College Park District Groundbreaking
October 11, 2010
Thank you, Kristi, for joining us today…and thank you to my colleagues here on stage for your partnership in this project.
The City of Arlington and the First Baptist Church are not only great partners, they have become major investors to our university—with a gift of land from the church and a financial commitment from the city. This project wouldn’t be possible without you.
Introduce another partner in The UT System…Regent Brenda Pejovich.
Today, we know that anything is possible—with strong allies, big-picture thinking, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We’re about to construct the premiere new development in North Texas, and it’s going to be right here at the crossroads of our campus and our city.
And it will be complete in only two years.
In two years, it will be difficult to remember that this area that will be lined with beautiful trees and modern buildings and bustling activity was once the parking lot that we see today.
In two years, it will be unimaginable that UT Arlington was once perceived as a commuter university only…and student life was secondary. That hasn’t been true for years—and it certainly won’t be true in August of 2012.
In two years, no one will know downtown Arlington as anything other than a major destination in North Texas—full of shops, restaurants, sports, and entertainment.
College Park is the latest way we’re building an active campus, where there’s something for everyone. And it’s the latest sign that UT Arlington is the heartbeat of a vibrant “college town.”
College Park is also spurring interest in private development around campus…
And so today, we’re celebrating not only an important milestone for UT Arlington and for the City of Arlington: We’re celebrating a transformation in our neighborhood and in our identity.
We’re celebrating the first fruits of a strong partnership.
I look forward to the being here with all of you again in two years as we cut the ribbon on unprecedented university/city collaboration.
Thank you all.