Both Texarkanas and the surrounding region offer a wide variety of parks TEXARKANA, TEXAS Beverly Park—
where people can gather, play, get some exercise and get back to nature. For more information, call Texarkana, Texas, Parks and Recreation Department at 903-798-3978 or Texarkana, Ark., Public Works Office at 870-779-4977.
Centrally situated at 2612 New Boston Road between Summerhill and Robison roads, this 7-acre neighborhood park is home to Beverly Community Center.
Bringle Lake Park West— At 7602 Bringle Lake Road, this 7-acre park lies at the end of University Avenue, neighboring the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus and Texarkana Golf Ranch. It features two fishing piers and covered playground equipment, exercise equipment station, sand volleyball courts and a pavilion with a view of the lake. Bringle Lake Park West is also a trailhead of the Bringle Lake boardwalk, which runs into Bringle Lake Park East.
Bringle Lake Park East— On Bringle Lake Park Road, the park sits on the east side of Bringle Lake, also adjacent to University Drive. This 8-acre park features a floating fishing pier, playground equipment and 10 single pavilions. Bringle Lake East is a trailhead of the Bringle Lake boardwalk.
Bringle Lake Wilderness Area— A part of Bringle Lake Park, The area comprises 124 acres set aside as a nature area. The Bringle Lake Wilderness Bike/Walk Trail runs from Bringle Lake East to the spillway. Mountain bike trails also begin at Bringle Lake East and run adjacent the Wilderness Trail. No motorized vehicles are allowed.
Collins Senior Center— At 3000 Texas Blvd., just south of College Drive, this 2,600-square-foot building shares a parking lot with Ferguson Park and provides social and recreational activities for people 60 and older. Lunch is provided at the center at 11:30 a.m. daily for a minimal fee. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call the center at 903-793-5545.
Earnest F. Bell Park— At 3208 Lincoln Ave., this 4-acre park features a basketball court, playground equipment, picnic tables, public restrooms and a pavilion.
Ferguson Park— At 3000 Texas Blvd., this 5-acre neighborhood park features an active recreation space, a picnic area and playground equipment.
Findley Park— At 410 Findley St. just off of U.S. Highway 59 South, this 5-acre neighborhood park features a newly renovated basketball court, an open green space area for recreational use and playground equipment.
Grady T. Wallace Park— At 3419 Leopard Drive in the Liberty-Eylau area, the space covers 70 acres and offers playground equipment—including equipment made for children with disabilities, a walking/jogging trail around a 5-acre lake, a basketball court, public restrooms, two pavilions, five softball fields and 12 soccer fields.
Karrh Park— At 2102 S. Ann St., just off U.S. 59 South, this 33-acre gem has a small pond, a pavilion, open space for recreation, playground equipment and public restrooms. Karrh Park also features four softball fields.
Kidtopia— Across from the public library at 201 Oak St., this community-built, multipurpose playground was designed by kids for kids. It is open for day use only.
Scott Joplin Park— At 1621 West St., just off of U.S. 59, the 7-acre park features play equipment, public restrooms, a pedestrian walking bridge and a pavilion.
Skateopia— At West Third and Elm streets next to Kidtopia, Texarkana’s first skate park opened in 2016. Its features are meant to accommodate skaters of all skill levels.
Southwest Community Center/Park— At 3222 W. Seventh St., this 20,000-square-foot facility is home to the Parks and Recreation Administration offices and features a gymnasium/multipurpose room, game room, meeting rooms, computer lab and kitchen. Meeting rooms can be reserved. Weekly recreational activities include basketball, senior citizens’ aerobics, senior citizens’ bingo and pool. Southwest Center also offers seasonal programs such as tennis and volleyball lessons, basketball tournaments, poetry sessions, arts and crafts and health fairs. The park area provides four lighted tennis courts, playground equipment and a multipurpose open area. The center is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call 903-798-3978.
