Sports & Leisure

1-Sports Arena-American Airlines Center at Night (DSC_0612) (Credit Urban Fabric Photography) SMALL

Sports


The City has some of the most popular professional sports in the nation. The American Airlines Center hosts the champion Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, along with other sporting events and entertainment. Since 1937, the Cotton Bowl has hosted an annual New Year’s Day game, along with the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma in October. The area is also home to America’s Team the Dallas Cowboys, along with the Texas Rangers, Texas Motor Speedway, Lone Star Park for horse racing, FC Dallas and other sport franchises.

Outdoor Recreation


The Dallas park and recreation system covers 21,000 park acres and includes 17 lakes, 62 miles of jogging and bike trails, 41 recreation centers, 1,020 sports complexes, 490 playgrounds and picnic areas, 21 pools, six 18-hole golf courses, two driving ranges and the 100-acre Dallas zoo.

One of the most popular spots for jogging, bike riding and sailing is White Rock Lake. The Dallas Arboretum is on the shores of the lake and hosts numerous special events yearly.

Four urban parks are being developed for downtown, starting with Main Street Garden and Belo Garden (completed in 2009 and 2012) and a 5-acre deck park spanning Woodall Rodgers freeway (completed 2012) to connect downtown and Uptown.
Recreation
The Trinity River Corridor Project will bring online a number of trails, athletic fields, the Trinity River Audubon Center, lakes and an equestrian center. In total, the Trinity will create a 10,000-acre park including almost 6,000 acres of forest.

Fair Park is a cultural and entertainment center on 277 acres of landscaped grounds just two miles from downtown. This National Historic Landmark has the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world and hosts the largest state fair in the country, the State Fair of Texas. Several museums also call Fair Park home.

State Parks Near Dallas


Take an afternoon or take a weekend camping trip to enjoy the natural beauty of North Texas. With 7 state parks and 12 major lakes within a two hour drive from downtown Dallas, you’ll find plenty to explore.