HIGHLIGHTS
Your Money in Action:
East Library and Recreation
Center
The construction phase is underway on the new East Library and
Recreation Center in east Arlington.
The $26 million dollar facility was approved by voters in the 2014
bond election and is planned to open this fall. The building is 47,249
square feet and combines a recreation center and library with state-
of-the art design.
The library will be just over 8,500 square feet and will also include
an outdoor innovation zone, designed by UT Arlington graduate
students. Students are meeting with east Arlington residents to
create a space that best serves the community.
The recreation center will include fitness and aerobics rooms, a
senior lounge, and a 113,000-gallon indoor pool. There will also be
community meeting rooms and a child care center.
The East Library and Recreation Center is located at Bob Cooke Park
(2025 Craig Hanking Drive) and will replace the current Hugh Smith
Recreation Center.
3
Arlington Parks
Department Provides
Virtual Content during
Coronavirus
With the announcement of the Stay at
Home, Work Safe order issued by the City
Council in March, the Arlington Parks and
Recreation Department (APRD) was no
longer able to provide classes, programs,
or many park amenities in the “normal”
way. The staff got creative quickly,
developing free online content for anyone
who logs on, through their social media
pages and the Naturally Fun website.
The numbers are in, and show that
Arlington residents are taking advantage
of the online offerings of the department,
which include fitness classes, nature
activities, and more. The APRD reports an
84% increase in social media impressions
in March compared to February figures.
APRD expects continued engagement
online, with nearly 1 million impressions
again in April. Compared to March 2019,
there was 106% year-over-year increase in
online engagement.
Total
Total
website sessions Impressions
15,261
Jan
15,411
Feb
March 17,950
341,242
557,116
1,023,554
“This data shows the hard
work of our team and their
nimbleness to go to a virtual
format for the majority of our
programming efforts. The public
has clearly responded.”
—DEPUPTY CITY MANAGER GILBERT
PERALES
You can tune into the Arlington Parks and
Recreation Department by following them on
Facebook, Twitter, or visiting naturallyfun.org.