The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
It was in a “ruff” place! This exciting public space transformation in Downtown Arlington is for humans and pups alike. Thanks to a $75,000 Community Placemaking Grant by General Motors, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation worked with Project for Public Spaces to convert the buffer lots around railroad tracks into an active green space designed for the local community and their pets.
Like many U.S. towns, Arlington, TX, grew around a railroad corridor. The town relocated from its original site a few miles south, to its current location, in order to be on the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and Pacific Railway originally built in the late 1800s for both passenger and freight. Today, only the freight trains operate in Arlington, primarily delivering critical supplies and equipment to GM’s Arlington plant which is 2.5 miles east of Downtown. However, the railway remains an important feature and a boundary for Downtown Arlington, with narrow parcels of land providing a buffer around the tracks.
In the last 15 years, Downtown Arlington has been experiencing a boom in local population, and during this same time period, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), located on the southern border of the area, had grown from less than 20,000 students to over 40,000. With thousands of new residents, countless more visitors and tourists, plus dozens of new businesses and attractions, the railroad remained a barrier, preventing these new residents and establishments from coming together in a cohesive place.
With the support of a Community Placemaking Grant, the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation engaged with local residents through a community visioning process facilitated by Project for Public Spaces that included in-person sessions and idea boards that attracted feedback from over 1,000 people.
People wanted a gathering space, shaded seating, and various dog-centric events. With forty percent (40%) of the population owning a pet, the community was excited for the idea of a dog park, a place within walking distance to finally gather with others and enjoy the outdoors.
Many grant recipients successfully leverage the progress and success of our grant process to gain additional funding from others to expand their work. In the case of Doggie Depot, Downtown Arlington quadrupled their implementation dollars with an additional $254k through a capital campaign that attracted support from a city grant fund, the University of Texas, businesses, and residents, as well as in-kind services from their parks department. They incorporated creative fundraising campaign elements, like a “buy a brick” campaign, that not only increased funding, but also invited local community members and businesses to make their own mark on the collaborative project.
In March 2025, the Doggie Depot opened its doors, marking the occasion with a fun ribbon cutting that invited local residents, representatives, and partners. The new dog park will welcome hundreds of dog walkers a month to a safe and clean space, and ongoing maintenance will be provided by the City of Arlington’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Check out all the canine fun by following Doggie Depot on Instagram!
