31. Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD)
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (512) 974-6700
Address: 200 South Lamar Blvd.
Description: Residents and visitors alike should stop by the main office of PARD and pick up a wealth of material on Austin recreational activities and facilities. The city’s website also has extensive information and downloadable maps.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
33. Boggy Creek Greenbelt
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1114 Nile St.
Description: This East Austin trail runs 3 miles from Rosewood Park to Zaragosa Park. Trails in the eastern half of the city, roughly defined as east of I-35, have different flora from those in the western half. The eastern half of the city is built over Blackland Prairie—rich, black soil, compared with the rocky, limestone landscape in the west. The creeks and greenbelts in the east are often shaded by pecan trees and have woodland plants along their banks.
34. Bull Creek Park and Greenbelt
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 7806 North Capital of Texas Hwy.
Description: This is a popular spot, particularly in spring when the rains fill the creek, attracting swimmers and waders. In summer the creek is usually very low or dry. There are picnic facilities and hike and bike trails. The 120-acre greenbelt attracts hikers and mountain bikers. The park is off Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway) and south of Spicewood Springs Rd.
35. Emma Long Metropolitan Park (City Park)
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (512) 346-1831
Address: 1600 City Park Rd.
Description: This large 1,147-acre park with 3 miles of Lake Austin shoreline has boat ramps and picnic sites. It is the oldest city park and is more traditional, showing the human hand in its landscaping and facilities.
36. Johnson Creek Greenbelt
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 2100 Enfield Rd.
Description: A milelong urban trail runs from Lady Bird Lake to Enfield Road, paralleling MoPac. Trail users can access the greenbelt from the Austin High School parking lot.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
38. Lake Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (512) 926-5230
Address: 6614 Blue Bluff Rd.
Description: In Northeast Travis County, this 1,300-acre lake is well known for its fishing and water activities. There are campsites, hike and bike trails, plus park roads that are popular with bicyclists and runners.
39. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 907 Slaughter Lane
Description: The 344 acres contain an 18-hole disc (Frisbee) golf course, a 2-mile hike and bike trail, a 21⁄2-mile equestrian trail, and a fishing pier over Slaughter Creek. There are basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, plus baseball and soccer facilities, barbecue pits, and a picnic gazebo for large parties.
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 3800 Mount Bonnell Rd.
41. Pease Park
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1100 Kingsbury St.
Description: Along Shoal Creek between Twelfth and Twenty-fourth Streets, this Central Austin park is popular among lunchtime picnickers and joggers. The land was donated by former Governor Elisha M. Pease, hence the name. During the Civil War General George Armstrong Custer camped on this site and buried 35 of his men here. There are legends of buried treasure here involving a lost cache of money supposedly stolen by a paymaster in the Mexican Army. Digging, of course, is forbidden. These days it is known for happier occasions, including Eeyore’s Birthday, an annual free-spirit celebration—sort of a mini Woodstock-meets-Mardi Gras event—that includes both the whimsical and the outrageous.
42. Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This wide, 3-mile-long greenbelt along the urban pathway of Shoal Creek, roughly paralleling Lamar Boulevard, winds through the heart of Central Austin and can be accessed at many points along the way. Like other urban Austin creekbeds, Shoal Creek has an early-warning system in place to alert residents and emergency workers of flash floods. These high-tech devices can be seen near bridges and low crossings on city creeks. They look like large traffic signal boxes and are equipped with solar panels and antennas.
43. Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 507 West Slaughter Lane
Description: Adjacent to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Southwest Austin, this park is at its best in spring, when the Hill Country wildflowers bloom. The prime attraction is the 3-mile veloway, which attracts bicyclists and in-line skaters. The park also has a nature trail, picnic facilities, playground, soccer fields, volleyball, and basketball courts.
44. Waller Creek Greenbelt
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 703 East Fifteenth St.
Description: Stretching from Fifteenth Street to Lady Bird Lake, the Waller Street greenbelt is a mixture of urban greenbelt and urban blight. The northern stretch is quite pleasant. City voters recently approved a bond election to improve the southern end of the trail.
45. Waterloo Park
City: Austin, TX
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 403 East Fifteenth St.
Description: This central city park lies just east of the capitol and is a quiet retreat in the heart of the city. It is also a popular spot for several gatherings during the year.