Texarkana baseball complex renovations nearly finished

TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – After receiving funding through a 2023 bond measure and nearly a year of construction, the new and improved Swanger Complex is almost ready for the first pitch.

The Texarkana, Texas Parks and Recreation Department says the renovated baseball complex at Spring Lake Park will offer a much better experience for the fans in the stands.

“We have new restrooms, air-conditioned restrooms. We have a new concession stand that will allow us to provide a more restaurant-style approach. We have a lot of shade inside the park that’s going to help us be able to meet the needs of everybody watching ball games. It’s just an all-around top-notch facility,” says Ross Cowling, Sports and League Manager for Texarkana Parks and Rec.

Meanwhile, the players will be able to run the bases on new turf fields.

“The turf is going to allow us to play games whenever we do run into the inclement weather,” says Cowling, “It’s also going to allow us to not slow down on our tournament stuff on the weekends.”

Being an attractive spot to host tournaments for teams across the region is an aspect they hope will benefit the whole community.

“I think it’ll be a regional hub for tournaments. A lot of our surrounding larger local cities already have some of these amenities. So I think from an economic impact, it’s going to put people in our restaurants, it’s going to put people in our hotels,” says Cowling.

If all goes as planned, they expect the new Swanger Complex to host its first game on May 5th. The Grady T. Wallace soccer fields have also undergone a renovation.

“We have an all-purpose field for every age group out there, a lot of drainage work, and just needed upgrades to our facilities,” says Cowling.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.