Changing name of park disputed

TEXARKANA — Residents on both sides of a debate over renaming a city park made their voices heard during a standing-room-only meeting of the Texarkana Board of Directors on Monday.

The board had voted during a specially called meeting June 23 to rename Hobo Jungle Park as Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex in honor of a longtime community activist. Some residents since have complained about the decision, especially on social media platforms.

On Monday, almost 20 people took five minutes each during the meeting’s citizen communication time to share their views on the issue. Emotions at times became heated, with Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell admonishing speakers and the audience to remain civil.

Opponents of the name change said the board enacted it in under-the-table fashion, without giving citizens enough notice or opportunity to provide input. They lamented what they consider a removal of local history, many recounting anecdotes about growing up near the park.

Supporters of the action focused on honoring Pondexter and the progress the name change represents to them. Some argued that plenty of notice was given ahead of the June 23 meeting, and some raised the prospect that animosity toward the change is caused by racism. Pondexter is black and has been active in the civil-rights movement.

Representatives of both sides said they will remember what has happened regarding the park when it is time to cast their votes.

How the board handled the name change “could be considered dirty politics,” and it is “probably going to come back and bite some butts” at the ballot box, resident David Anthony said.

“You’re erasing some history when you changed the name of that park,” Anthony said.

Pastor David Watkins of Twin City Church of Christ said that if the park’s old name were restored, he would do what he could to help punish those behind that choice on Election Day.

“If a city is to survive and thrive, it must change,” Watkins said. “We need to keep the new name.”

City Director Laney Harris said he was unaware of plans to change the name of the park, which is in his ward, until arriving at the June 23 meeting.

Penney-Bell ended Monday’s meeting by expressing regret that the board was not more up-front about the matter, and she vowed to ensure complete transparency for the remainder of her time in office.

“I want to apologize,” Penney-Bell said. “It hurts me to think that this could become a racial issue. We could have done a better job.”