I am a visual person. Knowing that Austin has a lot of parks and playgrounds makes me happy in a vague sort of way, but seeing a map of their locations makes me want to jump in the car and go visit each one!
The City of Austin’s treasure trove of Google maps gets me all excited about the possibilities for local adventures — museums and pools and disc golf, oh my!
You can see several of the City’s maps below. Please note that many of them have not been updated in awhile. Be sure to click on the links for more information when planning your outings.
View Austin Parks Directory in a larger map
The Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is a non-profit organization devoted to building public and private partnerships to develop and maintain parks, trails, and open space in Austin and Travis County. Search the APF parks directory for more information on (and photos of) any park found on this map.
View Playgrounds in a larger map
The Austin Parks and Recreations Department oversees 89 composite playground sites with playscapes for 2-5 and/or 5-12 age use, and five sites with swing sets only. In addition, there are 16 playgrounds for public use shared with Austin Independent School District (AISD). The playgrounds are open for public use each day from 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Exceptions for public time use includes those sites shared with AISD.
View Off-Leash Area in a larger map
The Parks and Recreation Department operates 12 off-leash areas in Austin for you to enjoy with your dog. In general, all parks are open for public use each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted. At times, access is limited or affected by events or maintenance issues. For more information, visit the City of Austin website.
View Disc Golf Courses in a larger map
For a more comprehensive Disc Golf Course map, check out this one from Disc Nation.
View Pools in a larger map
The Aquatic Division operates 48 public pool facilities, which includes: 27 neighborhood pools, 12 wading pools, 2 water playscapes, 6 municipal pools, the Emma Long waterfront, and Barton Springs Pool. For more information, and current schedules, visit the City of Austin website.
View Zilker Park in a larger map
Explore the Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Botanical Garden, Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Hillside Theater, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Zilker Zephyr Miniature Train and the playscape. For a nice PDF map of Zilker Park, click here.
View Museums and Historic Structures or Places in a larger map
All of the attractions on this map are free, with the exception of Zilker Botanical Garden ($0-$3) and Umlauf Sculpture Garden ($0-$5). For more information on the museums and historic structures included in this map, visit the City of Austin website. For a more comprehensive list of Austin museums, check out the Austin Museum Partnership website.
View Recreation Centers in a larger map
For more information on local Recreation Centers, visit the City of Austin website.
View Senior Activity Centers in a larger map
Senior Activity Centers are open to anyone 50 years of age and older. There is no membership fee; however, an annual donation is requested by each center’s advisory board. The Centers offer: meeting space for organized senior groups, classes, health screening, trips, tours, recreation activities, special events and tournaments. For more information, visit the City of Austin website.
Picnic Sites and Shelters Map
View Picnic Sites and Shelters in a larger map
To reserve a picnic site/shelter for an event, you must reserve, pay and confirm use 14 days up to 6 months in advance. Call 512-974-6797, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Some sites carry alcohol and amplified sound permit restrictions. For more information, visit the City of Austin website.
View Event Facilities in a larger map
The Office of Special Events coordinates reservations at identified facility sites within the Austin parks system. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department promotes recreational, cultural and outdoor experiences for the Austin community. To inquire about a recreation center, please contact the recreation center directly. For more information, visit the City of Austin website.
