Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation
Because you can count on one hand the number of times you need to put on a heavy coat each year in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, you can also count on being able to play outside much of the time. Sure, we’ll have the wildly weird occasional ice storm or snow-dusting every few Januarys, but the great outdoors is primarily a place to enjoy most of the year. Even if the mercury soars to 100 degrees in summer, the sunshine still invites you to get out into the fresh air.
Although Dallas and Fort Worth sit at the foot of the plains, you just need to look beyond skyscrapers and shopping centers to discover the wealth of natural wonders for you to treasure. The vast supply of parks, lakes, and preserves gives you and your family endless opportunities to stretch your legs, play games, and work on your fitness regime.
As our society tries to embrace again the importance of activity as it pertains to health, you’ll find that parks in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding suburbs offer more hiking, walking, biking, jogging, and skating paths than ever. And most cities’ parks departments provide a calendar of scheduled activities, too, including league play for softball, soccer, hockey, and basketball, often for all ages and skill levels.
The abundance of golf courses and tennis courts in the Dallas–Fort Worth area is remarkable as well. If you like the water, you’ll find lakes with myriad boat rentals, including some geared to windsurfing and sailing. If you’re new to town and looking for people who share your passion for cycling, scuba, or running, you’ll find shops that can put you in touch with local groups.
1. Dallas Department Of Parks And Recreation
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-4100
Address: 1500 Marilla St., Room 6F North
Description: Dallas’s parks department cares for more than 21,000 acres, with 17 lakes, more than 17,000 acres of greenbelt, and more than 61 miles of bike and running trails at 24 spaces around town. Dallas has ramped up offerings for residents interested in fitness. Trails for walking, running, biking, and skating have improved in recent years; inquire with the parks departments about the free Dallas Trails Map and the $6.50 street bicycle map. Or you can download color maps from the Web site above.If you want to help beautify your city, join in the Morning After Program that cleans up after a weekend of picnics, sports, and events in the parks.Among parks to note are the following.
2. Reverchon Park
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-1491
Address: 3505 Maple Ave.
Description: The 46-acre Uptown/Oak Lawn area park offers a baseball field, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, and hiking trails, including access to the hugely popular, newish Katy Trail, which courses through North Dallas on an old railroad bed. Reverchon’s 40-odd programs include volleyball leagues, yoga classes, health screenings, tutoring, and after-school activities.
3. Samuell-Grand Park
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-1374
Address: 6200 East Grand
Description: Enter this 78-acre East Dallas jewel through a grand old entrance to play at one of 20 fenced tennis courts, served by a pro shop. Plenty of walking, running, and biking trails crisscross the rolling hills, and you’ll find golf nearby at Tenison Park. There’s an amphitheater, too, hosting the summertime Dallas Shakespeare Festival.
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 8300 East Lawther Dr.
5. White Rock Dog Park
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-8740
Address: 8300 East Lawther Dr.
Description: Find three different sections for your dog’s size, including a swimming area for the water babies. Rules are posted and must be followed; they’re enforced and punishable by fines. Most important, if your dog is aggressive, leave him or her at home. Park opens at 5 a.m. but is closed for maintenance on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
6. Lake Lewisville
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This 23,280-acre lake with 233 miles of shoreline offers 9,000 acres of parkland, too. People love it for its fishing, waterskiing, swimming beaches, and good picnic and camping areas. There are four marinas and 16 boat ramps, so be prepared for boat noise.
7. Lake Ray Hubbard
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: A 22,745-acre lake formed by the damming of the Trinity River northeast of Dallas, this massive lake appeals primarily to anglers in search of the big bass catches. You can learn to sail here, too, through outfits like Sail with Scott (www.sailwithscott.com) or you can charter the company’s 40-foot catamaran for a party. Take a staycation at the Hilton Bella Harbor with its lakeside pool or shop at the 120,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World on the lakeshore.
8. White Rock Lake
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
9. Dallas Parks And Recreation
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-8740
Description: The city parks department maintains 30 diamonds, some with bleachers and lights, with Samuell-Grand the most popular. Kiest Park has a softball complex with national tournaments played here. Call to reserve a field for a family reunion or to find out about league play.
10. Dallas Metropolitan Ymca
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 329-1821
Description: Throughout Dallas, the YMCA branch locations offer basketball league play. Call to find out more about schedules and fees.
11. Dallas Parks And Recreation
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Throughout the city, most parks have basketball courts. These are not reserved and are first-come, first-served. Visit the Web site to find a map of parks.
12. Dallas Bowling Association
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (972) 644-7746
Description: The motto of this league is “friendship is the best part of bowling,” so you know this is a good way to find new pals. A list of bowling facilities is online, and there’s information about tournaments, too.
13. Dallas Bike Works
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 341-8921
Address: 6780 Abrams Rd.
Description: Here’s a shop to outfit you for whatever biking adventures you’re planning.
14. Dallas Department Of Parks Andrecreation
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 670-4100
Address: 1500 Marilla St., Room 6F North
Description: The parks department offers Crafty Adults and Seniors, a six-week ceramics session. There are also preschool arts and crafts program for kids ages three to six.
15. Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (214) 820-7872
Address: 411 North Washington St.
Description: Numerous sophisticated, medically directed programs will steer you toward getting started and living with healthy fitness and eating practices. The 12-week weight management program provides tools for maintaining a healthy weight through fitness training sessions, dietitian meetings, and health screenings, with Pilates classes thrown in. Special aquatic programs are geared to a variety of members, and Moms on the Move teaches safe exercise for pregnant women.