Years after budget cuts eliminated the Texarkana, Ark., parks department, the city is hiring a parks superintendent so it can improve recreation areas and become eligible for grants.

“Over the years, you had a push on the city’s budget that the high priorities were not in the parks area,” said City Manager Harold Boldt.

But finances are a vicious circle: the city has to spend money to get money and is in the midst of a hiring freeze.

“I’m convinced there is as much money to be had out of the federal government in the parks area as there would be from our sta...