City Parks Offer Variety of Camping, Day Use Amenities

Playgrounds can be found throughout the city limits, including at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, Old Fair Park, Marktplatz, Frantzen Park and the Elementary School Park.

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Just three miles from downtown attractions, the 150-acre Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park is the crown jewel of the City of Fredericksburg’s parks system and provides a recreational getaway for locals and visitors, alike.

There is no admission charge for entering the park located southwest of town on Texas 16 South.

Some rules and regulations may be modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of Fredericksburg’s parks are still available to be enjoyed.

Day use activities

Daytime visitors to Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park can use picnic tables (available on a firstcome first-served basis) and four playgrounds at no charge to accommodate those just wanting to get away from it all for a couple of hours.

Three free nature trails that take hikers across Live Oak Creek give nature lovers a chance to get up close and personal with the natural habitat.

The pathways were established by the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center.

For vacationers who enjoy fishing, the park offers a 17-acre lake and plenty of spots to wet a line. Motor boats, however, are prohibited, as are trotlines and swimming.

Elsewhere in the park, there are baseball and softball fields, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor basketball court, a seasonal swimming pool (with kiddie pool to the side) and tennis courts.

Rental facilities

Visitors who plan large gatherings may want to look into using one of the park’s five large outdoor covered pavilions or one of three indoor sites, including the Tatsch House, the Cardinal Room at the golf course clubhouse or the spacious Pioneer Pavilion.

Each of the five outdoor pavilions is available on a first-come firstserved basis or by reservation.

Information about the facilities and reservation opportunities is available from the City of Fredericksburg’s website at www.fbgtx.org.

Overnight camping

Camping under the stars is available at the park, which accommodates RVs and tents.

In all, there are 90 RV spaces available for travel trailers with 3050 amp electrical hookups, water and sewer, cable TV, wireless Internet and shade trees.

Rates are $52 per night, $312 per week and $607 per month (available Sept. 1-March 31 only).

Campers who want to tent camp pay $10 per night. All campers must check in at the park office to receive a camping permit.

There are nine comfort stations to serve visitors, while three bathhouses are available.

Reservations for camping, use of the park’s picnic tables or other facilities can be made by calling the park at 830-997-4202, online or by writing Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, 432 Lady Bird Drive, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

Amenities:

• Five outdoor pavilions • Baseball field • Golf course • Softball field • Practice field • Volleyball court • Basketball court • Tennis courts • Swimming pool (open summer months only) • Fishing at Live Oak Creek • Restrooms adjacent to

Lady Bird Johnson RV Park

Dog Park

The City of Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Dog Park Association [FDPA – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization] have joined together to create a city dog park within Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park.

Opened Dec. 14, 2018, the fiveacre dog park adjacent to Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park can accommodate both large and small canines.

This is a great opportunity for visitors to let their furry friend run off all that extra energy. The park asks everyone to use common courtesy and clean up after their pets.

More information may be obtained for any of these parks by calling park headquarters at 830997-4202 or City Hall at 830-9977521.

Other City Parks Cross Mountain Park

On North Milam Street, just at the outskirts of town, visitors will find Cross Mountain Park.

Cross Mountain is located on a historic marl and limestone hill with an elevation of 1,951 feet.

It was used as an Indian lookout for early settlers. During the settling of Fredericksburg, a timber cross was found on the hilltop.

Early Fredericksburg pioneers gave this hill the name “Kreuzberg” or Cross Mountain. >

In 1946, the permanent lighted cross was raised. Currently, there is a Master Conceptual Plan for additional trails, picnic sites, and vista overlooks, but at this time, the project is unfunded.

Amenities:

• Walking trails • Overlook • Restroom • Picnic tables

Elementary School Park

On the grounds of Fredericksburg Elementary School at 1608 North Adams Street is Elementary School Park.

This park filled the need for a park on the north side of town. It was developed as a joint venture between the Fredericksburg Independent School District and the City of Fredericksburg.

The city constructed the facilities and the FISD maintains them.

The park is available to the public outside of school hours.

Amenities:

• Playground • Pavilion • Restrooms • Trails • Practice fields • Outdoor basketball court

Fort Martin Scott

Located out U.S. 290 East (Main Street) across from the Gillespie County Law Enforcement Center, Fort Martin Scott was the first U.S. Army outpost built on the Texas Frontier.

The historic site contains one original garrison building which has been restored, one late-1800s farm shed and three reproduction garrison buildings.

The old military fort was in operation from 1848-1853 by the U.S. Army.

