Opened in 2010, 11-acre Lake Pflugerville Park offers residents of northeast Travis County an opportunity to enjoy water recreation and a number of other amenities. The park lies on the northeast shore of 180-acre Lake Pflugerville, a fresh water reservoir that provides water to area residents. The water feeding the lake is piped 16 miles underground from the Colorado River.
Improvements to the park include a small pebble bathing beach area, a 54-space paved parking lot, a 3.1 mile walking/jogging trail, seven fishing piers, a solar-powered covered pavilion with barbecue facilities, restrooms, a shaded playscape, several shaded picnic tables, a boat launch ramp, and a kayak launch area.
The park was funded in part by a $200,000 Partnership in Parks Grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and $100,000 from the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation. Future plans include the addition of sand volleyball courts and additional playground equipment, as well as shade canopies that will help cool the playgrounds until the trees planted during the original construction have had time to grow.
For now, many visitors bring their own parasols, portable shade, and lots of sunscreen on sunny summer days. Water shoes are recommended to maneuver comfortably and safely over rocks and small pebble sand that gets quite hot.
Ideal Conditions for Hiking, Biking and Windsurfing
Visitors to Lake Pflugerville Park have already shown they have two favorites — walking the park’s path, and windsurfing. The crushed granite walking, jogging, and bike trail encircles the lake and is often favored with a cooling breeze from the lake. The walking path provides a great place to hike or jog in serenity, free from distraction.
Windsurfing and unpowered personal boating have also caught on with a large number of visitors. Canoes and kayaks (bring your own or rent one at the park) are a great way to enjoy the water. And the topography of the lake’s surroundings — flat farmland — promotes steady breezes most days making windsurfing ideal.
The Park’s Growing Popularity
Community-wide activities include the annual Kid Fish —when the lake is stocked with fish, allowing kids to experience successful fishing and compete against others in their age group for prizes.
Other annual attractions held at the park include the Lake Pflugerville Triathlon, a race that includes swimming, running and biking, and the city’s 4th of July celebration: the Pfamous Pflugerville ‘Pfirecracker Pfestival, one of the greater Austin area’s best fireworks displays.
Word is spreading about the park and its quality amenities, and the number of visitors continues to grow. For some of the best water-soaked fun and outdoor recreation in the area, locals are taking a day off and making their way to Lake Pflugerville Park.