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NAME:
Balcones Park & Municipal Pool
LOCATION:
Close to the intersection of MoPac & Duval
12017 Amherst Drive Austin, TX 78759
DISTANCE:
With the new trail connection to Northern Walnut Creek, you can run for miles! It's a beautifully paved trail and the scenery is divine. Nice and shady, too. Our suggested route (shown below) is 4 miles.
HOW TOUGH?:
TWO BATS: a few minor hills, but mainly pretty flat.
Balcones Park & Municipal Pool
LOCATION:
Close to the intersection of MoPac & Duval
12017 Amherst Drive Austin, TX 78759
DISTANCE:
With the new trail connection to Northern Walnut Creek, you can run for miles! It's a beautifully paved trail and the scenery is divine. Nice and shady, too. Our suggested route (shown below) is 4 miles.
HOW TOUGH?:
TWO BATS: a few minor hills, but mainly pretty flat.
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HOW PRETTY?
Smooth and shaded and sublime. Beautiful route.
TYPE OF PATH:
Wide, paved path.
DOG FRIENDLY?
For running: Yes.
For playgrounding/swimming: Playgrounding, yes. Swimming, not so much.
PLAYSCAPE FEATURES:
Swings
Picnic tables (in the shade---bonus!)
4 slides
Multiple bridge, tunnels and climbing thingies
POOL FEATURES:
Loads of designated lap lanes
A more shallow area for the youngsters (and its roped off to boot!)
Large stairs for easy access into and out of the pool (or for Dad/Mom to lounge on while he/she watches the youngsters swim around in their puddle jumpers).
Not a lot of shade over the pool, but a large grassy area nearby with numerous picnic tables if you need a break
PLAYSCAPE SURFACE:
The playscape is padded with recycled rubber tires, so its fun to 'bounce.' The other portion is covered in tiny pebbles, so burying younger siblings is an option.
BATHROOMS (BECAUSE POTTY TRAINING HAPPENS):
One pretty spacious woman's stall and one men's stall near the pool. A bit of a walk from the playground, but nothing to complain about.
PARKING:
Plentiful
EXTRAS:
Full-court basketball
SUGGESTED ROUTE(S):
Smooth and shaded and sublime. Beautiful route.
TYPE OF PATH:
Wide, paved path.
DOG FRIENDLY?
For running: Yes.
For playgrounding/swimming: Playgrounding, yes. Swimming, not so much.
PLAYSCAPE FEATURES:
Swings
Picnic tables (in the shade---bonus!)
4 slides
Multiple bridge, tunnels and climbing thingies
POOL FEATURES:
Loads of designated lap lanes
A more shallow area for the youngsters (and its roped off to boot!)
Large stairs for easy access into and out of the pool (or for Dad/Mom to lounge on while he/she watches the youngsters swim around in their puddle jumpers).
Not a lot of shade over the pool, but a large grassy area nearby with numerous picnic tables if you need a break
PLAYSCAPE SURFACE:
The playscape is padded with recycled rubber tires, so its fun to 'bounce.' The other portion is covered in tiny pebbles, so burying younger siblings is an option.
BATHROOMS (BECAUSE POTTY TRAINING HAPPENS):
One pretty spacious woman's stall and one men's stall near the pool. A bit of a walk from the playground, but nothing to complain about.
PARKING:
Plentiful
EXTRAS:
Full-court basketball
SUGGESTED ROUTE(S):
From the playground, take the trail just behind the swings. This is an out and back, so we like to travel to Gracywoods playground and then head back to Balcones from there.