Explore the Many Outdoor Parks in Lubbock, TX
Lubbock has more neighborhood parks per capita than any city in the state. Here are Campus Live’s top 10 parks in Lubbock to explore! Each park has unique things that set them apart from one another.
Aztlan Park
This park has a magical and otherworldly atmosphere. The river is straight out of a fantastical world with mythical roots and vines. Nearby you can also find a DIY skate park called the Depot DIY between the park and West Texas Brick & Stone. The park features a playground, basketball courts, and a beautiful mural depicting its past as a migrant labor camp making this a unique place. It also has 5-star reviews.
Mackenzie Park
Everyone in Lubbock should visit the Prairie Dog Town! Be sure to pack raisins, carrots, or lettuce to feed a prairie dog. Makenzie Park is vast and is a favorite for disc golf, biking, and fishing and features an amusement park with carnival rides. Joyland Amusement Park is open from 7-10 Thursday and Friday, Saturday from 2-10, and Sunday from 2-8. Check their website for more info. Enjoy a swim in the pool at the aquatic center or walk along the many trails and ponds. Mackenzie Park is open from sunrise to sunset, giving you plenty of time to enjoy everything on the menu. Make sure to take a peek at the Mackenzie park sculpture garden, join Meadowbrook Golf’s two 18-hole championship classes, and have a picnic by the Brazos River. Mackenzie Park is one of our favorite parks in Lubbock, Texas, with five stars and over a thousand reviews. There is also plenty of trash cans and restrooms.
Hoel Park
With an exceptionally modern design, its playground features many moving parts such as spinning poles, bouncing bridges, rope walls, and many curves in its design. The geese are plentiful and friendly and like to go walking around the grass by the lake. This park is one of the cleanest and greenest parks in Lubbock you can check out. There are also picnic areas with tables, gazebos, and tennis courts.
Maxey Park
Maxey Park is one of the best parks to throw a party with the family. You can easily spot fun at picnic areas, and cookouts, and seating areas all along the lake. There’s also an enormous ancient tree sprouting out of an island in the lake, making for a picture-perfect adventure. A new outdoor fitness station is installed along the 2.7 miles walking path around Conquistador Lake. It is perfect for beginners, intermediate, and advanced fitness enthusiasts. Check out the badminton equipment, horseshoes, and two clean, modern playgrounds with swings and slides for Lubbock friends and family to all enjoy. Tour the walking trails, kid play areas, go for a jog or go boating and loop around the lake.
Frank Higinbotham Park
This is one of the best parks to throw a party with the family. You can easily spot fun at picnic areas, and cookouts, and seating areas all along the lake. There’s also an enormous ancient tree sprouting out of an island in the lake, making for a picture-perfect adventure.
Tech Terrace Park
Out of all the parks in Lubbock, this one is perfect for students because of how near it is Texas Tech Campus. It also has tons of 5-star reviews. This space is super ample, and while it isn’t officially considered a dog park, it allows plenty of open space for your dogs to frolic and enjoy the grass. It is quiet, peaceful, and a beautiful area for walking and enjoying nature in Lubbock. There are benches and tons of free space and shade from the trees.
Mae Simmons Park
This spot is one of the best parks in Lubbock for running on trails with your dog. The trees are spaced perfectly to set up a hammock and read a book to relax, and there is a waterfall. There’s everything from disc golf, fishing piers, wooded areas to river beds, sloped inclines, and declines. There are also picnic areas and playgrounds with swings and climbing structures for the kids, and to top it off, it has almost 600 5-star reviews.
Urbanovsky Park
Urbanovsky is one of the best parks for freshmen to make friends at the volleyball areas and the basketball courts. The park is near the Recreational Center and is on Texas Tech campus. Events can be reserved for free at any of the pavilions through TTU. Go swimming in the Rec Center lazy river, go running through the mile route, play soccer, horseshoes, or disc golf. Near the back, there is an outdoor workout center and tennis courts. There’s a cute lake near one of the entrances on 18th street with ducks. It has 5-star reviews. If you visit, be sure to check out TTU’s website to get more information on the many activities on the menu.
Wagner Park
Wagner Park is one of the most relaxing parks in Lubbock. Stationed close to Tech Terrace Park, it has benches, a picnic area, playground, tennis court, a .46 mile walking track, and a reserved pavilion you can set up for parties. It’s an excellent park for so many reasons. During the summer months, there are often local concerts.
Clapp Park
This is one of the best parks in Lubbock to take the kids. There is a dog park, lake with plenty of flowers, beautiful scenery, and a playground for kids to explore if you are on University Avenue.
For more information, visit https://campuslivettu.com/
Written by Campus Live intern Gabriel Sarria