and bike/walk distance signage. The pop-up dog park concept also received two paws up, with over 35 residents asking to be involved in a more long-term Downtown Arlington dog park initiative.

Future projects in Downtown Arlington will be shaped by insights from this and other community engagement events. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend Bark & Brew, we still need and want your feedback.

What do you think?

The City of Arlington is developing a new Downtown Master Plan, one that will direct initiatives to transform Downtown into an even more vibrant destination for residents and visitors. Take the Downtown Master Plan citizen survey, available online until June 30, 2018.

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About Downtown Arlington

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate.