GAINESVILLE PARKS & RECREATION

Citizens of Gainesville enjoy the beauty of the outdoors throughout the year at our many city parks. There is something for everyone including hike and bike trails, sports fields, community pool, picnic and Bar-B-Q areas, children's playground and Frankie Schmitz Express train at Leonard Park. Please remember that alcoholic beverages are prohibited at city parks except during Council granted festivals. We hope you will visit one of our parks soon.

Leonard Park

Located on the south side at 1000 West California Street, West of Interstate 35, Leonard Park is the flagship park of Gainesville. It is open daily from 8:00 AM through 10:00 PM. A large grassy area with 100 year old shade trees and picnic tables will be the first you see as you enter until you look towards your left at the magnificent children's playground, the Effie Doty-Carroll Memorial Playground, built by more than 2000 Gainesville Volunteers in 1999. The park includes a large Pavilion that may be rented on the weekends and holidays for your family reunions or other celebrations. Simply call the Civic Center at 668-4530 to secure your reservation. Half-day rental is $25; full day rental is $50.

Photo by Karen Estes

Leonard Park is located in front of the Frank Buck Zoo where visitors can catch the Frankie Schmitz Express train that runs April through October, 10 AM - 6 PM, Wednesday through Sunday. $1.00 per rider please. This is very popular with children so parents, be prepared. Please call ahead for the scheduling of field trips - 668-4553. The park includes a memorial to our veterans that is the showpiece for the city's Veterans Day Celebration complete with BBQ and fireworks. Spring Fling is held in the park the second Saturday in April and includes a carnival, arts and crafts, food and entertainment. It is fun for the whole family.

Photo by Karen Estes

The Leonard Park Pool opens Memorial weekend through mid August. Pool Hours are 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Family Swim Nights are Monday and Friday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Individual pricing: Under 12 - $1.50. 12 and older - $2.00. Special family rate for 4-6 family members of $6.00. Pool is available for private parties 30 minutes after general pool hours.

Baseball fields are a hub of activity each spring and summer as local leagues are underway. When not in use for league play you may contact public works at 668-4553 to inquire about renting for a special event.

Learn more about the Frank Buck Zoo under their section of the website.

Moffit Park

Located across from Leonard Park on the North side of California is Moffit Park, a beautiful wooded green space along the banks of Pecan Creek with picnic tables and swings for the children.

Keneteso Park

Located at the southern end of Weaver Street, Keneteso Park is home to our 45 acre, fully irrigated, soccer fields and family favorite fishing pond. The pond at Keneteso Park is stocked with fish year round providing a great place for fathers and sons, mothers and daughters to fish together. Each January the Parks and Recreation Department hosts Kid Fish Fest when fresh stocks of Trout are plentiful. Everyone is guaranteed to walk away with dinner! State fishing laws apply. The park also contains a rustic hiking trail at its North end.

Edison Park
Located at the corners of Elmwood and Broadway, Edison Park is dedicated to adult softball, junior softball and soccer fields and serves the many active leagues that play throughout the year. There is also a playground for the children.

Homegrown Hero Walking Trail

As a tribute to our community spirit, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Trail Grant was secured by the City of Gainesville Parks and Recreation and Community Development Departments to provide funding to convert an abandoned rail yard into a mile-long hike and bike trail. Beautification along the trail is made possible through partnerships with Keep Gainesville Beautiful, Gainesville Garden Council, Cooke County Master Gardeners and the Medal of Honor program. You enter the trail on Main Street between Lindsay and Dennison Streets. You can also access the trail at midway points at Garnett and Taylor. The trail is ADA accessible at Howeth and Moss Streets.

A paved trail winds through wooded glens and creeks with benches and play areas along the way. The most unique feature of the trail is the trees planted in honor of our homegrown heroes. Gainesville is our nation's only Medal of Honor Host City, attracting several recipients to stay in our city, share their unique perspectives with our children and citizens and ultimately inspire us all to be our best.

On Veterans Day in 2002 this abandoned rail yard, once the site of thousands of soldiers leaving Camp Howze for home, was dedicated as a walking trail with the planting of a tree to honor the founders of the Medal of Honor Host City program, Lynette and Don Pettigrew. This program continued to grow with the installation of additional trees to honor those citizens who dedicate their time and talent to better our city. Today side-by-side are trees honoring our local heroes with trees honoring the seven Medal of Honor Recipients who visited Gainesville in 2004. And thus in our attempts to honor those who contribute to our lives, they honor us and create a walking trail that unique in its design and adaptive reuse with a beauty that is more than the flowers and trees we plant

City of Gainesville - Recreational Development Department
200 S. Rusk
Gainesville, TX 76240
940-668-4530