Why spend your weekend shut away in your home when East Texas has so many ways to enjoy fresh air?  The temperature is perfect so pack up a picnic basket and head out to one of these family friendly locations.

Through the generosity of many private citizens and business we are fortunate enough to have several parks and recreation areas to stop and unplug for a while.  Keep reading after the jump to find out more about Tyler and Longview's playgrounds.


AMBUCS TOO UNIVERSAL PARK EXTENSION OF NEAL MCCOY PARK: SPRING HILL, TEXAS

AMBUCS TOO UNIVERSAL PARK EXTENSION OF NEAL MCCOY PARK
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The Neal McCoy Playground was originally built in 2005 when the Longview native won the Home Depot Humanitarian Award - a part of the Academy of Country Music Awards.  Recently the park got an upgrade thanks to Ambucs Too.  Their donation of more than $350,000 not only doubled the size of the playground, but made it completely handicapped accessible!  That is the reason this park makes the top of our list.  It's truly able to be enjoyed by all!


Faulkner Park: Lindale & Tyler, Texas

Faulkner Parks opened to the Tyler and Lindale residents on April 18, 2001. The park is named after Mr. Robert Faulkner who donated land for the development of the park. Mr. Faulkner, an avid tennis player wanted to enrich the lives of every one by ensuring everyone in the community had free access to open areas for recreation.  Mr. Faulkner is still prominent at many tennis tournaments encouraging players with kind words like "Good Rally."

Faulkner Park: City of Lindale
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  • Soccer fields
  • Walking trails
  • Playground
  • Baseball fields
  • Picnic tables
  • Tennis courts

Children's Park: Tyler, Texas

The park can into being from the mind of Jennifer Carson, the president of Tyler's Children are a Gift Foundation.  She lost her son in 1999 and wanted a way to honor him.  She gathered a group of mothers who also lost children and formed the non profit Children are a Gift Foundation to raise funds through donations.  They raised $2,000 to buy the land.  With help from the community, donations, and fundraisers the Children's Park became a reality in 2004.  It cost $80,000 to build including a match by the city of Tyler of $225,000.

Children's Park
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  • Cobblestone walkways
  • Children's story amphitheater
  • Butterfly garden
  • Perfect place for family photos

Rose Rudman Recreational Trail: Tyler, Texas

The City of Tyler donated the land for construction of the pavilion in Rose Rudman Park and contributed $5000 toward construction costs.  Remaining costs of more than  $15,000 were covered by private donations and in-kind contributions, many of them made in honor or memory of cancer patients.

Rose Rundman
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  • Picnic Area
  • Pavilion
  • Hike & Bike Trail
  • Playground

Bergfeld Park: Tyler, Texas

City fore fathers purchased the land we now know as "Bergfeld Park" on June 27, 1913 from Rudolph Bergfeld.  In 1936 at the end of the depression, General R E Wood, the president of Sears Roebuck and Co., noticed from sales reports that he Sears store in a little community named Tyler - Texas, was the only store in the nation which was showing a profit.  General Wood visited Tyler and fell in love with the city and it's citizens.  To show his appreciation to Tyler residents General Wood donated that amphitheater for Bergfeld Park.

Bergfeld Park
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  • Amphitheater
  • Picnic Area
  • Seal water fountain (fun way for the little one's to cool off)
  • Playground
  • Tennis Courts

Lindsey Park: Tyler, Texas

The city acquired the land for Lindsey Park in 1982.  It and the mineral rights were bequeathed to the city by the late Louise Lindsey Merrick to use the land for a multi-facet park.  Larry Morgan, the then Parks and Recreation director of Tyler said "It is to provide recreation and leisure in the most holistic sense that is possible to the community."

Disc Golf
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  • Softball complex
  • Soccer fields
  • Basketball courts
  • Playground
  • Picnic area
  • Pavilions
  • Disc golf course

I would like to thank our friends at the Smith County Historical Society for all their help!

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