TLDR: Great park for all ages, with unique playscapes, climbing structures, and a splash pad…read more Limited parking in paid lot. Awesome park with a variety of playscapes. Large space -- spread out. You've got climbing structures, slides, tunnels, swings. What I really loved was how they incorporated the playscapes into the terrain (e.g. slides and tunnels were built into hills). I also appreciated that they had activities for various ages -- my 3.5-year-old daughter enjoyed the complex climbing structure while my 1.5-year-old son liked the simple tree stump climbing structure. Splash pad nearby and ample green space to run around. Downtown is nearby so you've got a beautiful view of the skyscrapers. You've also got some less pleasant aspects. When we were parking, there was a disheveled looking man being arrested. No idea how much of a disturbance he created but the cops were taking care of it. There's a paid parking lot that fills up quickly. Terry Black's BBQ is right across the street if you got a good parking spot and want to snag some meat as well (their line moves fast).

Alliance Children's Garden is a playground within the larger Butler Park in Austin. We chose to…read morecome here since its want right across the street from Terry Black's BBQ, where we planned to have lunch. The park has lots of playscapes and climbing structures, and you'll also get nice views of the tall buildings of downtown Austin. They do have an hourly pay-parking lot at the entrance, but it does fill up quickly. It's almost better to leave your car here and walk to Terry Black's. We only hung out at the hills and tunnels section of the park, which our 4yo son loved. They have several hills covered with artificial turf of varying heights that are fun to crawl, climb, or roll down. The tunnels through each hill will make you feel like a Hobbit in those LOTR movies.

We LOVE this shady, well maintained neighbourhood park. It has plenty of equipment so that it never…read morefeels totally overrun even on busy days. It is far enough from the road that you're not constantly worrying about traffic. There are paved trails round the edge for exploring / bike riding / scooting. Lots of big shady trees, tennis courts, benches + picnic tables + basket ball hoops. Everything you could possible need to exhaust a rambunctious toddler come rain or shine.

This is a great little neighborhood park in Travis Heights. Smaller, sister park to the Big Stacy…read morePark. It's got a wading pool ( currently out of commission), playground, volleyball courts, tennis courts, fields, picnic areas, and it's connected by Blunn Creek trails (easily walkable from one park to the other). Good area for walking your dog, grabbing a quick picnic, playing in the playground, or getting in a game of tennis. My dog is a big fan of the slide. My tennis is rusty to say the least. Though whenever we visit this park I leave determined to take the sport up again. One day, perhaps.

Such a pleasant park. Perfect for a stroll around the lake. Stroller-friendly…read more Plenty of benches as well as grassy area for picnics or for kids to run around on. There's also a playground (across from The Thinkery). A huge amount of birds here. Ducks, pigeons, grackles. Even saw cormorants. A few food trucks near the parking lot although most were closed late Sunday afternoon.

Mueller Lake Park is such a pleasant park to walk around. It is away from the hustle and bustle of…read morethe Mueller district. You take in the beautiful lake as you meander around the lake. The hubs and I walked around the lake after our brunch. Such a pleasant walk...

Gorgeous place. Took my kids when they were little but will not go back. Car was broken into today…read moreand now I"m learning this is common thing. Police don't care, park services don't care.

When my boyfriend said "let's go meet our friends at the peacock reserve", I didn't think twice…read moreabout saying yes and I also didn't think twice about it being a ACTUAL place with peacocks. This place was honestly so cool. The peacocks free roam so it's important to be mindful where walking, and especially important to watch in their small parking lot as the birds wander into there as well. With that being said, there are no dogs allowed. We walked around the grounds a bit trying to find more birds. There's benches to sit, nice little water ponds to see, and a little trail as well. Would definitely advise going with closed toed shoes if you're planning to walk the trail. It's not really stroller friendly as there are branches and rocks scattered all along the path. I would definitely come back here, should I find myself back down in Austin. Such a wholesome and peaceful place!

Saturday afternoon, I took my 6 year old nephew to this park. It is indeed a Play for all…read more.. It was not as busy as I thought. Parking was great. We parked close to the entrance. My nephew was extremely excited!!I noticed that everything was thoroughly thought out. The entrance gate is slightly heavy (two to pass through. Other area were the same (heavy gates to prevent kids from entering the paved areas without permission & help. There were several areas to play: sensory areas, sand box (large), agility, strength training for the littles, and a cute township area where kids can ride (provided mini bikes) bikes or scooters in the "city". The imagination stations were adorable. Most areas were covered well. They had several restrooms and water stations. Seating for birthdays and such. I didn't have time to take pictures. But it's true to the website. I highly recommend it!

