News Flash

Exciting Times in Public Art

These are exciting times in Public Art here in the City of Denton! In October we officially unveiled the latest addition to the City’s outdoor sculpture inventory – Christine Sander’s vibrant work, “Serve,&rdquo...

Help us "Design Downtown Denton!"

City of Denton Parks and Recreation Receives $10,971,904 Grant from TxDOT

DENTON, TX, Nov. 11, 2023 – City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department was recently awarded a $10,971,904 grant from Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) program. This grant will cover approximately...

Honoring Veterans

Veteran’s Day was preceded by Armistice Day in 1918. On November 11, 1918, at the 11^th hour, the peace treaty was signed to officially end World War I.  This day was set aside to honor members of the armed forces who were killed in Worl...

NOW OPEN: Denton Tennis & Pickleball Center

Denton Parks and Recreation Funding

City of Denton Parks and Recreation Earns National Accreditation

Recognition marks City’s commitment to excellence in operation and service

DENTON, TX, Oct. 12, 2023 – Today, City Manager Sara Hensley announced that the City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department has earned national accreditation for standards of excellence through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation...

New Mobile Recreation Unit

Introducing: Park and Play - Your Passport to Fun and Fitness!

We are thrilled to introduce you to our brand-new Mobile Recreation Unit. In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to stay active and enjoy recreational activities can be challenging. That’s w...

Lake Forest Park New Glow Rocks for Trail

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 and in 1988 President Ronald Regan officially recognized Black History Month. September 15th – October 15th was chosen as the celebration period because it is the anniversary of ind...

Parks and Recreation Metrics

The City of Denton Parks and Recreation Departments boasts a network of parks and recreation spaces that epitomize our mission to Unite, Grow, Play! Parks and recreation shape our landscapes; more importantly, they shape our lives. Proximity to high-quali...

National Senior Center Month 2023

National Senior Center Month 2023

Every September our country celebrates and recognizes the month as National Senior Center Month. The Administration for Community Living and the National Council on Aging, two of our nation's leading advocates for aging we...

Annual Back to School Party

As the summer sun begins to set, the anticipation of a new school year dawns upon us. At our community, we believe in fostering a spirit of togetherness, growth, and enjoyment, and what better way to kick off the academic journey than with an unforgettabl...

Dog Days of Denton

Embrace the Dog Days of Denton 2023: A Pawsome Guide to Canine Fun!

Hot summer days, wagging tails, and a vibrant community—welcome to the Dog Days of Denton 2023! This year's event, hosted by the Denton Parks Foundation, promises a delightful celebration ...

National Senior Citizens Day

August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day and the best way to celebrate is by honoring a senior in your life. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 21, 1988, as the first National Senior Citizen's Day. He wrote "For all they have achieve...

Improvement to the North Lakes Disc Golf Course

Unveiling the Future: Denton Tennis & Pickleball Center

Elevating Our Community: ARPA-Funded Park Projects Approved by City Council

Disability Visibility Month

Disability Visibility Month, also known as Disability Pride Month, is celebrated in July in commemoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was passed in 1990. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of di...

Denton is Aging and Growing

Many things shifted throughout and because of the pandemic. We've seen shifts in buying patterns, housing markets, and technology trends, but have you thought about the shift in programming for senior centers recently? With recreation centers spe...

The Hidden Benefits of Parks

Parks and green spaces are essential components of a healthy and vibrant city and offer numerous benefits to individuals and the community, including opportunities for improved physical and mental health. These benefits became explicitly apparent during t...

New Amenities at Sequoia Park

If you have visited Sequoia Park recently you have noticed sidewalk connections to the neighborhood, a new play structure, and a pavilion.  The sidewalk connections and playground amenities are part of Phase 1 of the overall improvement plan for ...

New StoryWalk© coming to Fred Moore Park

Celebrate National Bird Day

Birdwatching is a fascinating activity that allows us to observe and appreciate the beauty and diversity of the avian world. Denton boasts an impressive range of native bird species, making it a great destination for birdwatching enthusiasts. The city has...

North Lakes Park Librada "Lily" Cantu Inclusive Playground Project

City Council adopted the Parks, Recreation, and Trails System Master Plan on March 1, 2022, which prioritizes the development of an inclusive playground within the City. In light of this, the Librada "Lily" Cantu Playground - a current 2-5 &...

Parks and Recreation Volunteer Highlight

Meet Vivian C. Young, who is a volunteer at MLK Jr. Rec Center and on the Martin L. King, Jr. Advisory Board, Chair!

Vivian has been volunteering at the MLK Jr. Rec. Center since 2013. Her favorite thing about volunteering is coming together with others to...

Community Health Fair

Are you looking for healthcare resources in Denton? Come check out all that Denton has to offer through our Health Fair. This is an educational opportunity to learn about the health care we have in our community! 

The Martin L. King, Jr. Recreatio...

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration that commemorates Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 over the Second French Empire. The Mexican army was smaller than the Second French army; therefore the 3-year victory provided encouragement, pride...

May is National Water Safety Month

Did you know drowning can happen in less than 2 minutes AND with many people around? In honor of National Water Safety Month, we wanted to give you a few pointers on water safety for your family and home! 

Swimming season is here! Whether you are ...

John Whitmore Retirement

Happy Trails!

After 22 years of service to the Denton community, and over 40 in the industry, Parks Planning Manager, John Whitmore is retiring.

John has contributed to the park, recreation, and leisure field in many ways ranging from the community level to...

