Quality of Life

by Jonathan Cook, City of Waco, Director of Parks and Recreation

Quality of life is the extent to which one is healthy, comfortable, and able to enjoy life.

Improving, intensifying, or enhancing quality of life creates more enjoyment and satisfaction. It makes living in Waco better for everyone.

A community’s parks and recreation facilities are integral to maintaining and improving the quality of life for residents. Waco is blessed with an abundance of parks and outdoor assets, which coupled with a mild climate, make enjoying the great outdoors easy for residents and visitors alike. The City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department consists of five primary divisions, which include 11 areas of service for the community of Waco. The department’s administrative staff oversees budgeting, human resource and purchasing activities, along with contractual agreements, facility rentals, and the City of Waco Youth Council. A closer look at each division within the department follows.

Parks Planning and Assets

Parks Planning and Assets includes Park Development and the Waco Mammoth National Monument. Park Development utilizes the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan to guide activities such as project management, property acquisition and development, park construction and renovation, trail management and landscape architecture. Current priorities include the Waco Suspension Bridge Rehabilitation Project and the Trails Connectivity Master Plan, along with community and neighborhood park development and enhancements. In cooperation with the National Park Service, Baylor University and the Waco Mammoth Foundation, staff members manage the Waco Mammoth National Monument. This park attracts visitors from across the world annually, while focusing on education and preservation through guided tours, fields trips, distance learning and community events.

Parks Maintenance and Operations

Parks Maintenance and Operations consists of three primary sections that include Mowing/Litter Collections, Trees and Landscaping, and Irrigation/Construction/Events. The division maintains approximately 3,400 acres of parkland and open spaces, which includes more than 80 parks and sports venues, municipal building landscapes, medians, rights-of-way, and creeks. The Lake Brazos corridor maintenance program continues to focus on an improved appearance throughout the downtown corridor that enhances the image that the community presents to visitors and Wacoans.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement includes the department’s activities regarding community events and partnerships, marketing and media relations, and Park Ranger operations. Staff members oversee the city’s Events Committee and ordinances, as well as the department’s promotions and social media accounts and produces the Brazos Nights concert series in Downtown Waco, Fourth on the Brazos Celebration, Pints in the Park and Waco Wonderland. Staff members also facilitate more than 150 community events each year such as the Magnolia Silo District Marathon and Silobration, Ironman Waco 70.3, and the Waco Cultural Arts Festival. The City’s Park Rangers focus on Brazos River Corridor land, trail and water patrols, along with park safety programs. Rangers act as ambassadors for the City and promote park stewardship through outdoor programming and service projects with volunteers.

Recreation Facilities and Programs

Recreation Facilities and Programs features the department’s athletic programs, sports venues, and community centers. The Athletics staff provides youth and adult programs such as basketball, flag football, softball, soccer and track and field. Responsibilities also include the management of all city sports fields, Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex, HOT Soccer Fields, and Riverbend Park, which has a significant economic impact by hosting baseball and fastpitch softball tournaments as well as private rentals. The City’s community centers service a wide range of age groups with equitable programming and recreational opportunities. Locations include Bledsoe-Miller, Dewey and South Waco Community Centers. These facilities operate after-school programs and summer camps, and include meeting rooms, computer labs, fitness areas and gyms. Further, the department collaborates with Central Texas Senior Ministries to offer senior programming at the Harrison Center and Sul Ross Center.

Cottonwood Creek Golf Course

Cottonwood Creek Golf CourseCottonwood Creek Golf Course provides a high-quality golf experience at an affordable cost for golfers. The site features an 18-hole championship golf course, 9-hole junior course, practice putting green, chipping area, and driving range. In addition, Cottonwood Creek operates a Pro Shop, and offers custom club fittings, club repair services and a snack bar. The course is home to multiple high school golf teams and accommodates several golf leagues. Cottonwood Creek hosts up to 100 regional and state tournaments annually.

The City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Wacoans through each of these divisions and encourages locals and visitors alike to explore all that Waco has to offer. With their unwavering focus on enhancing the future of Greater Waco, the department remains dedicated to serving the community.