Longview Gets $3M Grant for New Aquatic Center

(Longview, Texas) The City of Longview and its residents received huge news and an amazing gift from the State of Texas.

During the monthly Longview City Council meeting, former Longview Mayor turned state representative, Jay Dean, announced the city was awarded a $3 million grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for improvements to Stamper Park and for the creation of an aquatics center for the parks department.

This grant was one of nine statewide grants that were issued by TPWD. (CBS 19)

The city council had previously authorized the city manager to award a $4.275 million contract to build the new 'Stamper Park Aquatic Facility'. With this grant, the city's commitment to this project has been reduced to just over a million dollars, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

Why the City Needed a New Pool

In 2024, the city announced it was permanently closing the Longview Swim Center at Pine Tree High School because of high maintenance and repair costs. This closing left the city with one pool and numerous splash pads.

Since the closure, council members have been talking about a new aquatic center, but costs were a big concern because they kept rising. After reaching a height of $7 million, they were able to get it back to 4.2 million.

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When Will Construction Begin?

Longview Mayor Kristen Ishihara expects the project to move quickly and begin as soon as possible, and the parks department website expects construction to begin later this year.

Stamper Park was created in the late 1950s and has provided recreation for Longview residents for years. The park had a public pool at one time, but it was permanently closed in 1988, according to the City of Longview.

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What to Expect From the New Aquatics Center

The new aquatic facility is planned to feature a shallow wading pool, water park-type splash zone, water slides, and swimming area, according to renderings on the Parks Department website.