My Favorite City Park in Dallas, Texas: White Rock Lake

In high school, I remember going to White Rock Lake for community service activities or fundraisers. We'd pick up trash in our designated area to beautify the shoreline. Or we'd fundraise by having people donate money based on how many miles we'd walk around the lake. On weekends, my mother and I would spend our afternoons there. We'd always go to the same spot and the geese and ducks would flock to us, as if they recognized our bags of breadcrumbs. Those fond memories have stayed with me throughout the years and have made White Rock Lake my favorite city park.

If you haven't been to White Rock Lake, then you're missing out on of the true treasures of the city. The city park located at 8300 East Lawther Drive consists of 1,015 gorgeous acres of trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and fishing piers for the public's pleasure. Take in the gorgeous view as a gander of ducks swim by or blast that heart rate up with a jog around the lake; no matter, what activity you see, White Rock Lake offers a wonderful setting for them all.

Great for exercise - White Rock Lake is great for those who love outdoor activities. People of all ages can be seen walking, running, or biking the winding trails around the lake. And everyone is always considerate to share the trails. I would walk the approximate 9 miles around the lake and drink in the splendid view while getting much needed exercise. The park also has docks where people can go sailing, boating, and kayaking. For more details on renting kayaks and boating, click here.

Great for pets- Not only can you help your pets get exercise by walking or running around the lake, but you can also enjoy the popular dog park located at 8000 East Mockingbird Lane. The dog park is where you can take the leash off your four-legged friend and let him romp around tires or scoot around ramps while making new friends with other dogs. For more details, check out this site.

Great for families- If you have little ones, then you can take them to the playground area where they can slide, swing, and laugh their cares away. Numerous picnic areas are also great for family barbeques and get-togethers. You can also get together with friends for a fishing trip on one of the many fishing piers the park has to offer. The White Rock Cultural Bath House also has many family oriented activities to enjoy. For events schedules, go to their site.

Great for the community- White Rock Lake also offers many opportunities for community service and fundraising. Many companies and schools adopt a section of the lake and routinely volunteer to clean up trash that may collect along the shores of the lake. For details on how to participate, go to www.whiterocklake.org. Community events also take place at the city park, such as marathons to raise awareness. In addition, the White Rock Lake Local Market takes place on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month where local vendors and farmers sell their fresh homemade and homegrown goods. Details can be found at www.whiterocklocalmarket.com.