Swim, hike, play ball, skate board at city park

Water aerobics are among the many offerings at the Port Aransas Community Park off Ross Avenue on Clark Parkway. If you’re looking for skateboarding, hiking, swimming, jogging, baseball, soccer or picnicking, the Port Aransas Community Park is the place to be.

The park’s newest feature is a 10,000-square-foot skate park that 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,” “flats,” “gaps” and “grinds.”

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

Another recent addition at the park is a six-foot-wide 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.

Skateboarders enjoy the skate park where use of bicycles is illegal. The park’s 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.

Spring hours, subject to change are:

Open-swim from 1- 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Mom & Tot swim, 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon, Tuesday thru Friday.

Water exercise classes start at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon, Tuesday through Friday ($1.50 per class)

Lap swimming is available all day. Lap Swim Only is 12 noon – 1 p.m. Tuesday thru Sunday.

A climbing wall at the deep end of the pool tests the abilities of young and old alike. Climbers who reach the 3-meter height can enjoy a tumble into the refreshing water, knowing they have “scaled the heights”.

The pool is closed on Monday.

Call the pool at 749-2416 to get updates, or check the weekly editions of the South Jetty.

Adult swim lessons are available on request.

Swimmers under 2 years old get in free; those between 2 and 18 pay $1; 19 to 59 years are charged $2; and those 60 and older are charged $1.

The park also contains a t-ball field and play area. The jogging trail is pet friendly, with 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.

The two baseball fields are used for Little League and high school baseball games. A concession stand and restrooms are next to the fields.

The larger baseball field doubles as a soccer field.

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

The city parks and recreation department (749-4158) oversees park operations, including the pool. For more information on activities, events and facilities go to http://www.cityofportaransas.org/Community_ Park.cfm.