By Autumn Rose Reo
When I first came to Arlington over two decades ago, I thought it would be a brief “layover” since I was traveling nonstop for work, so I wanted to live as close to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as possible. However, as I drove around the rolling hills along Green Oaks in north Arlington or met friends for drinks at My Martini Wine & Bistro it reminded me of Austin, a place I had always envisioned calling home.
But the real magic of north Arlington was its position at the true epicenter of the metroplex. Back then, everywhere I needed to be — whether in Dallas, Fort Worth or anywhere in between — was just a 15- to 20-minute drive away. That remains true today.
Over the years, I have watched Arlington evolve. But it wasn’t until a master-planned community called Viridian began to break ground that my perspective shifted from where I wanted to live to where I wanted to raise a family. As a parent, your home’s location becomes inextricably linked to the quality of your children’s education.
I was already deeply invested in the local community, but I wanted my kids to have access to specialized opportunities, like the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD’s Spanish immersion program. So the day I saw the first bricks laid for Viridian Elementary in Arlington that had a recognized educational program, I started packing up our house.
Our 3-mile move to Viridian felt like taking everything I loved about north Arlington and making it even better. Growing up in the small town of Graham, Texas, I’d always dreamed of building a white house with character, a dream I finally realized here. Surrounding our home are miles of serene walking trails and interconnected lakes. I no longer have to trek out to Fort Worth’s Clearfork for a peaceful morning stroll or drive to River Legacy Park, because it’s all right outside my front door. On early morning walks, watching my dog happily dash along the water’s edge, I’m constantly reminded of how grateful I am to wake up here.
What surprises most people about Viridian is how a neighborhood situated where multiple municipal boundaries converge can feel so distinctly like its own close-knit village. It has the warm, familiar feel of the small town I grew up in, but with a vibrant, global twist. Our neighbors represent cultures from every corner of the world. Without stepping outside our neighborhood, my family and I get to experience global traditions, whether it’s walking across the neighborhood and seeing all the shoes participating in Diwali festivities or stumbling upon a joyful wedding celebration full of colors.
Viridian is anchored by an active HOA and resident-led groups that foster deep connections. Neighborhood traditions like our Stars and Stripes golf cart parade and fireworks, our famously spirited Halloween celebration, and even spontaneous pop-ups like Biscuit Day or Donut Day, create moments to pause, connect and celebrate the little things in life. Whether I wake up to Saturday morning yoga followed by the best breakfast burrito at the Viridian Biergarten, or gather with friends for a night of exploring new wines, there’s always something happening in “the V.” Through local social media groups and interest clubs, ranging from pickleball, pokeno, sailing club and business networking, I’ve built friendships that cross over into my professional life. It’s not uncommon to play cards with a neighbor on Friday night and sit across from them in a corporate meeting on Monday morning.
More than anything, I’ve found some of my best friends here who’ve become family. Whether it’s watching our dog when we’re out of town, supporting a friend going through breast cancer or coming together to celebrate the birth of a friend’s first grandchild, it’s that genuine care for one another that truly defines life in Viridian.
I’m always ready to try the newest restaurant or coolest event. I can pop into Chill for a midday work retreat over a hot chai in a mug or a rosé with a cheese board, or head to Maria Cuca’s for margs — where the staff knows exactly how you like your drink made and has it ready for you at the table. It’s the kind of personal, small-town hospitality I grew up with, but in the middle of the metroplex, where I have front-row access to some of the legendary landmarks and events in the Entertainment District, including AT&T Stadium, Texas Live!, Caravan Court and this summer’s 2026 World Cup.
And having one of the world’s busiest international airports just a short drive away keeps the rest of the globe within easy reach.
People often think they know what Viridian is from the outside, but to truly understand it, you have to ask someone who lives here. No place is completely perfect, but waking up to the lake breezes, the global community and the warmth of true neighbors, I’d say we are pretty darn close.
PR Agency owner Autumn Rose Reo and her husband, Chad, have called Arlington home since 2013. Her son Jackson, a freshman at University of Texas at Austin, and Taylor, a freshman at Harwood Junior High, and her chocolate lab Shelby, have loved where they live in Viridian since 2017.
Total population: 7,102
Female: 49%
Male: 51%
Age
0-9: 15%
10-19: 13%
20-29: 7%
30-39: 20%
40-49: 16%
50-59: 11%
60-69: 12%
70-79: 5%
80 and older: 1%
Race
White: 48%
Black: 10%
Hispanic: 10%
Asian: 29%
Two or more: 3%
Other: 1%
Education
No degree: 7%
High school: 5%
Some college: 20%
Bachelor’s degree: 39%
Post-graduate: 30%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Source: Census Reporter
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org/2026/10/10/where-i-live-former-small-town-texan-finds-the-right-balance-in-arlingtons-viridian/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
<img id=”republication-tracker-tool-source” src=”https://fortworthreport.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=824438&ga4=2820184429″ style=”width:1px;height:1px;”><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: “https://fortworthreport.org/2026/10/10/where-i-live-former-small-town-texan-finds-the-right-balance-in-arlingtons-viridian/”, urlref: window.location.href }); } } </script> <script id=”parsely-cfg” src=”//cdn.parsely.com/keys/fortworthreport.org/p.js”></script>