The courtyard at the Museum of Regional History in downtown Texarkana is receiving a landscaping overhaul that will add native plants, pollinator habitat and educational signage, organizers said Tuesday.
Partners and funding
Keep Texarkana Beautiful is leading the two-week project in partnership with the Texarkana Museums System and local landscape architect Bryan Callaway. Funding comes from Community Development Corporation funds provided by the City of Texarkana, Texas, and a grant from the Arkansas Community Foundation, museum officials said.
Improvements will include replacement and enhancement of existing plantings, upgrades to irrigation and retaining walls, and installation of signs identifying species and explaining the role of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Organizers said the plant palette will emphasize species native to the region and plants chosen to support pollinator populations.
Goals and future work
Keep Texarkana Beautiful marketing and city liaison Brooke Stone described the effort as a community improvement that evolved from a broader downtown beautification idea. Museum director Ana Willis said the courtyard should reflect community pride and serve museum visitors and downtown pedestrians.
“The courtyard should reflect the community pride represented by the museum, which welcomes visitors from around the world,” Ana Willis, museum director, said
Project leaders said the current work is part of a larger vision for the museum exterior. Planned future additions include a water feature, improved lighting to highlight the historic building and courtyard, and combined trash and recycling receptacles for visitors.
- Location: Museum of Regional History, Texarkana Arts & Historic District
- Duration: expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting
- Funding: City of Texarkana Community Development Corporation funds and an Arkansas Community Foundation grant
- Partners: Keep Texarkana Beautiful, Texarkana Museums System, landscape architect Bryan Callaway
The Museum of Regional History is a designated landmark within the Texarkana Arts & Historic District and serves as a welcome center for visitors exploring downtown. Organizers said the courtyard upgrades aim both to support local pollinators and to provide interpretive space for residents and visitors of all ages.
No timetable was provided for the subsequent phases of the exterior plan beyond the improvements announced for the courtyard, and officials said the project timeline is subject to weather conditions.
