700 Mary St.
Arlington, TX 76010
- Community Park (3.2 acres)
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, the City of Arlington, Major League Baseball, and Corey and Mady Seager collaborated on the MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and the Corey Seager Batting Cages in 2024. This renovation of the original Senter Park was part of the All-Star Legacy projects celebrating the 94th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard, held on July 16, 2024, at Globe Life Field.
The annual All-Star Legacy initiative was an MLB Together effort between Major League Baseball and the All-Star host Club to make a longstanding impact within the local community and among national charitable partners of MLB. The 2024 All-Star Legacy initiative focused on projects that provided access for youth baseball and softball, supported veterans and diverse and underserved communities, and collaborated with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s long-time partner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County.
In addition to the investment made by the Rangers and MLB, the Senter Park renovation was made possible by the City of Arlington, Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Optimist Club of Arlington, Corey and Mady Seager, Graham Civil Engineering, Paragon Sports Construction, and Yuggi Lighting.
During the mid-1940s, Arlington physician and devoted Rotarian Dr. Zack Bobo led the effort to acquire several empty lots totaling 3.2 acres at 700 S. Mary St. The city ultimately purchased the land for $500. This amount represented two separate purchases: one from E.G. Senter and Company on December 30, 1946, and the other from E. Hettie Davis on February 1, 1947. The land was shaped into a pair of fields for youth baseball in 1947. Rotarians ran the youth baseball programs at this location until the city opened Senter Park, Arlington’s second-oldest city park, in 1952. Since November 1952, the park has been leased to the Optimist Club of Arlington for youth baseball programs.
The Blue Field is named in honor of Melvin Shanks, Arlington’s first parks and recreation director, who was instrumental in the partnership between the city and the Optimist Club of Arlington. Shanks served as director from 1957 to 1985. His 28-year tenure included the opening of Lake Arlington, three recreation centers (Hugh Smith, Dottie Lynn and Meadowbrook), Eunice Activity Center, and Lake Arlington and Chester Ditto golf courses.
The Red Field is named in honor of Leon Alenik and was dedicated in 1989. Alenik joined the Optimist Club of Arlington in 1953. Throughout his years of dedication, he held various roles, including Club President (1968-69) and serving as the Club Treasurer for more than 20 years. As the Club's Ambassador to the City of Arlington, Leon played a key role in fostering an ongoing collaboration that continues to benefit the community to this day.
Amenities:
- Picnic Area
- League Fields (Baseball)