As part of its 150th anniversary celebration, the City of Arlington planted a signature tree on Texas Arbor Day to mark the historic milestone.
City and community leaders gathered at Rotary Dream Park on Nov. 6, 2026, to plant the 95-gallon Chinquapin Oak and to dedicate a time capsule to be opened in 2126 during Arlington’s 250th anniversary.
“Planting a tree is a hopeful act. We plant it knowing some of its great benefits will come years from now,” Mayor Pro Tem Raul H. Gonzalez said at the tree planting ceremony. “Someone will enjoy its shade, families will gather nearby, children will watch it grow. We may never meet the people who enjoy this tree but the decision to plant this says something about how we see our responsibility to them.”
During the ceremony, Arlington Parks, Recreation & Culture announced that it had exceeded its original goal to plant an average of 150 new trees a month throughout 2026. The new oak tree, which will one day shade the public park near Front and Center streets, was the 2,100th tree planted this year, Assistant Parks Director Michael Debrecht said.
The tree planting and time capsule dedication event was made possible with generous support from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation.
“To the Arlington residents who will gather here in 2126, we hope this tree has grown tall and that our community is thriving and that you feel the same pride in calling Arlington home that we feel today,” Gonzalez said.