Stronger Together Outdoors: Weekly Message from Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of DAMC

There are all kinds of parks in Arlington, Texas. There are parks with trails, and parks where your kids or dogs meet up with friends. There are parks with rides that take you up into the sky, and diamond-shaped parks where we love to hear the ump holler, “Play Ball!” 

Then there’s our favorite park, conveniently located at the center of it all. This park is Downtown Arlington.

This week we’re launching Downtown Outdoors, Downtown Arlington’s new platform for discovering and experiencing the great outdoors in the heart of the city. Downtown Outdoors not only helps us see Arlington’s historical and cultural district differently, but will create opportunities for you to discover and engage with the Downtown’s many outdoor spaces. We’ll share new ideas for spending time with family and friends, programs to support healthy lifestyles, and ways for staying connected with your community. 

To get you started, we’ve mapped out three terrific walking/biking routes that are between 1- and 2-mile round trips. One route “connects the dots” between the Stars of Texas in Downtown; the second route guides you to a number of murals in and near Downtown’s Urban Union; and the third route helps you discover more murals that celebrate the arts, music, culture and community. Want to meet your stretch step goal? Combine both mural routes into one, and you’ve got yourself nearly a 5K!

Follow Downtown Outdoors on our website and social media platforms for more ideas, programs, and events

Let’s go outside and play!

Downtown Arlington 2020 Annual Meeting Celebration  

When is a meeting not a meeting? When it’s the Downtown Arlington Annual Meeting! This year, we’re inviting everyone to join us for a unique a variety-show style program that celebrates the tenacious, creative and indomitable spirit of our Downtown community.

You’re invited to REGISTER NOW for the Downtown Arlington 2020 Annual Meeting Celebration, which we’re hosting this year as a free Facebook Live event on Thursday, September 10 starting at 5:30 p.m.

With Mayor Jeff Williams and DAMC Board Chair Amy Cearnal as my co-hosts, you’ll be treated to stories of our past, present and future as told by many of Downtown’s entrepreneurs, artists, leaders, educators and fans. We can’t wait for you to see who will be making an appearance in both our year-in-review videos and our live streamed program!

Because 2020 has been a year unlike any other, our program will also pay tribute to those who’ve helped us light the way through these first months of the coronavirus pandemic. We’re also so proud to unveil the winner of our 2020 Dream Builder Award.

Fans of our Downtown Arlington Roots series will enjoy playing our Downtown Trivia Challenge which will take place in the live chat. Do you know your Arlington history? If so, you might just win some swag! 

Before the celebration kicks off, you’re invited to get involved in two important ways:

Invite your friends: Since this year’s event is free and easily accessible online, please invite your friends to join us! The more people who discover all that Downtown Arlington has to offer, the more likely our Downtown community can survive the economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Support Downtown businesses: Make September 10 your next Downtown Arlington Restaurant Rally Day! Before you prop up your feet and click on our Facebook Live link at 5:30 p.m., be sure you’re stocked up on your favorite hometown dishes, appetizers, drinks and desserts from one (or more!) of our eclectic mix of bars, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Visit Downtown Delivers for inspiration and links to order items to-go, for curbside pick-up, or delivery. Remember: if you keep rallying for them, they will rally for you!

Downtown Arlington Urban Market Returns  

The Downtown Arlington Urban Market is returning this fall! This artisan and local vendor market will pop up from 4:00-8:00 p.m. next to Legal Draft in Urban Union on the second Thursday from September through December. Please make plans to shop the market in support small local business. 

Levitt Pavilion Announces Plans for Fall   

The last Tuesday Levitt Living Room Series concert is Tuesday, Aug. 25. Tune in to the Levitt Pavilion’s Facebook page at 8 p.m. to catch Jo James' performance hosted by J.R. Bentley’s English Pub. Thanks to the popularity of this live-stream series, the Levitt Pavilion announced today that it will continue its Levitt Living Room Series for its fall concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, starting with opening weekend featuring Max Stalling on Aug. 28 and Gary P. Nunn on Aug. 29. Both concerts will start at 8 p.m. on Levitt Facebook Live. The latest fall concert schedule can be found on the Levitt's website and their mobile app. Meanwhile, the team at the Levitt is working with City and County officials to plan for a limited number of people on the lawn for each concert according to social distancing best practices. We are so grateful and inspired by the Levitt for their unwavering dedication to giving the gift of free live music to our community.