From the successful Texas Rangers ballpark election to the groundbreaking of the $30 million Downtown Library, 2016 has been a year of excitement for the City of Arlington.
Let's take a look back at some of the biggest stories that happened this year in The American Dream City.
Cultural District Designation
![Texas Commission on the Arts 2016 Brought Major](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Downtown-Arts-Dream-07-06-16.jpg)
The Texas Commission on the Arts designated Downtown Arlington as one of only seven new cultural districts in the state.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/downtown_arlington_named_cultural_district
WrestleMania 32
![AT&T Stadium AT&T Stadium](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Wrestlemania-04-07-16.jpg)
WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium set an attendance record of 101,763 fans and was the highest-grossing live event in WWE history at $17.3 million.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/wrestle_mania_32_in_arlington_continues_to_smash
Interstate 30/SH 360 Interchange Project
![360 Interchange Project 360 Interchange project](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-I30360-Interchange-Groundbreaking-03-02-16.jpg)
Work commenced on the $233 million Interstate 30/State Highway 360 Interchange Project in Arlington. The "game-changing project" is designed to reduce traffic congestion on both high-volume highways and improve safety for the traveling public.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/leaders_celebrate_groundbreaking
"Best Big City" in the South
![Best Big City Best Big City](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Arlington-Entertainment-District-09-20-16.jpg)
Money Magazine named Arlington as the "Best Big City" in the South."
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/money_magazine_names_arlington
General Motors Financial Addition
![General Motors Financial Addition General Motors Financial Addition](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-GM-Financial-11-29-16-02.jpg)
In November, General Motors Financial announced the completion of its $35 million addition to its Arlington Operations Center campus. The office will house 1,300 employees.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/gm_financial_announces_35_million_addition
101 Center
![101 Center 101 Center](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-City-Center-11-2-15.jpg)
Downtown Arlington's transformation was boosted by significant progress on 101 Center, a six-story redevelopment project at Abram and Center streets. The project, which will include 244 high-end residential units over 18,000-square-feet of ground-level retail, restaurants and loft office space, will open next year.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/fall_2017_pre_leasing_now_open_at_101_center
North Texas Giving Day
![North Texas Giving Day North Texas Giving Day](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Arlington-Gives-09-22-16-01.jpg)
Arlington-based nonprofits collected more than $1 million combined from 4,386 donors during the 8th Annual North Texas Giving Day event. The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation's Arlington Gives event was capped with a free Luke Wade concert at the Levitt Pavilion.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/arlington_based_charities_collect
Summit Racing Equipment
![Summit Racing Equipment Summit Racing Equipment](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Summit-Racing-08-25-16.jpg)
Summit Racing Equipment , which bills itself as the world's largest direct marketer of performance automotive parts and accessories, announced that it will open a new $82 million warehouse facility, retail super store and customer support center in Arlington.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/summit_racing_announces_82_million_warehouse
Downtown Library Groundbreaking
![Downtown Library Groundbreaking Downtown Library Groundbreaking](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-Dream-Central-Library-04-05-16.jpg)
In May, the City broke ground on the $30 million Downtown Library. The 80,000-square-foot library, located just north of Arlington City Hall, is set to open in 2018.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/arlington_celebrates_30_million_downtown_library
Technology and Public Safety Investments
![2017 Proposed Budget 2017 Proposed Budget](https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_14481062/Image/News/Articles-2017-Proposed-Budget.jpg)
The Arlington City Council approved the $454.2 million Fiscal Year 2017 operating budget , which includes significant investments in public safety and technology as well as the first year of a three-year plan to make city employee salaries and benefits more competitive.
https://arlington.hosted.civiclive.com/arlington_city_council_adopts__454_2_million
Government, Headlines, News