El Paso, Texas, boasts more than 250 parks offering almost 3,000 acres of open space so, whether you want to exercise, relax, or have a cookout with family and friends, you have plenty of options. Here are five of El Paso’s parks.
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Westside Community Park
Westside Community Park offers something for everyone. A fenced dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs where they can run around off the leash, and there are water faucets for filling the dogs’ bowls.
For the kids, there is a playground which has equipment for different age groups. Scenic walking trails feature three loops with paths for beginner and intermediate levels of ability. You’ll also find a skate park, a water spray park, and a recreation center.
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Vista del Valle Park
In Vista del Valle Park, you’ll find extensive grassy areas with almost a mile of paths for jogging or walking. The playground will keep the kids entertained and, for the more active, there are basketball and volleyball courts. This park also has a multi-use recreation center which offers restrooms for park users.
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Tom Lea Park
The Tom Lea Park has an obelisk marking its location as the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains. The park offers stunning panoramic views of El Paso and across the border to Mexico. The upper park is great for strolling, hiking, and dog walking, while the lower park features grassy areas with tree shade, baseball fields, and a children’s playground.
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Madeline Park
Located in the historic Kern Place neighborhood, Madeline Park is a small but beautiful spot featuring plenty of open grass spaces with large mature trees for shade. The park has separate playground areas for small kids and bigger kids with the little kids’ area being covered. Benches enable you to sit and keep an eye on your children.
You can go for a stroll, enjoy the basketball courts, or just relax and pass some time watching the world go by. In the center of the park is a photogenic gazebo which features occasional live music during special events.
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Franklin Mountains State Park
To get close to nature, the Franklin Mountains State Park features almost 27,000 acres within the El Paso city limits making it the largest urban park in the country. More than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails will suit people of all ability levels. For the more adventurous, the park offers designated rock-climbing areas.
For a longer adventure, you can camp at one of the 14 primitive tent camping sites or five RV sites. None of the sites offer water or electricity but you will find picnic tables and outdoor grills or fire rings. The park is a great place to view nature with small mammals, reptiles, and over 100 species of birds including golden eagles, flycatchers, and hummingbirds. Ranger-led programs include bike rides, hikes, arts in the park, and other activities.
These are just a few of the many parks in El Paso for you to enjoy and spend some leisure time.
Image via Ömer Ünlü | Licensed under CC BY 2.0