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.
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.
Park amenities include a 1-mile walking trail, 80 acres, 4 lit softball fields, 2 soccer fields, fishing pong and pier, 2 basketball courts, handicap-accessible playground, covered picnic shelters, park pavilion, barbecue pit, and restrooms.
Park amenities include a 1.5 walking trail, 54 acres of wooded park land, nature trails, observation blind overlooking the Arroyo Colorado, restrooms, and a covered picnic area.
Amenities include the 1-mile Harlingen Hometown Heroes trail with handicap accessible exercise equipment, 47 acres, 18 lit tennis courts with pro shop (HEB Tennis Center), Veterans Memorial, Pendleton Pool, park pavilion, barbecue pit, 6 little league baseball fields, scenic pond with fountain, picnic tables, restrooms, playgrounds, and a basketball court.
This spot in South McAllen has everything! It’s located at the Palmview Community Center, so there’s a branch library, gym, as well as the outdoor facilities. The splash pad is very interactive, and has restrooms and picnic tables with shade. It’s also a summer meals location through the McAllen ISD summer feeding program. The playground is perfect for kids 5-12. There are some high slides and steep drops for the little ones. There’s also a walking path, exercise equipment, basketball court and skate park.
La Sal del Rey, or “the King’s Salt,” is one of three naturally occurring salt lakes in South Texas. Sitting atop an estimated four million tons of salt, these hypersaline lakes are seven times saltier than the ocean.
Park with a walking path, pond, playground, bathrooms and splash pad.
Bill Schupp Park is a great park for any age! It has an outer fitness trail, multiple playgrounds, bathrooms, picnic tables and shade trees.
Introducing children to a world of learning through creative hands-on interactive exhibits, workshops and activities.
This cute neighborhood park has lots of shade and lots of room to run! The playground looks so much like a treehouse and is perfect for kids ages 3 and up. There are also bathrooms on-site and a walking path.
The 100-acre National Butterfly Center is the premier location in the United States to experience the beauty, drama, and emotion of wild butterflies. A project of the nonprofit North American Butterfly Association, the center is designed to attract incredible numbers of beautiful, wild butterflies. Clouds of butterflies may be found at the National Butterfly Center because, by planting thousands of plants that the butterflies need for nectar and for caterpillar growth, we have created an outdoor paradise that sustains large populations and hundreds of species of wild butterflies.
Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center hosts school groups from pre-K through high school, scout groups, birding tours for all ages, challenge course facilitation, youth family programming, adult and senior history tours, speaker series programs, adult short courses in backyard habitat and birding! We have something for everyone!
Fireman’s Park is an oasis in the middle of McAllen. It boasts a pond with walking track, restrooms, kids’ playground and B-cycle station. Rentals are available on weekends for paddle boats, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. The barbecue pavilion is capable of serving 250 people. The pavilion features a refrigerator, indoor grill, restrooms, and can be rented through the Parks & Recreation Department. The park also has a playground area and sand volleyball court.
E.K. Atwood Park (Beach Access 5) is located on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 1.6 miles north of Andy Bowie Park. E.K. Atwood is open seven days a week and provides vehicular beach access. The park also provides a parking area (with fee), a beachside covered pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms and a boardwalk accessing the beach.
El Centro Cultural is located at 2100 Gregory Avenue, in the Colonia of Cameron Park, Brownsville, Texas. The Center offers a wide variety of social services and educational programs to the community such as: GED, ESL, home economics, family counseling, assistance with CHIP, Medicaid and Medicare and employment placement assistance. The Center also offers a children’s books library and reading room.
La Esperanza Community Park is located adjacent to El Centro Cultural. The park also offers a walking trail, playground, picnic pavilion, lighted soccer field, basketball court pavilion and an outdoor basketball court.
This Harlingen park has 9 acres, an inclusive//handicap accessible playground, a covered picnic shelter, and access to the Arroyo Hike & Bike trail.
Pedro “Pete” Benavides Park is dedicated in memory of longtime County Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides who was instrumental in the development of this park. The park is located at the corner of Browne Rd. and California, in the Southmost area of Brownsville, Texas. The Park is constructed on 64 acres of land adjacent to Resaca de la Guerra. Amenities at the park include; a lighted adult softball field, lighted little league baseball field, two lighted full-sized soccer fields, lighted basketball court, lighted volleyball court, playground and splash pad area, four small picnic pavilions, one large picnic pavilion, BBQ areas, a one mile Resaca frontage nature trail with two nature observation stations, and a 1.5 mile walking trail with 5 integrated workout stations.
La Paloma Park is located south of San Benito, Texas, in the rural community of La Paloma. The Park offers a number of recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy. Amenities include a walking trail, picnic pavilion, lighted soccer field, lighted baseball field, playground, basketball court, restrooms, concession stand and a splash pad. The Cameron County Health Department also has a satellite WIC office on location.