Waco Outdoors

by The City of Waco & Greater Waco Chamber

Waco is a city of possibilities where nature meets culture, and big opportunities are always close at hand. Greater than the sum of its parts, Waco is a city defined by and for its people – a place that feels like home, where we all belong and thrive together.

Outdoor recreation has become a booming economic force, generating tourism and jobs. This trend, known as the outdoor economy, encompasses a wide range of land and water activities, including hiking, biking, outdoor festivals, kayaking, disc golf, and so much more.

The City of Waco recognizes the economic impact and desire for outdoor infrastructure and recreation through the investment of diverse transportation systems, recruitment of new restaurants and businesses, conservation and land management, and activation of arts and culture. The City’s investment translates to a significant economic boost for our community. Tourists spend money on lodging, dining, and outdoor gear, while locals frequent the growing number of restaurants, shops, and businesses that cater to the outdoor lifestyle. The economic impact ripples outward, creating jobs in transportation, hospitality, and service industries.

A Park to Rival All Others

The City of Waco offers residents and visitors a wealth of opportunities to connect with nature. Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Texas, is just steps away from our downtown, and it features a 23-hole disc golf course, stunning views of the Bosque and Brazos Rivers, and a 20-mile network of trails perfect for friendly strolls and challenging climbs.

Cameron Park is a park to rival all others, but the City of Waco understands that a vibrant outdoor scene isn’t limited to expansive parks. Scattered throughout the City are 68 neighborhood parks and six community centers, each offering a space for children to play, families to picnic, and neighbors to gather.

In Waco, It’s All Within Reach

Beyond the park systems, Waco offers a diverse range of outdoor experiences. From surfing to farmstands. From city lights to Brazos Nights. From mammoths to Magnolia. Adventures are always on tap in Waco.

The Waco Mammoth National Monument allows visitors to delve into the prehistoric past, golfers can tee off at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, and animal lovers can take a stroll through Cameron Park Zoo. The City also activates its community year-round with highly anticipated annual events, including the Brazos Nights concert series at Indian Spring Park along the riverfront, the Fourth on the Brazos Independence Day celebration at McLane Stadium, and the Waco Wonderland holiday celebration in Heritage Square in Downtown Waco.

A Riverfront on the Rise

Downtown Waco is the city’s gravitational center with the Brazos River at its heart. It reveals and celebrates Waco’s distinct identity to create an abundant future for generations to come.

The Brazos River itself serves as a central artery offering opportunities like kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding perfect for beginners and more competitive and high-energy events like speedboat drag racing, open water swims, and triathlons, including the renowned Ironman competitions. Collegiate rowing regattas and training sessions have also found a home on the Brazos becoming a notable rowing hub.

The Riverway Project at Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Lake Shore Drive and the Brazos Promenade Riverfront Project at Interstate Highway 35 and University Parks Drive both stand as transformative initiatives poised to significantly enhance Waco’s outdoor economy. By integrating 1,200 feet of Brazos River frontage into the Riverway master-planned community, the riverway not only preserves a significant natural asset, but also makes it a central feature of daily life for residents with walkability, connectivity, trails, parks, and greenways that encourage active living. In addition to its environmental and recreational benefits, Riverway, a development by Caldwell Companies, will support a diverse range of residential options and mixed-use commercial spaces with an emphasis on quality housing.

Over the 10-year buildout, Riverway anticipates it will add $617 million in new taxable value, construct $102 million in new public infrastructure and create 1,887 new residential units in the Waco housing market.

Twenty-two acres of the 521-acre site will be dedicated to mixed-use commercial development. River activation will play a significant role in the development, with a 170-ship marina connecting to Downtown Waco.

The Brazos Promenade leverages its strategic location along the Brazos River to create a vibrant, walkable district with residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, including a riverfront promenade, parks, and urban streetscapes. The goal for the $700 million Brazos Promenade is to serve as a catalyst for further economic development supporting outdoor-focused businesses with planned retail and restaurant spaces, the farmers market park, and children’s play areas. The project further compliments other downtown developments, including the recently-opened Foster Pavillion, another driver in Waco’s vast sports economy.

These elements align with Waco’s strategic plan to enhance outdoor amenities and promote an active, healthy lifestyle, attracting both residents and visitors while remaining committed to sustainability and quality of life.

Smaller Scale, Bigger Impact

The recently unveiled Downtown Master Development Roadmap, created in partnership with Hunt Development Group, reflects a bold vision for the future with a focus on creating a vibrant and inclusive space that celebrates Waco’s unique identity. This 100-acre development mostly covers land from Waco Drive to Mary Avenue, from the Brazos River to Fourth Street, and considers areas in East Waco. The development will be organized into distinct districts with names that nod to Waco’s rich history and will prioritize walkable parks, civic spaces, and amenities that cater to a wide range of interests.

Hallmarks of the project envision a riverfront convention center, performing arts complex, consolidated administrative and public service campus for Waco ISD and City of Waco, a multi-use sports-entertainment venue, and signature parks, trails, and plazas in each district. Overall, the Downtown Master Development Roadmap is an ambitious plan to further revitalize Downtown Waco within multiple phases that could deliver more than $1.8 billion in new investment over the next 12 to 20 years.

Growing Responsibly

Waco is experiencing significant development, as evidenced by the current and future major investments along the Brazos River and downtown. The City of Waco understands the need to grow responsibly. As the downtown area continues to urbanize, the need to intentionally connect with nature grows.

Given Waco’s location and the rapid development that is anticipated over the next 20 years, these planned developments allow Waco to invest in its downtown and outdoor economy in a controlled, sustainable, and responsible manner that avoids disjointed, small developments.

The future of Waco’s outdoor economy includes, but also extends beyond, the downtown area with our dedication to our existing neighborhood parks, community centers, small business support, outdoor events, and sustainability initiatives. By embracing the outdoor economy, our community can continue toward a healthier, more vibrant future with experiences that connect us with the natural world. Waco is a destination for growth where big opportunities can become reality. Waco is a city to believe in.