Nine major park areas of more than 7,753 acres, including five municipal golf courses, 75 play-grounds, 44 swimming pools, 70 tennis court areas and four tennis centers, 15 community recreation centers and 172 athletic fields.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park, beside Lake Austin about 17 miles northwest via R.M. 2222. Offers rugged mountain bike trails, swimming, fishing and camping. Admission fee.

Walter E. Long Lake and Metropolitan Park include all lands around 1,300-acre lake; fishing, sailing. About 5 miles east of downtown, Blue Bluff Rd. off Webberville Rd. Admission fee.

Fiesta Gardens on Town Lake; displays of exotic flora and lagoon.

Mayfield Park recalls the cottage gardens of England where the landscaping, the home, and the boundary walls interact to create the setting. Mary Mayfield Gutsch created more than 30 raised flower beds separated by narrow paths while her husband, Dr. Milton Gutsch directed the building of the stone walls, ponds, and other garden features. Peacocks roaming the grounds are descendants of those given to the owners in 1935. Historic 1870s cottage and grounds available for parties. The park is open daily. At 3801 Old Bull Creek Rd., next door to Austin Museum of Art-Laguna Gloria. For information, call 512/480-3036.

Zilker Park in southwest Austin includes popular Barton Springs swimming pool (open year-round; fee). Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer is a hands-on exhibit for kids and adults that explains how the aquifer is recharged and how the creeks and rivers in the Austin area are monitored for pollution. Visitors see the evolution of how rain in the city makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico and back in the form of rain clouds. Very educational and entertaining. In the Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center. Open Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m. For tour information, call 512/327-8181.

Other attractions within the park include Zilker Hillside Theater and Zilker Botanical Garden. Free Hillside Theater presents shows under the stars, early June - Aug. Zilker Botanical Garden is a free, beautiful showcase of flowers, shrubs and trees; Japanese Garden and Rose Garden; and the new Hartman Prehistoric Garden. For information, call 512/477-8672.

Other popular facilities of Austin parks are hike and bike trails in scenic areas along Barton Creek, Town Lake, Shoal Creek and Blunn Creek.