City of Abilene Parks Division

Mission Statement
The Parks Division performs landscape management and development services within the parks and other City properties, providing varied, safe, attractive, and modern places for public recreation and a cleaner, more beautiful city.

The Parks Division employs a total of 38 full-time employees, including 35 front-line skilled employees and three management and support staff. During the summer, 18 temporary employees provide valuable assistance. The staff is organized into ten work sections.

The Abilene Parks System

The City of Abilene has a well-developed park system that it takes great pride in. The system has 29 parks totaling 1,247.56 acres and offers a varied collection of modern facilities to fill the many diverse recreation needs of its clients.

Included in the inventory are three athletic complexes that are well respected around the state for their quality. They are possible because of the cooperative working relationship between the City of Abilene and the Abilene Independent School District. The properties are owned by the AISD, while the City Parks Division performs all of the property management services. Both entities share the expense of this management equally. The AISD uses the complexes for their middle school, freshman, and JV football and soccer programs. The fields are available for public practices and various sports camps and tournaments are held at these sites.

The Parks Division also provides the landscape management services to many other City properties other than parks, areas totaling 227 acres. These include many municipal buildings, boulevards, vacant lots, and the Municipal Cemetery. One of these sites is the award-winning Missouri Pacific Railway right-of-way, comprising 40 acres of landscaped berms along four miles of railway, flanked on either side by major arterial streets running through the center of the city. This project has won two statewide awards for achievement in beautification. It was made possible by the financial support of a local donor, business community, and the construction capabilities of the Parks Division.

Facilty Rental

Festival Gardens located in Nelson Park is an outdoor facility available for private rentals. This lighted facility has picnic seating for 160 individuals, kitchen facilities, a large barbecue grill, a sand volleyball court, three horseshoe/washer pits, a half court basketball area, and a playground. The outdoor facility is open to the public when not rented.

Click here for a copy of our Facility Reservation Policies

Park Use

If you would like to use Everman Park, Minter Park, Rose Park Ampitheater, or any of our parks for a special event, click here for a Request to Use Park Facility Application.

There is no smoking in any City Parks or Facilites

Parks Master Plan