| Houstonians have neither forgotten nature nor | | | | riding trails, playgrounds, water sports, picnicking |
| neglected the need for recreation. The city offers | | | | and nature study. Residents may enjoy |
| its residents numerous parks, resorts and indoor | | | | gymnastics, square dancing and round dancing. |
| and outdoor activities for adults and children. At | | | | Children six years and up may learn judo, karate |
| present, Houston has 276 parks encompassing | | | | and self-defense in Houston parks and therapeutic |
| 6,133 acres of land, and 12,236 acres of water. | | | | recreation for the blind, deaf, developmentally |
| The parks include 18 hole golf courses, three | | | | disabled and occupationally handicapped is also |
| tennis centers, 52 community recreation centers, | | | | available. |
| 85 neighborhood tennis courts, 38 swimming pools | | | | Houston is particularly proud of its exercise-trails. |
| and 287 softball, baseball, football, soccer, and | | | | The Memorial Trail, a $100,000 three-mile, rotted |
| rugby fields. Many of these recreational facilities, | | | | pine bark loop beginning west of the Memorial |
| available to the public, are utilized by the Houston | | | | Tennis Courts, drew 879,000 exercisers in 2000. |
| Parks & Recreation Department (HPRD) for | | | | Recently completed, the Braeswood Exercise-Trail |
| classes in everything from arts, crafts, dance and | | | | runs from Hermann Park to Bissonnet at the |
| drama to sports for children and adults. | | | | Southwest Tennis Center, and an additional ten |
| Park visitors may pursue independently such | | | | miles to Mason Park is ready. Unusually enough, |
| outdoor activities as jogging, camping and biking, | | | | Houston features an Exercise-Trail for the |
| during the winter and summer. Many parks offer | | | | physically challenged in Hermann Park. |