Arun Agarwal, CEO of Dallas-based company Nextt, has been reelected for a second term as chairman of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Commission. By unanimous decision, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and the City Council highlighted Mr. Agarwal as a champion of Dallas' parks and open space.
The Dallas leader, entrepreneur, and investor has served on the board since 2019 and became chairman in 2021. He is noted for what he brought Business savvy and has a green visionbelieves urban parks are important catalysts for economic development, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.
“Every citizen has a personal connection to our park system, and ensuring the beautification of our city is a top priority for me and the Board, and this effort remains a top priority for Mayor Johnson.” One,” Agarwal said in a statement.
Agarwal works with the Mayor and City Council to make Dallas' parks, lakes, trails, open spaces and recreational facilities the best in the country.
Woolly mammoth slide at Harwood Park in downtown Dallas. [Photo: David Woo]
Over 20,000 acres of green space
With over 20,812 acres of green space, Dallas has the largest municipal park system in the United States. Dallas parks have experienced a “renaissance” under Agarwal's leadership, according to a news release. Significant milestones include the September opening of Harwood His Park, his 3.8-acre “coveted” space in the East His Quarter and Dallas Farmers Market districts.
Agarwal was also instrumental in conceptualizing the 110-acre Parkdale Lake Park project, aimed at flood mitigation and completing The Loop, a 50-mile trail that connects Great Trinity Forest to White Rock Lake, the Trinity River, and uptown. played an important role. Agarwal, who “personally paid for the conceptual drawings for the park,” worked with Lyda Hill Philanthropies, which provided funding to complete Parkdale's master plan.
Passage of Fair Park Proposition A, which allocated $300 million to Fair Park renovations and repairs, was also a hallmark of Agarwal's last term.
Southern Gateway Park rendering. [Image: HKS]
Another major project is the completion of the first phase of the Southern Gateway Park deck. When completed, the five-acre bridge park over Interstate 35 will once again connect the east and west sides of historic Oak Cliff. Agarwal also supported donating 200 acres of Cedar Crest Preserve land to the city.
The Dallas business leader plans to work for consecutive terms and is “honored to be reappointed by the Mayor, City Council, and Department of Parks and Recreation” to make Dallas a destination for outdoor recreation.
“From local neighborhood parks to our crown jewel, the Dallas Arboretum, parks help improve our quality of life and foster economic development,” he said. .
Arun Agarwal and park manager John Jenkins [Courtesy photo]
