About Mansfield Parks and Recreation

Mansfield Parks & Recreation operates and maintains more than 1,100 acres of parkland, dozens of athletic fields and the Mansfield Activities Center, as well as six public-private partnership facilities.

The Mansfield Activities Center provides enrichment and athletic opportunities for all ages including recreation classes, sports skills training and Pickleball open court & tournaments The MAC is also home to the Senior Lifestyles services, Kids Zone day camp and many family events.

Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park, an 80-acre nature preserve, is an oasis of native plants and wildlife for a peaceful refuge from the city. ONP also offers classes for all ages including science & nature, ecology, fishing, archery & kayaking.

The Walnut Creek Linear Trail, one of our signature features, features miles of paved trails that run alongside the creek of the same name, through lush woods providing ample shade and connecting seven parks throughout the city. When complete, the trail will stretch the entire width of the city from west to east.

City recreational sports leagues are operated by independent associations who use city fields and facilities to host league practices and games.

Staffing

The Mansfield Parks & Recreation Department includes more than 51 full-time employees, 32 part-time and 10-14 seasonal staffers brought on for summer programs and extended maintenance needs.

Funding

In 1992, Mansfield voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund parks and recreation. That fund covers almost all of the department costs, including land acquisition, park maintenance and development, program operations and staffing. Oversight of the fund is managed by the Mansfield Park Facilities Development Corporation, a volunteer board of citizens appointed by City Council. Parks built before the 1992 ordinance are funded with general fund revenue per state law, as are senior citizen programs and community special events.

Services

In addition to developing and maintaining green space and parks for the community, Mansfield's Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for a number of other city services and programs, including but not limited to Youth & Adult Recreation, Nature Education, Senior Citizen Programs, and Median & Right-of-way Maintenance.

Growth & Development

Like the grass and trees, our parks are always growing! Mansfield Parks and Recreation is working hard to expand facilities, amenities and services to better meet the needs of all residents and visitors, based primarily on the needs and priorities established in the 2020 Parks Master Plan. See a detailed list of current projects, submit inquiries and sign up for email alerts on the My Mansfield Parks: Projects & Feedback section.

Public-Private Partnerships

Mansfield has six public-private partnerships where the city-funded construction of a recreation facility that is operated by a private corporation. The managing organization then pays the City for use of the facility. These arrangements allow the City to offer residents a broader range of recreation and entertainment options than would be otherwise possible.

Stay Connected

Follow Mansfield Parks and Recreation on social media for all the latest news, event updates, photos, behind the scenes scoop, games, education and more. Look for @MansfieldTxParks on Facebook or Instagram, or @MansfieldParks on Twitter. Parks and Recreation updates are also posted to the shared City of Mansfield YouTube page and NextDoor account.