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River Legacy Nature Center

River Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a unique private/public partnership with the City of Arlington to operate and enhance the Nature Center. This one-of the-kind sustainable designed nature center serves as the gateway to River Legacy Park. Nestled into a clearing of existing land contours and oak groves, the 12,000-square-foot nature center was designed with minimal impact to the environment. The Center houses the Foundation’s environmental education programs, including Nature School and Summer Classes, and offers public programs and special events.

The Nature Center is open from 9 am to 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays. The Center’s Discovery Room features interactive exhibits and technology that allows you to virtually immerse yourselves in the woodland environments of the adjacent River Legacy Park. The Center’s Atrium with its self-exploration activity tables, terrariums with native wildlife, and surrounding nature trails are free to explore. There is a nominal entry fee for the Discovery Room and seasonal visiting exhibits.

Parking

All Parking is free however space is limited.

River Legacy Park: Various lots available throughout the park 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX 76006 - link to parking map.

Nature Center: Main parking lot is located at 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX 76006

Accessible Parking: A limited number of accessible parking spots are available in the main Nature Center Parking Lot by the front entrance and east side of the building. Additional accessible parking spots are available at River Legacy Park.

Hours

River Legacy Park:
5 am - 10 pm

Nature Center:
9am – 5pm

Upcoming Events

Featured image for “Adventures with Rabbits (2.5-4 yrs old)”
education Nature Adventurers
October 8, 2026
Adventures with Rabbits (2.5-4 yrs old)
Hop on over and learn all about rabbits! This is a 1 1/2 hour learning opportunity for preschoolers (ages 2 1/2 to 4 years old)...
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Closures
October 8, 2026
Nature Center closed October 8-9
River Legacy Nature Center will be closed to the public on October 8 and 9 as we prepare for Fall Fest on October 10. Please...
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Free Events Fundraiser
October 10, 2026
Fall Festival
Get ready for a day of family fun at River Legacy’s Fall Festival 2026! 🍂🎃 Join us for an exciting autumn celebration filled with nature,...
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Free Events Public Programming Story Time
October 16, 2026
Family Story Time: Migration
Join us on October 16 for a family-friendly nature program all about story time and migration! In partnership with the Arlington Public Library, this interactive...
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Free Events Hikes Public Programming
October 17, 2026
Saturday Morning Hike
Join a River Legacy naturalist for a free Saturday morning hike through the trails of River Legacy Park! Enjoy a relaxed walk while learning more...
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Free Events Public Programming
October 21, 2026
The River that Made Texas: An Evening with Scot McFarlane
Join River Legacy Nature Center for a special evening with river historian and author Scot McFarlane, celebrating the release of his new book, The River...
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Featured image for “Adventures with Skunks (2.5-4 yrs old)”
education Nature Adventurers
October 22, 2026
Adventures with Skunks (2.5-4 yrs old)
Join us to learn all about skunks! This is a 1 1/2 hour learning opportunity for preschoolers (ages 2 1/2 to 4 years old) and...
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Featured image for “Pumpkinology Enrichment Class (Ages 5-9)”
education Enrichment Classes
October 26, 2026
Pumpkinology Enrichment Class (Ages 5-9)
In this hands-on science class, students will explore pumpkins inside and out! We’ll dissect a pumpkin to examine its parts, test whether it sinks or...
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Creature Feature Free Events
October 31, 2026
Free Animal Presentation: Sonoran Gopher Snake
Join us for Creature Features and meet River Legacy Nature Center’s featured animal ambassador: the Sonoran gopher snake! Learn about the animal’s adaptations, behavior, lifestyle...
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Featured image for “Insect Inn Enrichment Class (Ages 5-9)”
education Enrichment Classes
November 2, 2026
Insect Inn Enrichment Class (Ages 5-9)
Welcome to the Insect Inn, where young nature explorers become builders and bug buddies! In this hands-on STEM class, children will create their very own...
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River Legacy Park

Following the curves of the Trinity River and stretching across Arlington’s northern boundary, River Legacy Park, offers the beauty of the wilderness with open spaces for your favorite pastime. From botany to bicycling or rollerblading to relaxing strolls through the woods, this 1,300-acre City of Arlington public park has something for everyone. The park’s ecological diversity of bottomland forest, wetlands and prairie provides abundant habitat for countless birds, fish, mammals and native plants.

River Legacy Foundation works closely with the Parks & Recreation Department in a unique public/private partnership to support the park’s amenities and preservation of a living legacy.

Accessibility

The staff and volunteers of River Legacy Nature Center are committed to providing the highest quality experience for each and every guest to the extent that we are able to do so.

Handicap Parking

A limited number of accessible parking spots are available in the Main Nature Center Parking Lot at 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd. If all accessible parking spots at the front when entering are full, additional accessible parking is available on the east side of the building.

Additional accessible parking is located in the Main River Legacy Park at 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd.

Entrances & Exhibits

Accessible public entrances are available on both sides of the Nature Center, each entrance has walkways to accomodate both manual and motorized electric mobility scooters and visitors who prefer to avoid stairs.

Strollers / Wagons

Personal wagons and strollers are welcomed in the nature center. Please note that on busy days, wagons and strollers may not be allowed inside the Discovery Room in order to comfortably accommodate more guests. A designated stroller parking area is located at the entrance of the children’s area for your convenience.

How can we help?

While the information here provides a general overview of accessibility features, we encourage you to contact us in advance of your visit with any questions or specific needs — 817.680.6752 or reply@riverlegacy.org.

FAQ