![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image1-3-1024x683.jpg\")
Meadowbrook Park and Meadowbrook Park Golf Course opened 100 years ago in Arlington as the city\u2019s first park. (Courtesy photo | City of Arlington)<\/p>\nAfter seven years of working in Denton\u2019s parks and recreation department, Gary Packan decided there was no better time than now to return to Arlington.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Packan took the helm of Arlington\u2019s parks, recreation and culture department Nov. 17. He previously served the department as an assistant parks director from 2007 to 2018.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He made the move north to lead Denton\u2019s parks and recreation department, where he oversaw its 5,500 acre-park system from 2018 through this year.<\/p>\n
Having raised his family in Arlington as well as his relationships with local officials and the city\u2019s growth encouraged Packan to return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed my time working here, working on projects and programs for the community,\u201d said Packan. \u201c(Arlington) has always held a special place.\u201d<\/p>\n
As parks director, Packan is responsible for overseeing the city\u2019s 102 parks, six recreation centers, four public golf courses, open spaces, trails, Lake Arlington and other amenities.<\/p>\n
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Packan began his career in public administration when he graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1995 with a master\u2019s degree in recreation and leisure services.<\/p>\n
Meadowbrook Park and Meadowbrook Park Golf Course opened 100 years ago in Arlington as the city\u2019s first park. (Courtesy photo | City of Arlington)<\/p>\n
Growing up with a park as his backyard, it was only natural that he\u2019d be a champion for these public spaces, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was my life, so it just makes total sense,\u201d Packan said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s held leadership positions in other cities, including Sandusky and Huron, Ohio.<\/p>\n
As he begins to again serve the American Dream City<\/a>, Packan\u2019s goal is to enhance Arlington\u2019s parks and recreational spaces and make them more accessible to the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n Packan arrives as the city is set to revamp its parks and recreation master plan in 2026, which will outline goals and priorities for Arlington\u2019s natural areas, trails and recreational spaces through the next decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the master plan is still in the early stages of conception, Packan and parks officials are already prioritizing the preservation of natural spaces and wildlife corridors while making room for Arlington\u2019s booming entertainment district<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure that we\u2019re doing our share to preserve and use those (spaces) as educational tools,\u201d Packan said.<\/p>\n He referenced the 2026 World Cup<\/a>, hosted by the city at AT&T Stadium, as an example of Arlington\u2019s booming entertainment demands. The international event is estimated to bring millions of people to Dallas-Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cOur parks are important as we\u2019re hosting residents in the community, citywide and people from around the world, especially this coming year,\u201d Packan said, referencing the World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another area of focus for the parks department is the city\u2019s recreational centers.<\/p>\n For example, the city\u2019s ACTIV recreation center<\/a> for adults 50 years and older, which opened its doors in March, has gained plenty of favor from senior Arlington residents, Packan said. The center serves about 9,500 members.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been extremely popular,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Arlington\u2019s parks and recreation department has been recognized at both state and national levels, including being awarded with the Texas Gold Medal Award<\/a> from the Texas Recreation and Park Society in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n Packan is optimistic about elevating the city\u2019s parks and recreation system at a \u201chigh level,\u201d thanks to his passion for natural areas and creative thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI look at things outside the box and try to develop things that are unique for the community,\u201d Packan said. \u201cI\u2019ll use that as a way to help solve problems and challenges that we\u2019re faced with during course operations.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Arlington rebranded the parks department to include culture in its name and operations, Packan and city officials are also keeping spaces such as the e-sports tournament venue, Arlington Expo Center, top of mind.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we do a lot of things with culture already, now it\u2019s going to be an even higher priority and higher focus for us,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Parks officials, including Packan, are looking forward to the department\u2019s new master plan to further identify priorities for Arlington\u2019s natural and active areas.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we\u2019re going through our master plan, we hope to use that as an opportunity to really focus in and identify where our priorities are and what our strategies are going to be,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/att-stadium.png\")
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, seen from the Richard Greene Linear Park in Arlington. The stadium will be temporarily dubbed Dallas Stadium for the FIFA World Cup. (Yfat Yossifor | KERA News)<\/p>\n