TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
The Texarkana Pickleball Club raised $135,000, and the city contributed $120,000 to build new outdoor courts and parking at Southwest Center for the growing sport.
With community and City Council support, the police department replaced body armor, upgraded service weapons, and renewed body camera contracts.
The new Swanger Sports Complex opened in partnership with Symmetry Sports, providing baseball and softball facilities for the community.
rebuilding or repairing more than 30,000 linear feet of streets through a combination of in-house construction, contracted projects, and voter-approved bonds. These improvements may not always be glamorous, but having a solid, updated infrastructure will make everyday travel smoother and safer while preparing the city for future residential and commercial growth. Public safety experienced a transformational year. The City invested more than $1 million across all five Texarkana, Texas Fire Department fire stations, providing upgraded flooring, lighting, paint, bathrooms, kitchens, and new washer-extractors and dryers to better clean and maintain protective gear. Fleet modernization continued with the arrival of two new fire trucks. A $2.8 million investment and the purchase of nine battery-powered rescue tools, including three full sets of jaws of life. Other important advancements in emergency services included the police department awarding six officers the department’s Life Saving Award for their quick thinking and decisive actions that directly saved lives. These TTPD recognitions highlight both the courage of these officers and the department’s dedication to providing ongoing, high-quality training. The department also continues to support neighboring jurisdictions with specialized expertise and equipment, strengthening public safety throughout the region. With community and City Council support, the police department made substantial upgrades to enhance safety for officers and the public. Improvements included replacing outdated
body armor, upgrading service weapons, and renewing contracts for body-worn and in-car cameras, ensuring officers have the tools needed to protect the community effectively and safely. Texarkana Water Utilities launched the Advanced Metering Infrastructure System in partnership with Texarkana, Arkansas, marking a significant step toward more efficient water service. The City’s $21.3 million Water and Sewer Revenue Bond supports critical work, including identifying and replacing lead and copper service lines, improving water pressure for residents, and upgrading the Waggoner Creek wastewater treatment plant. Behind the scenes, important progress continued as well. The city earned the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the tenth consecutive year and recently received the Texas Comptroller’s Traditional Finances Transparency Star. The team also updated its public resource guide to make financial information more accessible and understandable to residents. These efforts—large and small, visible, and behind the scenes— reflect our ongoing commitment to building a vibrant and welcoming community. The progress we see today didn’t happen overnight, nor will it stop here. Texarkana is moving forward with purpose, and the work being done now is laying a strong foundation for the future.
To learn more, v isit texarkanatexas.gov and view the City’s 2025 Annual Report.
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BUSINESS & POLITICS
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