Texarkana, Arkansas is a beautiful city nestled in the southwest corner of the state. With a population just over 30,000, Texarkana offers residents and visitors a charming small-town atmosphere along with ample parks and outdoor recreation opportunities. The city boasts 12 wonderful parks, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to expansive parks along the Red River.
These parks provide spaces to enjoy nature, participate in sports and explore Texarkana’s local culture and history. From scenic walking trails that wind through the forests and wetlands to baseball diamonds and pools for community activities, Texarkana’s 12 parks have something for everyone.
Ace Summerlin Park
Ace Summerlin Park covers 15 acres in a quiet residential neighborhood on Texarkana’s northeast side. Mature trees shade most of the park, keeping the playground and walking trail comfortable even on hot summer days.
Families appreciate the handicap accessible playground equipment, walking trail, two pavilions with picnic tables and a basketball half court. Ace Summerlin also features a small amphitheater where the city hosts summer movie nights. The park offers a peaceful natural area right in the neighborhood to play, exercise or relax.
Beverly Community Garden
Texarkana residents come together at the Beverly Community Garden to tend vegetable beds and foster community spirit. The garden contains 88 raised garden beds with water access where local gardeners can lease a plot to grow healthy fruits, vegetables and herbs using organic methods.
Besides the gardening area, Beverly Community Garden provides shaded picnic tables, a kids playground and paved walking paths that connect to the city’s trail system, encouraging exercise for gardeners and visitors. The community garden promotes food security, environmental awareness, skill building and neighborhood relationships.
Bringle Lake Village Park
Bringle Lake Village Park spans 50 acres in Texarkana’s Bringle Ridge neighborhood, providing fun recreation for all ages. Families flock to the playground located atop a large hill with twisting slides that children adore.
Two youth baseball fields host little league games while the park’s three soccer fields fill with young athletes. Bringle Lake itself invites fishing, bird watching and peaceful contemplation with covered docks and paddleboat rentals. Shaded pavilions and tables allow for picnics and gatherings for up to 150 people. With versatile amenities, Bringle Lake Village satisfies community recreation needs from sports games to family outings.
Eighth Street Park
For over 70 years, Eighth Street Park has been a gathering place and outlet for recreation in its Gibson neighborhood. This vintage park transports visitors back in time with rows of large oak trees and an antique stone picnic shelter built by the Works Progress Administration.
Today neighbors play basketball on the park’s original dirt court or let kids loose at the modern playground installed in the 2000s. Eighth Street Park’s walking trail connects to the Four States Fairgrounds trail. Annual highlights occur during Texarkana’s Juneteenth celebration and Fourth of July fireworks hosted at the park.
Fifth Street Park
Fifth Street Park occupies a full city block surrounded by historic homes in downtown Texarkana. Flowering crepe myrtles populate this peaceful park whose centerpiece is the Gregg Memorial Fountain donated in the 1930s.
Visitors admire the iconic four-tier water fountain guarded by bronze statues of Native Americans on each side. People frequently photograph weddings, proms or family photos in front of the striking fountain backdrop. Fifth Street Park also contains playground equipment, a half basketball court and plenty of shade. Downtown employees visit on breaks to walk the park’s paved trail lined with benches.
Four States Fairgrounds
Each fall the Four States Fairgrounds fills with rides, games and agricultural exhibits during the Four States Fair & Rodeo event. But this 50 acre park serves Texarkana year-round with resident structures and outdoor amenities. Equestrian facilities include a covered show arena, horse barns, warmup area and show office for regional riding competitions and horse shows.
Families take advantage of the large playground, walking trail, picnic tables and disc golf course that winds through the park. Four States Fairgrounds often hosts lively events from car shows to festivals to conventions. Visitors also enjoy tranquil strolls among the mature oaks and pines when no major event occupies the grounds.
Hickey Park
Situated downtown along the Texas border, Walter Johnson Hickey Park provides Texarkana with 12 acres of active and passive recreation opportunities. Baseball and softball players flock to Hickey Park for its lighted fields and spectator stands hosting regional tournaments.