Spring Lake Park— The heart and pride of the Texarkana, Texas, park system saw big improvements in 2017. The city drained and dredged the lake that gives the park its name, deepening it from about 2 feet to about 10 feet to extend its life and create a healthier ecosystem. The 145-acre park features open green spaces with picnic areas, playground equipment and an 18-hole disc golf course. The 1.75-mile Phillip McDougal Walking/Biking Trail wanders through the park. The park's Swanger Sports Complex is home to the Texarkana, Texas, Dixie Baseball League. Additions to the park are the Rotary Splash Pad and the Kylee Sullivan-PetSafe Dog Park. It's also an ideal place to spend an evening at Movies in the Park. The park is at 4303 N. Park Road, between West 40th Street and Interstate 30.
TEXARKANA, ARK.
Bobby Ferguson Park— At Four States Fair Parkway and Interstate 30, this 144acre park is the flagship of the Texarkana, Ark., parks system. It features two jogging trails, a lake with a fishing pier, two picnic pavilions including one that is 3,200 square feet, a multipurpose gazebo, 19 picnic tables, playground equipment, six benches, restrooms and 14 barbecue grills.
Bramble Park— At 1801 Fulton St., this park has a playground, basketball courts, a baseball/softball field, a half-mile walking trail, six picnic tables and a spring-fed community fishing pond on its 8.3-acre grounds.
Downtown Pocket Park— In the 100 block of East Broad Street, this downtown park features interesting murals and a quiet picnic area. It is also known as the Bobby and Sue Dowd Broad Street Park.
Ed Worrell Park— On East 35th Street across from Forestwood Street, the 115-acre park features a tennis court, a basketball court, swing sets and a softball backstop.
Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex— At Division and Roberts streets, this 44-acre park features four baseball/ softball fields, a basketball court, two tennis courts, a soccer field, 23 picnic tables, three restrooms, a jogging trail, four pavilions, playground equipment, benches and barbecue grills.
Inghram Park— At Preston and Des Moines streets, this 3-acre park features five picnic tables, a basketball court, pavilion, tennis court, benches and playground equipment.
Iron Mountain/Ozan Inghram
Neighborhood Center— At 1101 Couch St., the neighborhood center offers a variety of indoor activities for residents.
Jefferson Park— At East 12th Street and Jefferson Avenue, this 12-acre park features a pavilion, picnic tables, playground equipment, swing sets and a slide. It encompasses JefFURson Dog Park, a 2 1/2-acre playground for the city’s canine companions.
Peyton Park— At East Third Street and Grand Avenue, this 1-acre park features four large trees and large crape myrtles.
Sandflat /Glendale Neighborhood Center—
At East 14th and Ash streets, the neighborhood center offers a variety of indoor activities for residents.
Vera Bradfield Park and Neighborhood Center— At 616 Euclid St., this 4-acre site features a pavilion, picnic tables, playground equipment and a neighborhood center. Following is information on the city’s
educational institutions, public and
private.
The district covers most of the interior of the city of Texarkana, Texas, and has the largest enrollment of any area district. It includes the cities of Nash and Wake Village, and currently has 11 campuses. Administration: 4241 Summerhill Road 903794-3651
TEXARKANA, ARK., SCHOOL DISTRICT
The district recently received a $14.8 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue the science, technology, engineering and math thread from the elementary schools to the junior high and high school levels. TASD received a $9.4 million grant in 2013 to fund the Leadership and Entrepreneurship through the Arts and Design Project to establish the thread in the elementary schools.
Arkansas High School is also one of 15 schools in the state to offer the AP Capstone Diploma, a program which teaches students research techniques to help better prepare them for the rigors of college study.
North Heights Junior High received the 2017 Shannon Wright Award, which is presented to schools which demonstrate outstanding achievement in the implementation of the best middle level practices as outlined in the report Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century. North Heights was also recognized by the Office of Education Policy for exhibiting Outstanding Educational Performance in Arkansas. It is one of the top 10 junior high schools in the state to receive the Beating the Odds in Math Award, based on achievement on the ACT Aspire Math test.
