Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation
There’s no doubt about it, El Paso is an outdoor-lover’s delight. Seeing some 320 days of sunshine a year, the Sun City’s nickname is entirely appropriate and makes it an excellent place both to play and watch sports, or go picnicking, hiking, camping, and more. El Paso has hundreds of acres of parkland and open space, miles of hiking, walking, and biking trails, and dozens of recreational and sports facilities to cater to every interest. The Franklin Mountains offer a seemingly endless array of hiking trails and mountain recreation. Golf is a very popular sport and there are several courses around the city, both private clubs and municipal courses. A number of private country clubs offer a range of sports and spa facilities and there are plenty of municipal swimming and tennis facilities all around El Paso. Several sports teams, both collegiate and professional, are based in El Paso and provide great sporting entertainment in baseball, hockey, basketball, football, soccer, rugby, and more.
This chapter covers city and state parks and national monuments, as well as listings for recreational activities from hiking to skateboarding. Major sports, including golf, soccer, swimming, and tennis are also covered. You’ll want to check out the Kidstuff chapter for more information on activities for kids such as the El Paso Zoo, bowling alleys, and family fun centers, and children’s sports leagues in the city. El Paso’s many spectator sports are also covered at the end of this chapter, including the El Paso Patriots soccer team and the Diablos, a South Division independent professional baseball team. El Paso also plays host to a number of exciting rodeo events throughout the year, and information about those can be found in the Annual Events chapter. A specific header for camping has not been included. Instead, check through the parks listings in this chapter, as well as the Day Trips and Getaways chapter, which will give you ample information about state parks, national forests, and recreational areas that provide opportunities for camping.
1. Chamizal National Memorial
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 532-7273
Address: 800 South San Marcial St.
Description: Chamizal National Memorial commemorates the amicable resolution of the U.S.–Mexico border dispute between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Large lawns sprawl across several acres here, and a sparse collection of trees make the park a nice place to enjoy a picnic, play a game of Frisbee, or have a soccer match. The Visitors’ Center contains three galleries with exhibits relating to the resolution of the border dispute, as well as art exhibitions about the history and landscape of the border region. Though certainly not the largest park in the city, the Chamizal Memorial is popular because of its historic significance. There is plenty of free parking and, from the south lawn, you can get an interesting view of the Bridge of the Americas border crossing.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1331 McKelligon Canyon Rd.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 6900 Hueco Tanks Rd. No. 1
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 819 West Sunset Rd.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1700 McKinley Ave.
6. El Paso County 4H Horse Club
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 525-9858
Address: 1380 A&M Circle
Description: Youth aged 5 to 19 can join the local El Paso chapter of 4H, an agriculture and livestock club. Although the club is called the horse club, members actually participate in all aspects of the 4-H experience including sewing, cooking, entomology, consumer decision making, public speaking, leadership, record keeping, photography, and many animal based projects. Annual enrollment costs just $2 and meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
7. Poki Roni Ranch
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 591-3074
Address: 782 Lomita Dr.
Description: This most basic of horseback riding stables offers birthday packages, children’s riding lessons, and pony rides. The multi-colored party pavilion, brightly painted train caboose, and open playgrounds that decorate the property seem to be more of the attraction here than any actual equestrian activity. On a recreational level, this would make a great place for an alternative birthday for your child or a weekend of ranch-style fun. However, for anyone interested in serious horsemanship, there are other places in El Paso that are geared toward more competitive aspects of the sport.
8. Tres Milagros Stables
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 494-3380
Address: 649 Bailey Rd.
Description: Tres Milagros Stables is located in the quiet Upper Valley of El Paso County, not far from Sunland Park Racetrack. The facility offers boarding for racehorses, team roping, rodeo, and riding lessons. A large lighted roping arena is located on the premises with cattle and roping outings scheduled on a regular basis for advanced ropers. Rodeo contestants are encouraged to practice their team roping and barrel racing here, and the arena is also available for hunter/jumpers and other types of exercising and riding. They also offer a private riding lesson program, as well as goat roping for children. Call for more information about enrolling in private lessons.
9. Acosta Sports Center
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 534-0254
Address: 4321 Delta Dr.
Description: This large sports complex in South El Paso is home to a number of facilities, including the El Paso Baseball Fields, where several adult baseball and softball leagues practice and play their games.
10. Sportsplex Of Champions
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 857-7676
Address: 1780 North Zaragosa Rd.
Description: Champions Sportsplex is a multifunctional sports facility that houses baseball fields, volleyball courts, and lighted T-ball fields. Several sporting leagues operate out of Champions, including sand volleyball co-ed leagues, women’s, girls’ and men’s softball, and youth baseball for ages 5 to 14. The park can easily accommodate a 200-team tournament, with games played during the day and at night. A concession stand is also available for games, tournaments, and events.
11. Sun City Flag Football League
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 227-9947
Description: This adult flag football league offers both four-man and eight-man non-contact football in a friendly, competitive environment for El Paso football lovers. Games are played in various city parks around El Paso. Up-to-date information about the next sign-up period, as well as fees, rules, and tournament schedules, is available from the Web site.
12. Butterfield Trail Golf Club
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 772-1038
Address: 1858 Cottonwoods
Description: Butterfield Trail Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72, championship public golf course and club located among natural sand dunes and native flora and fauna. The course itself provides a challenging, yet amiable, unspoiled golf adventure. Features include 55 feet of elevation changes, vertical transitions, and signature holes on Dominant Plus Bent grass. Greens fees range from $35 to $80 depending on day and time. They also offer golf instruction and several on-site restaurants.
13. Coronado Golf & Country Club
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (915) 584-1171
Address: 1044 Broadmoor Dr.
Description: This members-only country club is located in the Franklin Mountains on the Westside. Established in 1957, the club features an 18-hole golf course, several tennis courts with lights for evening play, a gym and a large swimming pool, banquet facilities, and a restaurant. The club’s location at 4,700 feet up in the mountains affords stellar views of El Paso and the surrounding areas and the holes on the golf course range from elevated tees to finely groomed greens. Membership information is available through their Web site or over the phone.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 5000 Country Club Place
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 16000 Ashford