Parks & Playgrounds
This park has a 2-mile walking trail, 29 acres, 2 baseball fields, 2 soccer fields, nature trails with scenic overlooks of the Arroyo Colorado, a playground, a volleyball area, a covered picnic shelter, restrooms, access to Arroyo Hike & Bike trail, and an exercise circuit.
McAllen Municipal Park and Pool is home to a 27-acre site with picnic facilities, a rubber floor toddler playground, older kid playground & an Olympic-size outdoor pool (see McAllen Parks and Rec aquatics site for more information on pool hours).
Park amenities include a 3/4 mile walking trail, 24 acres, playground, 3 soccer/athletic fields, park gazebo, 2 park pavilion, barbecue pits, restrooms
Park with a walking path, pond, playground, bathrooms and splash pad.
This small park is comprised of a basketball court, swing set, playground, and a picnic pavilion. A portion of the basketball court has been modified to accommodate a skate ramp.
Bill Schupp Park is a great park for any age! It has an outer fitness trail, multiple playgrounds, bathrooms, picnic tables and shade trees.
The Pharr Aquatic Center is a South Texas attraction including water slides, pools and lazy river attractions. Pharr Natatorium is also on site.
History and nature meet on scenic bluffs above the Rio Grande, where the World Birding Center in Roma can be found on the old plaza of a once-thriving steamboat port. Part of a national historic district, the WBC Roma Bluffs includes a riverside nature area of three acres: The gateway to unforgettable birding adventures across Starr County.
On May 8, 1846, United States and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park preserves the site of this notable battle and provides an understanding of the causes, events, and consequences of the U.S.-Mexican War.
In the 3-acre park, you will find pavilions, basketball courts, spray park, community garden, and playground.
Park amenities include a 1.2 walking trail, covered picnic shelters, soccer fields, restrooms, and a playground area.
Andy Bowie Park is located on the north end of South Padre Island, on the Gulf of Mexico, directly across from the South Padre Island Convention Center. Some of the amenities offered at Andy Bowie Park are two large surfside picnic pavilions, BBQ areas, RV sites, food concessions, beach rental concessions, fishing area, swimming area, restrooms and showers, a flagship hotel and access to a pristine beach. The park is open 7 days a week. For R.V. reservations please call the park office at (956) 761-3704.
El Ranchito Park is located near the intersection of Highway 281 and Park Ranch Road, just southeast of San Benito. The newly constructed park offers a number of recreational elements and amenities such as regulation size little league multi-use field, full-sized soccer field, a walking trail, basketball court, playground, butterfly garden, benches, and picnic pavilions.
Skateboarding! Little League! Basketball! Park also has a concrete walking trail, covered pavilion, for lots of Family fun! Community Park is located in the heart of Los Fresnos on Highway 100. It is the city’s oldest park, but new facilities added in 2012 continue to make this a favorite spot. It includes picnic areas, a playground, and a water‐spraying splash pad. Benches in the shade of a tall tree make a perfect spot to read a good book because the Whipple Memorial Library is just next door.
Amenities available at this 24-acre park include outdoor playing fields, basketball and tennis courts, children’s playgrounds and concessions. A recreation building with a multi-purpose gymnasium and swimming pool are available.
A 40-acre wetlands oasis in the midst of a lively urban landscape, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands offers watchable wildlife year-round in a setting friendly to birds, butterflies and other water-loving creatures. The grounds offer three acres of paths and butterfly gardens, a large lake for wildlife viewing, Dragonfly pond, discover pond and indoor kids’ area and gift shop. You can check out Junior Ranger packs filled with activities and materials to help your little ones explore South Texas nature!
Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lake, woodlands and thorn forest. Even beginning birders and nature lovers will enjoy exploring this 230 plus-acre refuge, which is convenient to all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer.
The multi-use facility includes eight fields and one championship field which meets the needs of various sports including soccer, football, rugby, and ultimate Frisbee as well as numerous community and special events including the annual McAllen Marathon. In addition to the fields, the park’s amenities include practice fields, lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, playground, water feature, concession area, and restroom facilities. A permit is required for use of this facility.
The Magic Valley’s early 20th Century transition into an agricultural powerhouse is retold at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, which also embraces nature conservation as a wing of the World Birding Center. Visitors to this museum on the Rio Grande can learn about the steam-driven irrigation pumps that transformed Hidalgo County into a year-round farming phenomenon. They also can wander the museum’s grounds, where hummingbird gardens are planned, and where many of the Valley’s amazing bird species are regular visitors as well.