Cultural treasures in community spotlight
Preserving and enhancing cultural treasures is central to the two Texarkanas’ vitality, local leaders told elected officials from both cities Tuesday.
During a meeting of the Joint Texarkana Community Committee, speakers updated delegations from both Texarkanas’ governing councils on the value and future of key local cultural assets such as the downtown courthouse, the Texas side’s
Perot Theatre and the Arkansas side’s Municipal Auditorium.
An initiative of the Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce, the committee comprises the mayor and two City Council members from each city. The committee is not set up to take any action; its purpose is to share ideas and discuss common challenges facing the two cities.
Attending on Tuesday were Texas-side Mayor Bob Bruggeman and City Council members Bill Harp and Betty Williams, and Arkansas-side Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell and Board of Directors members Travis Odom and Linda Teeters.
Ina McDowell, executive director of Main Street Texarkana, spoke about the need for cooperation in taking care of what Texarkana has, especially downtown.
“While I attend Main Street meetings across the country and see states and communities that are certainly much smaller than we are, it is amazing the power of those little communities once they embrace their downtown. …
“We have what they have, and oftentimes it’s on a much larger scale, but key still is working together as a community. Oftentimes that means taking off your professional hat, where you work, your status or your authority, and think about what’s best for us as a whole. What makes you want to live here and be proud of living here? And the old saying that I’m sure you’ve all heard: You have to take care of home first, because if we don’t, no one else will,” McDowell said.
Texas-side Director of Planning David Orr and Arkansas-side Public Works Director Tyler Richards spoke about the downtown courthouse square project, a multimillion-dollar beautification plan. Work on the project, which will include paving and landscaping, could begin late this year.
Arkansas-side City Planner Mary Beck talked about the significance of historic preservation in capturing the Texarkanas’ uniqueness, including the friendly rivalry between them.
“We’re twins, and sometimes our sibling rivalry comes out,” she said.
Brian Goesl, executive director of Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, spoke about the organization’s programming for the Perot Theatre, which generates about $474,000 in revenue annually. Velvet Hall Cool, board president of Texarkana Museums System, and Andrew Clark, executive director of Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, talked about what their organizations add to the city’s cultural life.
The Joint Texarkana Community Committee meets quarterly. A topic for the next meeting has not been announced.