Park Partnerships

Throughout the years, the Longview park systems has reaped the myriad benefits of partnering between the City of Longview and the community. These benefits include leveraging tax dollars with grants and donations to renovate or expand public facilities, volunteers working to provide programs to enhance the quality of life for residents, governmental entities working together to achieve common goals, and individuals wanting to give back in so many different ways to their community.

Longview’s Park System and Public Spaces are the result of passionate, caring and involved organizations and individuals that believe in Longview and the importance of building and sustaining Quality of Life projects that benefit the entire community. Thanks to these donations, Longview’s citizens are able to enjoy a variety of public passive and active recreational experiences in venues throughout the community.

Individuals or groups interested in starting a park improvement project are encouraged to contact the Parks and Recreation Department. Proposed park projects must receive approval from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and, depending on the scope of the project, City Council. In addition, the projects oftentimes work in conjunction with the PALS Foundation.

Partnerships

Go Giver Fund
Inspired by "The Go-Giver" authors Bob Burg and John David Mann,  Mayor Andy Mack established a Go-Giver Fund as a way to encourage the community to contribute towards important causes in Longview.

Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park
The Jack Man Splash Pad at Lear Park is the largest splash pad in East Texas. The first and second phases of the Splash Pad were funded in part by various sponsors, the City of Longview, Longview Economic Development Corporation, and Gregg County. Additional phases are planned as funding becomes available. Sponsorship and donation opportunities are available.

Keep Longview Beautiful
Art from the Heart
A community art project led by Keep Longview Beautiful began with a sculpture placed at Flewellen Park. Additional projects are planned each year. Donations opportunities are available.
The Green
In 2015, Keep Longview Beautiful initiated a fund-raising project for the construction of "The Green." The unique 9-acre park located at the entryway of Hwy 31 and Spur 63 opened in March 2018. The $1.2 million in construction funding was provided by Gregg County, Longview Economic Development Corporation, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the City of Longview and Keep Longview Beautiful. The park features a 1/2 mile walking trail, pavilion, natural play features, pond, bathroom and plenty of open space.

Longview Arboretum and Nature Center
The 26-acre Longview Arboretum and Nature Center sits on city-owned wooded property located adjacent to the Longview Convention Complex. The arboretum opened in late 2019 and is currently working towards the second phase of its construction with Casey Sloan Construction. The renovations will feature additional lighting, 3 pavilions, and a ticket booth. The expected completion date of the second phase is still to be determined.

Longview Disc Golf Association
Longview's first disc golf course was installed in 2004 by a local Boy Scout group. Since then, the Longview Disc Golf Association has made a number of improvements and adjustments, the most recent being concrete tee boxes at Guthrie. The LDGA hosts a weekly mini tournament which rotates between Guthrie and Hinsley at 2 p.m. each Sunday.

Longview Dog Park, Inc. 
Opened in 2011, Longview Dog Park, Inc. worked with the City of Longview Parks and Recreation Department to create East Texas’ first Dog Park, Stragent Dog Park. Located adjacent to the northern portion of the Paul Boorman Trail, the non-profit partnership has added agility / playground equipment, trees, and benches. In 2015, the nonprofit helped reconfigure the park to provide additional space for small dogs. Additional projects and improvements are planned as funding becomes available.

Miracle League of East Texas 
The Miracle League of East Texas funded the construction of a fully accessible baseball field in Lear Park.  The facility opened for play in April 2018.  

Safety City Partnership
Longview Parks and Recreation are partnering in conjunction with the Safety City Board to bring another avenue of youth activities to Longview. An interdisciplinary social study – science curriculum effectively teaches the rules of bicycle, auto and pedestrian safety in the classroom. Patrol officers from the Longview Police Department and trained volunteers will oversee the actual practice of these guidelines in Safety City. Children will thus have the opportunity to develop a healthy respect for community laws and law enforcement personnel. When fully implemented, the curriculum will also address the areas of anti-victimization and substance abuse.

Veterans Recognition Foundation
The City of Longview works with the Veterans Recognition Foundation to beautify Teague Park as well as bring awareness to the heroes in our community who have served in the military.