Park offers skatepark, pool and more

G et out your skateboard!

A skater at sunset in the new skate park. A brand-new skate

area opened during the

spring at Port Aransas Community Park. The 10,000- square-foot facility includes concrete bowls and other skater favorites. A kidney-shaped bowl is 7.5 feet deep. The “street” part of the skate area includes 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.

Enjoy the water and get fit at the same time with water exercise classes at the community pool. 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.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 28, the pool’s schedule is:

• Lap lanes are available during operating hours.

• Water exercise classes start at 8:30 am, 9:30 am and 12 noon, Tuesday through Friday.

• Lap swim is noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

• Open and lap swimming is 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

• The pool is closed 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, two baseball fields, a t-ball field, 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.