Round Rock is OPEN for outdoor fun!
With so many playgrounds and park amenities closed right now, it can be difficult to know where to head for safe family fun. The answer might be to head north! Round Rock has a host of parks and play areas that are open, with new health protocols and sanitation efforts. Take the kids to give some of these outdoor activities a try.
Note: Face coverings are required in Round Rock for individuals age 10 and older in public places when adequate social distancing is not possible.
Splashing Fun at Prete Main Street Plaza – This fountain in historic downtown Round Rock is perfect for wet, splashing fun. It’s covered to keep kids cooler, and if you go after dark, fountain lights and music make things even more festive. Typically open at 7:30 AM daily, the fountain does close occasionally for maintenance or inclement weather as well as during certain holidays and special events. Be sure to call Round Rock Parks & Rec (512-218-5540) before you visit, to make sure it’s open.
Ziplining at Joanne Land Playground in Old Settlers Park – Old Settlers Park is full of all types of fun for every family, with fishing, a disc golf course, picnic areas and playgrounds, and so much more. The Gravity Rail at the Joanne Land Playground offers an extra thrill for kids who love ziplines; the swing carries them along a track that zooms down a little hill and back up again on the other side. Old Settlers is located at 3300 Palm Valley Blvd. and is open daily from 6 AM to midnight.
Disc Golf at Wells Branch or Old Settlers Park – Disc golf is fun for all ages, and it’s a great way to enjoy nature as you cover some ground at any pace you like (walking, running, skipping, dancing—it’s all good!). Kids can also benefit from developing their aim and hand-eye coordination along with their tossing skills. The 18-hole Wells Branch Disc Golf course (map) is beginner-friendly, and hills and a creek give it some beauty as well as a bit of challenge to add to the enjoyment. The course at Old Settlers Park is also 18 holes, with woods and hills to keep things interesting (map). Both courses are open daily during regular park hours, but Wells Branch asks you to limit your party to four people.
Hiking Along Brushy Creek – The Brushy Creek Regional Trail runs through the trees along beautiful Brushy Creek, stretching nearly seven miles from Twin Lakes Park all the way to Hairy Man Road near Hwy. 183 in Cedar Park. Much of the trail is shaded, and there are plenty of scenic spots to pause and watch for wildlife. There are also multiple parks and splash pads dotted along the trail for kids of all ages to enjoy, as well as plenty of public restrooms. (Here’s a map of the trail and its amenities.) Adventure-loving kids can even go fishing, swimming, kayaking, or canoeing at various points along the trail!
History Lessons at Chisolm Trail Crossing Park – This park offers lots of fun for kids who are budding history buffs—or who just like clambering over rocks, splashing in creek water, and climbing large metal sculptures. (Do be careful, though; the bronze steer and other sculptures can get pretty hot in the sun!) Chisolm Trail Crossing is just a small neighborhood park, but it encompasses the very rock that gave Round Rock its name and features plaques that reveal the history of the area, along with ruts in limestone from the covered wagons that traveled through the area long ago. Bring lunch or snacks to enjoy at the picnic tables! Located at 500 Chisolm Trail Rd.
Play for All Abilities Park – The best thing about this park and playground? It truly is for kids of all abilities, meaning every kid can have their favorite kind of fun! Children who love running, climbing, swinging, spinning, biking, sifting sand, splashing water… There’s something for everyone here, even a Village Pod section for kids who love playing house, school, or car wash. The park mission is to give children of all abilities a safe, fun place to play and develop new skills, and it definitely lives up to that. There’s even plenty of shade to keep you cool in the summer heat. Located at 151 N. A.W. Grimes Blvd. in east Round Rock, and open from 6 AM till midnight every day.
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