Patti Diou, executive director of the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, is the recipient of the 2019 Downtown Arlington Dream Builder award.
Diou was recognized for her instrumental role in turning downtown Arlington into a destination location. The Levitt Pavilion has been a major contributor to the redevelopment of downtown Arlington. Its free concerts draw an annual attendance of 100,000 people, which has helped attract a dozen restaurants to the area, with more planned.
Diou was presented with the award by Texas Trust Credit Union at the annual meeting of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation.
The Dream Builder award was conceived by Texas Trust in 2016 as a way to honor citizens who have a significant and positive impact on the Downtown Arlington community. Debi Knoblock, Assistant Vice President for Business and Community Engagement at Texas Trust, presented the Dream Builder award to Diou. “Diou’s vision for the Levitt has been instrumental in reshaping the downtown area and making Arlington the American Dream City,” said Knoblock.
Earlier this year, the Levitt was named a Great Public Space by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association. This recognition highlights public spaces that are creating communities of lasting value. Diou’s efforts at the Levitt have turned downtown Arlington into a gathering place where families can enjoy the arts and entertainment or just relax in the park-like setting of the Levitt grounds.
Diou has also served the Arlington community as a graduate of Leadership Arlington and serves on the boards of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Alliance, and is a member of the Downtown Arlington Cultural District. She is also a past vice president of development for the YMCA of Arlington. Diou and her husband, Emile, have two grown children.
Diou is the fourth Dream Builder award recipient. Past recipients were Terry Bertrand, Lana Wolff, and Tom Cravens.
Debi Knoblock with Texas Trust Credit Union presented the 2019 Dream Builder award to Patti Diou.