Texas Rangers used the site as a camp, both before and after military occupation. During the Civil War, the Confederate States Army occupied the fort for a brief period.

Later abandoned and then purchased and used by the Braeutigam family as a farm, the property was purchased by the City of Fredericksburg in 1949.

Fort Martin Scott is currently operated as a self-guided tour of the historic site.

In the spring of 2019, a new trail that winds about half a mile along Barons Creek was opened.

The trail was built with assistance from the Fredericksburg Rotary Club, Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center and Fort Martin Scott Friends.

The trail is open from dawn to dusk.

Amenities:

• Self-guided tour with interpretive signage around the fort’s quadrangle during daylight hours.

Buildings are only open during

Visitor Center hours listed below.

• Living history re-enactments twice a year. • Visitor Center hours: Thursday to

Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed

Tuesdays and Wednesdays. • Address: 1606 E. Main Street,

Fredericksburg, TX 78624. • Phone: 830-990-2018 (City Hall).

Frantzen Park

This quiet little park located at 400 South Orange Street, with picnic tables, makes a great place for an outing with the family.

This park was originally named Orange Street Park. It was donated to the city by Alex and Laura Frantzen in 1956.

There has been limited development in the park as it is in a flood plain, but the open green space is a pleasant place for family fun.

Amenities:

• Picnic areas • Swing set

Marktplatz

The most present Fredericksburg city park is Marktplatz, located right in the center of Fredericksburg.

This park surrounds on all sides one of the most revered treasures of the city, the Vereins Kirche. This iconic building recently underwent some renovations and repainting.

The octagonal-shaped building was the site of the first church and the first school in Fredericksburg.

Marktplatz hosts festivals, concerts and an ice skating rink during the holiday season. Marktplatz offers a gathering space, a playground for children and places for a picnic.

Pavilions at Marktplatz can be reserved for private parties by calling (830) 990-2044.

Amenities:

• Three large pavilions • Catering kitchen • Fest room • Large playground • Open space with benches • Restrooms • Historic markers • Gardens • Located on Main Street

Oak Crest Park

On Texas 16 South, 2.5 miles south of Main Street, this park has lighted baseball and softball fields with some covered bleachers, and a large covered playground.

This park is designed for recreational and organized team sports. It is used by youth baseball.

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park is one of the many parks in the city of Fredericksburg. It offers amenities including an RV park, softball fields, a playground, tennis courts and a pool. Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Golf Course is also attached.

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A playground honoring Fredericksburg fallen soldier, Chris Staats, was dedicated in 2012.

Adequate parking makes this a perfect space for participation in team sports.

Old Fair Park

Old Fair Park is located just behind H-E-B, at the corner of Ufer and Lincoln streets.

This park is designed for sports play with lighted regulation baseball and softball fields, a lighted soccer field, concession stands and a playground.

It also has a skatepark, a new basketball pavilion and playground was recently completed, all funded by the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club.

The basketball pavilion has two courts, one of which can also be used for pickleball.

A batting cage has a protective net for someone to pitch a ball to a batter who stands at a home plate.

It is a great way to take in some team sports or organize a recreational game when the fields are not scheduled.

The new playground has three separate areas with swings, play structures and interactive games.

Town Pool

Located at 105 W. Travis St., Town Pool is open during summer months only.

Some rules and regulations have been added to prevent spread of the coronavirus.

Pool Features:

• 25 yards long, 3 to 5 feet deep • Vortex water slide • In-water basketball with goal • Handicap chair lift • Ice cream machine

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park

has nature trails that wind their way through sections of the park. These trails offer nature lovers a glimpse of the multitude of species of birds, forbs, grasses, woody plants, amphibians, reptiles and insects to view. There are three different nature trails that total about one mile, designed and built by the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center, that wind through seven distinct microhabitats. The 10-acre area features forests, prairie, riparian, creek and lakeside wetlands, post oak savannah and semi-arid brush land ecosystems. Kiosks along the trail feature displays of the various groups of wildlife found in the park and a television monitor in the park office shows photos of the wildflowers, birds, butterflies and dragonflies seen in the nature area. There is a 70 foot x 70 foot garden located between the swimming pool and the RV park that was designated the “Pollinator Garden.” The wildflowers are home to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and moths carrying out pollination processes. Checklists are available in the park headquarters office; the lists include 260 wildflowers, 178 birds, 70 butterflies, 50 odonates (dragonflies) and reptiles, mammals and fish.