Yes! I don't know why I haven't been here sooner. I love that the play areas are gated in, so…read morethere's no worry about running into the parking lot. There are different sections for all kiddos interests and there are multiple shaded tables to stop for a snack. It's great for parties or to go on your own.

Zilker Park is Austin's giant front lawn -- sprawling, busy, and full of every outdoor activity…read moreimaginable happening at once. On any given day you'll see dogs chasing frisbees, people picnicking like it's a competitive sport, and someone doing yoga in a spot that makes you wonder if they're performing for the whole park. The lawn stretches out forever, and on a sunny day it feels like half the city is out there claiming a patch of grass. Yes, the Zilker Zephyr (the little train) still exists in spirit, though it's been through closures and rebuilds. The current version -- the Zilker Eagle -- runs a short loop that's basically nostalgia on wheels. Kids love it, adults tolerate it, and everyone agrees it's one of those Austin things that doesn't need to make sense to be charming. Down by Barton Springs Pool, the real show is the area where the pool overflows into Barton Creek. It's almost always packed with families, college kids, and anyone who didn't feel like paying admission or dealing with lifeguards. It's a lively, slightly chaotic stretch of water -- people wading, floating, splashing, and generally having a great time in a spot that feels like Barton Springs' unofficial side‑door entrance. Parking is its own adventure, especially on weekends, and you'll see people trekking across the park like they're on a pilgrimage from wherever they finally found a spot. But once you're in, it's easy to settle into the mix of sunshine, crowds, and classic Austin energy.

Our wonderful Rhodesian Ridgeback passed on to the rainbow bridge three months ago at the age of 14…read moreand we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to rehome a five-year-old Ridgeback -- see photos. Her name is Tails, previously Wrigley. Have been to Zilker with her five times in the three weeks that we have had her, most recently this morning. This continues to be a great place to take a friendly animal and allow them to run wild off leash. She loves mixing it up with the other dogs and, being a Ridgeback, she is the fastest dog out there other than some of the Vizslas. Loves the sand where volleyball is played! Lots of parking! Easy access!

This is a great park right in the heart of Rollingwood. My kids and I enjoyed stop here in a quick…read moretrip from Trader Joe's nearby and were pleasantly surprised by this little park. I felt safe with my kids at dusk knowing the police station was just across the parking lot. We all had allot of laughs on the spinning contraption & practicing our gymnastics on the workout bars. We will be back to stop again next time we are near:)

Little park nestled in the heart of Rollingwood. They recently replaced the playground equipment…read moreof the kiddos, so it's pretty nice now. There is shade on the playground, and it's never very crowded. There is some exercise equipment for adults as well and a couple of large baseball fields. Plenty of parking in the dedicated lot, and it's smack dab in the middle of a quiet residential area. The playground is separated into two parts, upper and lower. The lower part by the police station is really nice, lots of picnic tables and benches and a pavilion as well as large, fun playscapes.

South Austin Park is nestled deep in 78704, right in the heart of my neighborhood - Galindo…read more Perfect for dogs, kids or just a leisurely stroll, this is a great neighborhood park. It may not look like much from the street, but it goes back really far - so stop by and explore. Home to both the South Austin Tennis Center, and the South Austin Rec Center - S.A.P. is a mellow little spot pretty far removed from the busy streets of south Austin. The park could use some improvement, and as a member of the Parks Committee for the Galindo Elementary Neighborhood Association, I'm working hard to get grants for beautification and capitol improvements. If you live in the area, or would just like to volunteer, please let me know! Size: 11.00 Acres Amenities: Barbeque Pits 2 Basketball Courts 2 Multipurpose Fields 1 Picnic Tables 8 Playgrounds 1 Reservable Facilities 1 Tennis Courts 10+

Right in my neighborhood, its a great place to stroll down to with or without the dog. Walk around…read morethe tennis courts, hang out under the trees, watch rain storms rolling in... it's nice to have a green spot I can walk to.