DREAM Sculpture move is a step toward completion for Rotary Dream Park

Around 3 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, the DREAM Sculpture was moved from its temporary spot on the greenery behind Levitt Pavilion to a holding area in a nearby parking lot. Tuesday morning its letters were secured in place in its permanent home – the new Rotary Dream Park on Front Street. 

While attending the 2013 Burning Man festival, Bob Pruitt first laid eyes on Believe, another "big word" sculpture by Schomberg and Kimpton. He dreamt of bringing a similarly bold statement to Arlington. Soon after, Arlington launched a new city-wide brand, Arlington: The American Dream City. Then, the DREAM Sculpture was unveiled Sept. 25, 2015. 

With support from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, a host of individual donors and many community partners, a 54-foot long, 12-foot tall metal DREAM sculpture was installed in a temporary location in Downtown Arlington, on a lot owned by First Baptist Church Arlington near Founder's Plaza. 

“I will forever be grateful for First Baptist Church’s willingness to host DREAM for so many years, and for the Downtown Rotary’s efforts in creating a more prominent location for the sculpture,” said Tony Rutigliano, former President and CEO of Downtown Arlington Management Corporation when the sculpture was brought to the city. 

Earlier this year, Downtown Arlington’s Board of Directors voted to donate the sculpture, belonging to DAMC, to the city. In 2023, Arlington Rotary Club funded the creation of Boundless by Jen Lewin to be another sculpture within the park. This public-private partnership received funding from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, was designed by MESA Design Group, and all brought together by the City’s leadership and Arlington Parks & Recreation. 

The DREAM Sculpture has been waiting for this day since its creation, the day it is placed in its rightful, permanent home – the hill of Rotary Dream Park. 

“The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation has been the proud steward and organizer for bringing DREAM here, and taking care of it all these years until we were ready to make a permanent place for it,” said Maggie Campbell, current President and CEO of Downtown Arlington Management Corporation. “This Rotary Dream Park is going to be another centerpiece of public space for our downtown, thanks to everyone who shared the vision and helped support this investment in public art.”