Administration: 3435 Jefferson Ave. 870772-3371
LIBERTY-EYLAU INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Liberty and Eylau school districts consolidated in 1954, creating the district, which covers much of the southeastern corner of Bowie County. Thanks to a $20.8 million bond election passed in 2016, the new Liberty-Eylau Elementary School will open in August for children in first through third grades. Administration: 2901 Leopard Drive.
PLEASANT GROVE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
The district is in the northeast corner of Texarkana and covers 55 square miles. The district was kindergarten through eighth grade until the mid-1980s, when a high school was added. Administration: 8500 N. Kings Highway 903-831-4086
RED LICK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Red Lick ISD is located in the northwest portion of Bowie County and serves students Pre-K through eighth grade in the areas of Red Lick, portions of Texarkana and Leary. Red Lick ISD is located at 3511 FM 2148, Texarkana, Texas. 903-838-8230
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
ST. JAMES DAY SCHOOL
St. James Day School is a private school serving prekindergarten through eighth grade, located on 25 acres of woodland in Texarkana, Texas. Established by the Episcopal church in 1948, St. James is fully accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools, and and also recognized as accredited by the state of Texas, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. St. James Day School is located at 5501 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, Texas, 903-793-5554
TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Trinity Christian School is a prekindergarten through 12th grade private school committed to partnering with Christian parents in providing a Biblical perspective in the education of their children. The school offers a Biblical word view infused in their curriculum and culture. Trinity Christian is located at 3107 Trinity Blvd, Texarkana, Ark., (870) 779-1009
VERITAS ACADEMY
A member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, Veritas offers classes for kindergarten through 12th grades. Its mission is to partner with parents in preparing students for a lifelong pursuit of learning through classical methodology and joyful discovery; developing depth of character, wisdom, and a desire to engage their world for the glory of God.
Veritas Academy is located at 2101 E 50th St., Texarkana, Ark., 870-772-0646
TEXARKANA COLLEGE
Texarkana College spans 100 acres, which include a wildlife conservation area, walking trail and student apartments. Associate degrees are available in applied science, science and arts, and in a number of concentration areas.
TC has leased, sold or reconfigured some of its buildings to reduce its footprint and reduce total costs. If students are looking to become vocationally certified, a certificate of graduation can be obtained in any of 25 areas from automotive to criminal justice. For information, visit texarkanacollege.edu.
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-TEXARKANA
TAMU-T is located on a 375-acre campus near Bringle Lake. The four-year university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. There are two colleges at the university: College of Business, Engineering and Technology; and the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.
Two new buildings are under construction to provide recreational facilities and house the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Departments.
Students in Oklahoma and Arkansas attend at in-state tuition rates and, historically, 30 percent of the student body is from Arkansas. For information, visit tamut.edu.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
AT HOPE–TEXARKANA
University of Arkansas–Texarkana is on U of A Way, just north of Bobby Ferguson Park. The UA Hope-Texarkana campus opened in the fall of 2012. A new Professions Building opened in 2016 to house several health professions, including Emergency Medical Technician and nursing programs, along with maintenance and supply chain management degrees.
For information, see www.uacch.edu.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES SOUTHWEST
UAMS Southwest was established in July 1976 in collaboration with the Sisters of Charity St. Michael Hospital. UAMS Southwest opened as a medical library on the fifth floor of the former St. Michael Hospital, providing access to medical monographs and journals. Today, UAMS Southwest is home to three UAMS colleges, two primary care clinics, a pediatric clinic, a family medicine residency program, a regional cancer registry and community education programs, and a comprehensive medical library. The UAMS Southwest mission is teaching, healing, searching and serving. For more information, go to regionalprograms.uams.edu.