Ascarate Park

I visited it a couple decades ago and I hated it. So a while back, I swallowed my pride and went to jog there. Holy crap, did it change.
It has a very modern and well maintained bike path /​jogging route around the lake and is a nice place to see some local wildlife that find refuge in this place. It is a long walk around (the lake is big enough for large US Navy seaplane to use it as an emergency runway in the 1960s) and place is usually a hangout for kids and locals out to chill or do social events. Since there used to be an amusement park to the east, that empty lot now serves as a concert or major event venue (especially as a marathon starting point). It is mostly level and in the bottom of the valley, close to the river. So the breeze is nice but not as strong as up in the mountains. That said, it is excellent for picnics, chillout, exercise, quiet place to take the kids /​pets. And next to the lake there is a golf course and an aquatics center. During the summer you can rent canoes as well and worth it.
Parking is free on the weekday and $ 2 per car on the weekend, which is fair pricing compared to other state/​national parks.

Poor place to fish. they RARELY if ever stock the lake, and the lake is infested with Turtles that steal bait. Stock regularly and kill the pest turtles, and maybe this place would be fun.

One of the prettiest parks you’ll find in El Paso and it definitely houses a lot of great memories for locals. Everything from concerts to 5Ks are held at this park and at one time this was home to Western Playland (before it’s move to NM, it actually was a great amusement park).
In the center is the lake where you can go fishing or paddle out on a boat. I’m not entirely sure why, but people don’t swim here. It’s actually out of El Pasoans character to swim in anything but an actual designated pool which completely breaks my heart. I grew up swimming in creeks, lakes, and rivers and never once did I question the green stuff growing down the ways or whatever touched my foot (you always just assumed it was a catfish), but Ascarate Lake is actually a clean looking lake so it is literally the ideal swimming spot. My friends from Wisconsin wouldn’t hesitate to jump in Ascarate… just saying.
Ascarate Park may in fact be the largest park in El Paso and it’s one of my favorites. There are a few improvements that I think could be made like adding a dog park and allowing re-​admittance at events (you have to pay every time even though they give you a ticket, what the hell is the ticket for then?), but overall it’s a great place for an event or an evening out with friends and family. Oh and it’s free on the weekdays!

Although the lake in Ascarate Park is man-​made, it’s sure great to see water for some change. Entry is free on the weekdays, and $ 2 per car on the weekends. This park is pretty big, and I love that there’s a gravel path that wraps around the lake. Word of warning, I recommend paying attention to weather forecasts and avoid running outside just before/​during a dust storm unless you love sand in your mouth. and eyes.
There several great reasons to making your way over to Ascarate Park. Being active outside is one of them. Whether you’re participating in an official running race or just getting some miles in your shoes, it’s a relaxing area to run (and/​or jog, walk, bike). There are quite a few 5K runs that take place here including the Walking Dead 5K Run that takes place on the weekend of Halloween (‘real’ zombies are after your two flags; terrify and fun!).
This also the place for HUGE concerts/​music festivals. There’s certainly enough field space. These big events are usually well advertised for months over the radio. Or check out the ‘Events’ tab on Unilocal!
Family time is another reason to visit this park. Every time I’ve been here I’ve seen families picnicking/​barbecuing under the picnic awnings. These are located throughout the park. There are also at least two play grounds for the kiddos! Definitely a family-​friendly place.
If only I lived closer to Ascarate, I would spend more evenings running here. But feel free to reach out if you’re interested in finding other running routes/​paths near Fort Bliss/​Airport or on the Westside of town.