Stroll through San Gabriel Park on a typical Saturday and you’ll see folks fishing on the banks of the river and families enjoying picnics at the pavilions, baseball and soccer games on the fields, and pickup basketball games at the courts. Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett says, “Our parks and recreation programs are a part of the everyday lives of our residents and are places where we create lasting memories, from July 4th celebrations to our kids’ soccer, softball, and baseball games to swimming lessons to family reunions. Our parks and open spaces can be the stage where people have some of the best experiences in our community.”
They are also a big part of Georgetown’s quality of life. “Williamson County is consistently ranked one of the healthiest in Texas, and we think our parks play a role in that,” Kimberly says.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The Parks and Recreation Department oversees 42 parks throughout the city that cover 1,081 acres and include eight baseball/softball diamonds, 12 athletic fields, 12 tennis courts, 33 playgrounds, and more than 18 miles of trails. The department provides opportunities for fitness and personal growth for youth and adults with athletics, aquatics, instructional programs, special events, and senior adult activities.
A few of Georgetown’s outdoor parks include:
- San Gabriel (445 E Morrow St): Along the banks of the San Gabriel River where the north and south forks of the San Gabriel River meet, you’ll find San Gabriel Park, a beautiful 180-acre park graced with 200-year-old oak trees that offer shady spots for family picnics, a disc golf course, hike and bike trail, and fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, and baseball. The recently restored aquatic springs in San Gabriel Park and along the city’s trails is a hidden gem park feature that also provides a habitat for endangered salamanders that make their home in Georgetown. The city also sponsors free movie nights near the gazebo in summer.
- Garey Park (6450 RM 2243): In 2004, Jack and Camille Garey donated their 525-acre ranch off Leander Road to be turned into Garey Park along with $5 million for park development. Visitors enjoy the hill country terrain, a dog park, equestrian arena, fishing ponds, pavilions, picnic shelters, a splash pad, playground, Garey House event facility, and more than seven miles of hiking and equestrian trails.
- Berry Springs Park (1801 CR 152): Berry Springs Park and Preserve, run by Williamson County and located on the outskirts of Georgetown along Berry Creek, is home to a century-old heritage pecan grove, opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and camping; picnic pavilions, playground, and friendly donkeys Lil’ Bob and Pedro, who are excited to greet visitors.
- Trails: Whether you like to walk, run, hike, bike, or ride your horse, Georgetown has a trail for you—more than 10 miles of it.
WHAT’S NEXT
Two park projects in the works include a southeast community park and several neighborhood parks on the east side of Georgetown. “The southeast part of the city has been identified for a community park due to the significant growth in new residents and neighborhoods,” Kimberly says. “We don’t yet know the amenities that may be included at the park, but we will seek community input prior to design.” The first step, she adds, will be identifying possible properties. Funding has been allocated in the FY2022 budget for acquisition, but funding for development will likely require a bond election.
Click here to learn more about parks in Georgetown.