Parks are for Everyone

Texarkana Parks Departments provide pristine, safe, community-driven amenities through innovation and dedication

By Ellen Orr

Jamie Gortney has been working out at the new fitness court at Spring Lake Park.

Public parks were established in the United States in the late 1800s as places for people to escape from industrialization and engage with nature. Today, in a world of screens, cars, consumerism, climate change, and regular viral outbreaks, parks are as important as ever. Texarkana boasts an incredible 2,000 acres of maintained parks and protected wilderness. These spaces enable all people to engage with nature, exercise, play, compete, relax, and gather safely. Humans aside—animals live, plants grow, air is cleaned, and temperatures are lowered. Quality of life is immeasurably boosted by the work of the Parks and Recreation Departments on both sides of the state line.

Parks Directors Robby Robertson (Texas) and Adam Dalby (Arkansas) each expressed that they and their teams are motivated by a desire to improve their communities.  “You don’t do this work for the accolades, and you’re not doing it for the money,” Robby said. “You’re doing it because you want to make a difference in your community, and we’ve got a lot of good people who are doing that.”

Robby Robertson, Parks Director (Texas)

Adam agreed. “Our department is passionate about our work and our citizens,” he said. “We listen to the needs of the community and, with the help of our city leaders and partnerships, make our parks the absolute best they can be, because everyone deserves the best.”

In Texarkana, Texas, Robby and a small team of 24 others are responsible for managing, maintaining, and improving 12 parks, as well as community centers and vast swaths of wilderness. Safety and cleanliness are the department’s top priorities. “We might not have some of the amenities that the bigger cities have,” reflected Robby, “but we’re always told how clean our parks are, and that’s thanks to our maintenance team, the people with boots on the ground. They’re the ones making the difference.”

Having limited financial resources means Robby’s team must be particularly creative and prudent in order to provide the best parks experience for the community. A great example of this is the Walk Through History trail signage at Spring Lake Park. The walking trail around the pond was in need of refurbishment, but the funds weren’t there, so the department applied for a grant. “We’re always looking for what we can do to make this [grant application] special—because we’re a small department, going fishing in an ocean. And so, with Partnership for Pathways, our staff came up with the idea to talk about the history of Spring Lake Park, and [to propose a way] to show people chronologically what has happened at this park over the years.” Once the funds were secured, the trail was improved, and signs were erected, complete with text and photos. 

“And then Keith [Beason, Community Engagement and Parks Projects Manager] decided, ‘I want to do a walk through history tour,’” Robby recounted. “You know, we do a lot of things where it’s like—let’s try it and see if people react to it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll regroup and move on to something else. But we’re always trying to offer something.”

The most recent facilities additions on the Texas side are at Spring Lake Park: the inclusive playground and the outdoor fitness court. Made possible through partnership with Boy Scouts Troop 16, the inclusive playground is designed with disabled children in mind; the physical play equipment facilitates use by wheelchair users and people with varying levels and types of mobility. There is also an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) board to promote communication among children with varying communication support needs.

The fitness court, installed just last month and provided by the National Fitness Campaign, is designed to provide a full-body workout in under 10 minutes. Users can download The Fitness Court app for free for classes, challenges, and tips on using the equipment.

Across the state border, Adam and his team are just as busy innovating. Their first priority is maintenance of the city’s existing 10 neighborhood parks, five community parks, 11 playgrounds, a recently remodeled recreation facility, four baseball fields, five softball fields, five tennis courts, and seven miles of walking trails. 

Adam Dalby, Parks Director (Arkansas)

Besides providing “a multitude of benefits to the people of Texarkana, these amenities also drive tourism and economic growth,” Adam explained—a point echoed by Robby. “They make Texarkana more inviting for living, working, and relaxing.”

In 2022, what was once the Boys and Girls Club reopened as the Texarkana Recreation Center. An investment of $1.5 million, as well as “thousands of hours of love, planning and dedication,” transformed the space into a point of pride for the College Hill neighborhood. It features a full-size gym with bleachers and scoreboard, a 20-inch movie screen, a 30-person meeting room, a 12-station computer and learning lab, a private tutoring room, a full commercial kitchen, an activity room, three baseball fields, and one multi-use field. Here the Parks Department offers ongoing classes and programs for people of all ages, “no matter if your interest is games, fitness, sports, personal development, or just relaxing,” Adam explained.

Ted Turner and Jason Williams enjoy frisbee golf recently at Spring Lake Park.

Even more developments are in store for Texarkanians in both states. In Texas, Robby’s current focus is on improving and revitalizing existing sports facilities. The parks’ soccer and baseball spaces will soon undergo upgrades to continue supporting the masses of youth and adult athletes who rely on them. The tennis courts are not only being resurfaced, but some are also being converted into pickleball courts. The bike trail at Bringle Lake Park will soon include a pumptrack—a structure reminiscent of rolling hills, which will allow people using any type of wheeled equipment to ride, warm up, train, and play, only by “pumping” back and forth (no pedaling or pushing required).

Ted Turner and Jason Williams enjoy frisbee golf recently at Spring Lake Park.

In Arkansas, Adam is thrilled about an ongoing project that many enjoy and few might recognize as relating to the Parks Department. The Front Street Festival Plaza project, which began in 2011, has played a significant role in revitalizing downtown. Arkansas Business News recognized the project as an Honorable Mention in the Tourism Development/Creative Culture category for the 2022 Trendsetter City Awards. Construction is underway to upgrade and expand the Plaza: improvements include the installation of a stage cover as well as restrooms throughout the grounds. “Plans for permanent amphitheater seating are also in the works for future development,” Adam said. “These enhancements are to attract even larger concerts and audiences.”

In a time when people spend the majority of their hours either at work or at home, there is a need for “third places”—where people can build community, destress, and have fun. Public parks and rec centers serve as third places that all people can access, irrespective of finances, religion, age, race, gender, politics, or disability. Anyone interested in supporting these spaces can join the 501(c)(3) Friends of Texarkana Parks; find more information online.