Families take children to enjoy the modern, handicap accessible playground and spray park. Shaded walking paths encircle the park, picnic pavilion and duck pond. An outdoor fitness circuit challenges adults on various exercise stations. The park also contains downtown Texarkana’s only public swimming pool. Walter Johnson Hickey Park serves diverse recreation interests for all ages morning to night.
Kennedy & Links Parks
Kennedy Park and Links Park sit adjacent to each other in a north central Texarkana neighborhood, jointly offering play equipment, trails, sports fields and leisure amenities. Kennedy Park features a playground, basketball court, baseball field, picnic tables, walking trail and large open space for pickup soccer games.
Neighboring Links Park specializes in golf with a nicely equipped driving range allowing players to practice their long game. Golfers also appreciate the putting green and chipping areas to polish their short game. Together these parks deliver playgrounds, trails, sports facilities and peaceful scenery.
Pleasant Grove Park & Sports Complex
As one of Texarkana’s largest multi-use parks, Pleasant Grove Park & Sports Complex spans 150 acres with facilities for just about every outdoor recreation interest. Baseball, softball and soccer players utilize the park’s 12 athletic fields for games and practices.
Individuals test their skills at the 18-hole disc golf course winding through wooded terrain. Families seeking fun flock to the large playground, 2.5 mile walking trail encircling ponds, and splash park. Pleasant Grove also contains an outdoor fitness circuit, sand volleyball, a ton of parking and covered pavilions available to rent. Pleasant Grove Park has everything to keep community members active and engaged with the outdoors.
Spring Lake Park Golf Course
While Spring Lake Park entices families and recreators, an adjacent 150 acre property houses the Spring Lake Park Golf Course catering to golfing enthusiasts. This scenic 18-hole municipal course features bent grass greens, Bermuda fairways and multiple tee boxes to challenge beginners to experts. The course layout incorporates forests, wetlands and Spring Lake’s headwaters, delivering beautiful vistas.
Amenities include a driving range, practice putting greens, clubhouse with pro shop and golf cart rentals. The prestigious course hosts the annual Arkansas State Golf Championship along with tournaments for Southern Arkansas University golf teams. Spring Lake Golf Course brings a taste of nature to a stimulating round.
State Line North Park
Straddling the Arkansas-Texas border, State Line North Park provides 22 acres of recreation including athletics facilities, trails, playgrounds and peaceful scenery. Park goers walk or run the paved 0.6 mile loop trail that circumnavigates the grounds.
Families enjoy the playground and picnic area while individuals play a pickup game on the basketball court. State Line North Park really shines for baseball and softball, featuring six fields with pitching mounds, dugouts, bleachers and restrooms. Hundreds of youth athletes play league games and tournaments cheered on by proud parents and fans. But even non-players delight in the park’s beauty along the state line.
Wake Village Park
Wake Village Park spans over 40 acres on Texarkana’s northeast side where visitors connect with nature through walking trails, fishing and open vistas. A one mile loop trail wraps around two small ponds, inviting quiet reflections or family strolls while spotting turtles, ducks, egrets and other wetland critters.
Anglers cast their lines from designated areas seeking catches of crappie, catfish and bass. Six picnic pavilions scatter around the ponds and trail, allowing covered gathering spaces for birthdays or reunions. With playgrounds, sports fields and gorgeous scenery, Wake Village Park provides touches of nature amid city environs.
Conclusion
From manicured ball fields to wetland trails, Texarkana’s 12 parks truly offer natural spaces that bring people together. The parks foster community through exercise, competition, special events and quiet contemplation. And thanks to all these wonderful parks, Texarkana residents and visitors have ample opportunities to improve their health while simultaneously connecting with nature right in town.
So whether you want to play a pickup basketball game, take kids to the playground, host a family reunion or simply go for a peaceful stroll, Texarkana’s 12 parks have everything you need to enjoy the outdoors.