Waco's Source for Parks, Recreation,
Programs, Community Events and More!
Welcome to the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department's monthly
Good Times Guide. We provide Central Texas with the chance to explore
the great outdoors, enjoy an active life and join with neighbors.
To register for programs, or rent a park facility, give us a call at  (254) 750-5980
PARK HAPPENINGS

  • An official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the East Riverwalk project will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 10. Parking will be available at Buzzard Billy's and the ceremony will take place at the overlook plaza on the riverwalk. The 2/3-mile trail provides the final section of paved, lighted pathway necessary to achieve a continuous 5.5-mile downtown Riverwalk loop from Baylor to Cameron Park. The bike and pedestrian connection stretches from McLane Stadium to the existing Riverwalk at Franklin Avenue. The trail passes under several bridges and sections were built above the Brazos River.
  • We would like to thank artists Ira Watkins and Doreen Ravenscroft for the work they are doing to improve the Martin Luther King mural along the Brazos River. And also much appreciation to NeighborWorks Waco and City Center Waco for funding the work! Read more about the project - CLICK HERE
  • The WACOAN magazine sat down with Parks and Recreation Director for a great article in the November issue entitled a A Passion for Impacting Lives. CLICK HERE to read!
  • This past month hundreds of volunteers showed support for our parks by donating time to clean them up. Thanks to groups like United Way, Waco High Soccer Team, Keep Waco Beautiful and Baylor Steppin' Out. The next clean up event will be hosted by Baylor Graduate Students' Association on Saturday, November 11 in Cameron Park.
  • Congratulations to members of our Parks team that competed in the regional maintenance rodeo, sponsored by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society. Marcus Thompson (2nd in Plant Identification), Bryan Hamrick and Elias Guiterrez (3rd in Truck/Trailer), John Brannen and Drew Garcia (4th in Truck/Trailer) and Rafael Rivera (6th in Mowers) . . . . good luck to those who will advance to the state championship, which will be held here in Waco at the end of February!
RECREATION AND SPORTS
  • We are very proud of our City of Waco Athletic Supervisor Cynthia Simms. Cynthia has been a leader of youth sports for the past 17 years and was recognized at the annual Greater Waco Chamber's Tip Off Luncheon with the prestigious Frank Fallon Award!
  • The fall sports season is underway and we have had a great response to new leagues like womens' soccer and youth futsal. Adult flag football and youth basketball leagues are both coming up as well.
  • Staff has recently found a creative way to use the fields at Riverbend Park by hosting Baylor University' s Quidditch Tournament. Multiple college teams from across the state attend the tournament.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
  • October was a record-setting month for community events in Waco. Staff permitted and facilitated 47 different events during the month!
  • Upcoming community events include Cameron Park Zoo Stampede, Veterans Day Parade, White Buffalo Market, Crop Walk and the annual Turkey Trot!
  • Our events staff is preparing for the 5th annual Waco Wonderland in Downtown Waco. This is our three-day festival of holiday food, fun and cheer – and each year brings approximately 15,000 people to downtown. On the evening of Friday, December 1, we will host a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks show at Heritage Square. Throughout the weekend, Wonderland will include activities such as a Snow Hill Slide, Ferris Wheel, Holiday Entertainment, the Wonderland Run, Food Trucks, and Artist Market and of course visits with Santa. Along with the kickoff weekend, staff is also helping promote all the holiday events in downtown for the month of December. 
COMMUNITY CENTERS and CAMPS
  • South Waco Community Center hosted its annual Fall Festival on October 25 with nearly 5,000 people in attendance. We greatly appreciate the work of staff and all the community sponsors that made this event possible. Dewey Community Center also hosted a successful fall festival on October 26.
  • South Waco will host its Fall Yard Sale on Saturday, November 11.
  • Dewey Community Center has several great fall programs including Latin Zumba, Senior Program and the Dream Center's Life Skills Management Class.
  • Dewey has also teamed up with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to host a hunting certification program and a Youth Hunt program. The program is set for Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
  • Bledsoe-Miller is hosting a Credit Repair Workshop on the evening of December 5.
  • Our community centers (Bledsoe-Miller, Dewey and South Waco) are accepting registration for Thanksgiving and Christmas Camps. For information call: Bledsoe (750-8684), Dewey (750-8677) and South Waco (750-8650).
WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT
  • Waco Mammoth had is best October in history with more than 7,500 people attending the site.
  • On October 21, Waco Mammoth hosted its annual Fall Fossil Festival with several thousand people enjoying a variety of nature-based activities and booths!
  • Waco Mammoth appeared at Waco’s Cultural Arts Fest on Oct 7 and 8. Several hundred people stopped by our booth to visit with rangers about our park.
  • Waco Mammoth appeared at City of Waco STEAM day on Oct 11. Several hundred students from area schools attended, and Rangers made good contact with teachers about educational offerings in the park and in their own classrooms.
  • Waco Mammoth hosted Earth Sciences Week Oct 8-14. Each day observed a subtheme and special activities were available to the public on site throughout the week.
  • Join Waco Mammoth National Monument and the Central Texas Astronomical Society for an exciting journey through the night sky of Waco on Saturday, December 9, from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Beginning at 3 p.m. visitors can view the sun through solar telescopes, learn about nocturnal animals, and earn a dark skies junior ranger badge.  During an evening program from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., visitors will have a chance to view the many constellations, nebulas, and planets by sharing one of the astronomers’ telescopes or laser stations.
COTTONWOOD CREEK GOLF COURSE
  • With cooler temperatures, Cottonwood Creek has remained busy with league play, casual play and tournaments. October is one of the courses busiest months with events taking place every single day.
  • On October 29-30, Cottonwood hosted the TAPPS' Cross County State Championship, which brought several thousand runners and families to Waco for the event!
PARK RANGERS
  • Park Rangers are finishing up the first session of a new after school pilot program with Indian Spring Middle School Service Learning students. The students met with rangers once a week for eight weeks to participate in activities designed to teach them an appreciation of the outdoors and to be good land stewards in their local community. They planted native flowers at Miss Nellies Pretty Place for their service project.
  • Rangers participated in the South Waco Halloween Carnival, Carver Park Baptist Church Carnival, and the Fall Fossil Festival at the Waco Mammoth National Monument.
  • Students from Lake Air Montessori and Waco Montessori Schools met with rangers to learn more about the nature and history of Cameron Park.
  • Pumpkin Painting in Cameron Park: Children celebrated the start of the fall season by painting pumpkins with the park rangers.
  • Rangers and the Waco Bike Club are working with Eagle Scouts on a bridge replacement project in the Cameron Park Trails that will be completed later this month.
  • Fall Hikes on Wednesdays in Cameron Park: Rangers are leading two hikes on Wednesdays through Nov 15. Hikes will start from Mouth of the Bosque in Cameron Park at noon and 5 p.m. and will last about an hour. Wear closed toe shoes and bring a sense of adventure with you! Ages 8 and up.
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