Electronic Box Art Program

The City’s Public Art Program will begin wrapping a number of traffic boxes in the Original Denton District (ODD) with art produced by Denton ISD Students. The artwork is printed on vinyl, which is then adhered to the traffic box by professional...

What is Athletics?

The City of Denton Parks and Recreation department has a whole division dedicated to Athletics. You may ask yourself what does that consist of? As a team, we provide recreational sports programs and events to the community. These programs are designed to ...

Volunteer Appreciation Week

April is National Volunteer Appreciation month and with that, the City of Denton and the Parks and Recreation Department would like to recognize the efforts our citizens have put into helping the community. Since 1991 the month of April has been a time to...

Asian Pacific Heritage Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month began as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1977, and in 1990, Congress extended the observance to a month. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush annually designated May as the first “Asian/P...

Bowling Green Grant

On August 1, 2022, the Parks and Recreation Department submitted a grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) for the Local Park Grant for improvements at Bowling Green Park. This grant provides funding for 50% of the proposed construction. On J...

Clear Creek has River Otters

Yes, we have them at Clear Creek. There have been many occasions where something was spotted in the water, but determining whether it was a beaver, otter, or nutria always eluded us. Until recently. Two months ago Dan caught a family of otters on a game c...

Adapted Rec Bring's Recreation to All

Adapted and Inclusive Recreation, or AIR, is the City’s Parks and Recreation program for individuals with physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. All programs are designed with a range of abilities in mind and have equipment and instruction fo...

Black History Month

Black History Month began as National Negro Week in 1926 and in 1976 President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month.  February was chosen as the celebration month because it encompasses the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredri...

Parks and Recreation Volunteer Highlight

Denise has been serving at the Denton Senior Center as a volunteer in numerous capacities over the years. She serves on the volunteer Advisory Council and advocates for other members of the center. Her main priority currently is serving as the Library Com...

Heart Health Month

Your Heart is one of the most important organs in your body. Here are some easy tips to keep your heart healthy and ticking all year long!  1. Get Moving - Working out 150 minutes a week of aerobic activity is optimal, but getting off th...

Aquatics Water Park Project Update

This week kicked off with contractors on site to finish details on the WWP bathhouse floors where another clear coat was applied and polishing took place. Facilities will be on-site in the next week to begin painting the walls. Repairs to the benches will...

New Year, New You

Stay fit in the new year

Take advantage of the cooler weather with a morning walk or run. Studies have shown that exercising outside reduces stress and improves your mood.

Don’t get off track. Stay motivated to stick to your exercise routine by en...

MLK Jr. Day Celebration

The Parks and Recreation Department will host the annual Martin L. King, Jr. Day Commemoration Program on Monday, January 16. This year’s theme is taken from the title of Dr. King’s 1964 book, Why We Can’t Wait.  Pas...

Parks and Recreation Replaces Trash and Recycling Containers with a Grant

The City of Denton Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) wanted to reduce the amount of litter in its parks while improving the amount of uncontaminated recycled materials. The parks have traditionally used fifty-five-gallon drums with trash bag liners t...

Healthy Holidays

The holidays can be a fun and festive time, but it comes with its own stresses and challenges; this is especially true when it comes to our health! Here are some helpful tips from the staff at the Denton Senior Center on how to make it through this holida...

Healthy Thanksgiving

Stay fit During Thanksgiving

Colder weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and Thanksgiving feasts. Here are a few ways to prioritize health and fitness as the season changes from summer to fall.

Take advantage of the cooler weather with a morning walk. Studies hav...

Tree Giveaway Wrap Up

Keep Denton Beautiful (KDB) hosted its 24th Annual Community Tree Giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 22. At the drive-thru event, 700 trees were distributed to Denton residents to plant at their homes. More than 50 volunteers and staff members worked together to ...

Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a program whose mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach. Annually, Wreaths Across America partners with various civic organizations, schools, scouts, and religious organizations across the country to place a wreath on each hero&a...

Healthy Halloween

Stay fit During Halloween

Colder weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and Halloween candy. Here are a few ways to prioritize health and fitness as the season changes from summer to fall.

Take advantage of the cooler weather with a morning walk. Studies have shown...

Benefits of Taking a Walk in Nature

It's National Take a Walk to a Park Day! In honor of the national holiday, we would like to highlight the benefits of walking in nature. 

Most everyone knows the exercise benefits of walking, but did you know walking outdoors in nature ha...

Cole Ranch Neighborhood Park

Cole Ranch Neighborhood Park #1

On September 12, the Parks, Recreation, and Beautification board adopted the conceptual master plan for the neighborhood park of Cole Ranch, phase 1. The City of Denton annexed Cole Ranch in 2006 and was classified as the Co...

Parks and Recreation Rental Spaces Available

Recreation Center Birthday Party Packages

Host your child’s next birthday party at one of Denton’s recreation centers! Our 1 ½ hour birthday packages include a decorated party room, your choice of 45-60 min of activity, table...

Mountain Bike Trail

Last November the City of Denton, Parks and Recreation and biking community celebrated the official grand opening of the Hartlee Field Mountain Bike Trail in northeast Denton.  The 5.3-mile-long single-track trail was built by a core group of vol...

Women's Health and Fitness Day

Recognizing that women have specific needs when it comes to health and wellness, National Women's Health and Fitness Day was established in 2002 and is celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of September. This year we will celebrate on Septe...

Lawn Management and the Challenges of KR Bluestem

How often have you mowed your lawn over the weekend only to find tall weeds growing up to your knees seemingly overnight? You could be dealing with fast-growing King Ranch (KR) Bluestem, an invasive bunchgrass known to grow as much as two to three feet in...