Skate, swim, jog, play at community park

The new skate park is expected to open in spring 2010. Start tuning up your skateboard.

A brand-new skate area is expected to open this spring at Port Aransas Community Park. The 10,000-square-foot facility will include concrete bowls and other skater favorites. A kidney-shaped bowl will be 7.5 feet deep. The “street” part of the skate area will include ramps, stairs and features that skaters refer to as “hubbas” and “flats” and “gaps” and “grinds.”

A large concrete slab for roller skating already is a feature at the park. Pickup in-line hockey games sometimes are played, especially on Sunday afternoons.

To get to the park from the ferry landing, turn right onto Cutoff Road, then another right on Ross Avenue. The park’s address is 700 Clark Parkway.

One of the most recent additions at the park is a six-foot-wide new path that branches off an existing trail and heads out into the Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture. The 3,300- foot concrete hike-and-bike trail opened in late 2009.

Port Aransas Community Park’s heated pool offers lounge chairs and benches, shade, showers, lockers, and poolside cubbyholes where you can keep your towel and shoes safe. Vending machines line a shaded picnic area.

The pool’s schedule goes like this:

• Open swim, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

• Lap swim shared time is 8:30 a.m. to closing time Tuesday to Friday and 1 p.m. to closing time Saturday.

• Lap swim-only time is noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.

• Water exercise class, 8:30- 9:30 a.m., 9:30-10:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

• The pool is closed Sundays and Mondays.

The schedule is subject to change. Call the pool at 749-2416 to get updates, or check the South Jetty.

Adult swim lessons are available on request. The city Parks and Recreation Department oversees operations, including the pool operation. The department’s phone number is 749-4158.

Swimmers under 2 years old are admitted free. Swimmers who are in the age bracket between 2 and 18 are admitted for $1; 19 to 59 years are charged $2 admission; and those who are 60 and older are charged $1.

The park also contains a jogging trail, three ball fields, a soccer field, play area and picnic pavilion. The jogging trail, for running or walking, is pet friendly. There are pet stations around the park to discard man’s best friend’s outdoor deposits.

The long trail is a 1.1-mile course. The short trail is just under a half-mile long.

A tee-ball field lies next to the two baseball fields. These fields are used for Little League and high school baseball games. A concession stand and separate restrooms are located next to the fields.

The larger baseball field doubles as a soccer field.

For more information on the park’s activities, events and facilities go to www.cityofportaransas.org.