PARKS AND RECREATION: Places to play

With 14 parks located throughout the 50 square miles of the city, residents and visitors find abundant outdoor space, equipped with recreational facilities, shaded playgrounds, walking trails and open space for fun and relaxation. Five youth sports associations organize recreational leagues for baseball, girls’ softball, football, soccer and tennis. Sports facilities are available for rental during league off-seasons, subject to availability. Leashed pets are welcome in our parks but not on the athletic fields.

Parks & Facilities

Back Alley Plaza

152 Plaza Drive

Civic Center Park

224 S. 11th Street

Hawkins Spring Park & Skate Park

1498 FM 1387

Heritage Park

234 N. 8th Street

Jaycee Park 1711 Meadow Lane

Kimmel Park 801 W. Ave. F

Bandstand (covered gazebo) Picnic Pavilion

Margie Webb Park 200 S. 7th Street

Community Park

3601 S. 14th Street

Dog Park

1111 Walter Stephenson Rd.

Sports Complex

1000 S. 14th Street

Mockingbird Nature Park

1361 Onward Road

Mountain Peak Park 6411 Hill Drive & W. FM 875 Picnic Pavilion

Ridgeview Park 750 Walter Stephenson Rd.

Triangle Park

200 E. Avenue G

Walking Trails

Original Town Walk (1.17 mi.)

Mountain Peak Park Walk (1/2 mi.)

Community Park Walking Trail (1 mi.)

Mockingbird Nature Park Trail (1 mi.)

Parks and Recreation Department

Facility Rentals, 972-775-7777

Special Events, 972-775-7177 www.midlothian.tx.us/Parks

Downtown

Preserving our past for a promising future

Encompassing the original town, Midlothian’s central business district provides a window into the city’s proud past. Local historian Karen Kay Esberger has chronicled in two illustrated volumes the history of the archetypal homes built by farmers and railroad executives and the businesses that served them.

The city’s long-range master plan for the revitalization of historic downtown has renewed interest in the area. At the center of downtown, North 8th Street features well-maintained buildings spanning various eras which house a mixture of professional offices, popular local eateries, specialty stores, salons and boutiques. Prime space is also being developed for nightlife and additional retail on 8th Street. Also blossoming two blocks away from the center of downtown is Founders Row, which is a unique development of vintage buildings that have been relocated and renovated to offer a quaint and appealing setting for cafes and restaurants, stores and boutiques. Visits to downtown can include a stop by Heritage Park, home to Larkin Newton Cabin, the original home of one of the town’s founders.

Downtown is also the venue for many of the city’s special events, such as the annual 8th Street Dance, Southern Star Christmas and The Midlothian Market. The downtown plan’s overarching vision is to guide development that will create a safe, walkable and vibrant destination with diverse opportunities for shopping, entertainment, socializing, working, enjoying the arts and residential living, functioning as the cultural heart of the community.

Planning Department, 972-775-7161, www.midlothian.tx.us/510/Planning