The Vandergriff family’s charitable donations included land for Arlington Memorial Hospital
and city parks. Former Mayor, Tom Vandergriff was instrumental in bringing General Motors
to the city. He helped establish Arlington as the entertainment capital of Texas by supporting the
creation of Six Flags Over Texas and bringing the Texas Rangers ball club to the city. 

Tom Vandergriff and Arlington are like Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. There have been other mayors in Arlington, and there have been other Cowboys coaches, but none will quite measure up to Mayor Vandergriff and Coach Landry. Ever. As Arlington’s longtime mayor from 1951 to 1977, Vandergriff provided critical leadership in helping transform Arlington from a small community of 8,000 people to a vibrant city of nearly 400,000 that's home to the University of Texas at Arlington, the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, a General Motors assembly plant and a thriving tourism industry that includes Six Flags Over Texas. Located just a few miles south of downtown Arlington, Vandergriff Park features both the Allen Bolden Pool and the Bob Duncan Center. It has numerous recreation facilities including baseball fields, practice fields and tennis courts. There is also a pavilion that seats approximately 120 people available for rent through the Arlington Parks Department via email or by calling 817-459-5473.

FEATURES / AMENITIES:
• 84 acres
• Allen Bolden Pool
• Bike / Hike trail (1.17 mi, 12 ft wide loop)
• Bob Duncan Center
• Facility lighting
• Formal baseball fields
• Grills
• Horseshoes
• Skatepark
• Multipurpose fields
• Picnic area & concession
• Playground: 2-5 and 5-12
• Practice fields
• Restrooms
• Tennis courts

PAVILION 30’ x 60’
• Electrical outlets
• Lighted
• Picnic tables (20)
• Seats approximately 130

7001 Golf Club Drive // Arlington, TX 76060 

Adjacent to Tierra Verde Golf Club, MLK Sports Center is part of the Reserve at Arlington. The first Audubon sanctioned sports center in the United States, the design and maintenance of the complex is dedicated to environmental sensitivity. Recycled materials were used in construction. No hazardous chemicals are used to maintain the facility helping preserve the existing natural resources.

While the name Martin Luther King, Jr. is synonymous with struggle, it is also synonymous with progress, something that is showcased by this park. The 100-acre center features baseball fields maintained with organic pesticides and herbicides, an interpretive nature trail and a playground made of recycled materials. The park’s drainage travels through a filter system before flowing into Sublett Creek. These innovations in park design and environmental stewardship were recognized when the complex became the first sports facility in the world to achieve the prestigious Audubon Signature designation in October 2000. Elzie Odom, Arlington’s first African-American mayor, threw out the first pitch for a ballgame on January 17, 2000, officially opening the center. During his speech commemorating the day, Odom said that it was, “A place for families, of all cultures.” 

PARK TYPE:
Community

FEATURES / AMENITIES:
86 acres
Baseball/Softball Complex
Bike/Hike Trails (1.45 miles)
Concession stand
Nature Trail
Pavilion
Playground: 2-5 and 5-12
Restrooms