We love reminiscing about Lions Park and all the stories from Wacoans about how they spent so much time there growing up. While the park you knew will be reimagined, the memories last forever!
Lions Park was established in 1952 by the Waco Lions as a unique and widely popular place for children. Volunteers and other community organizations have donated hundreds of hours and numerous resources to contribute to this local institution. The park has entertained generations of local families and visitors to Waco and was a must-do stop for any child, or children at heart.
When the Waco Lions began discussing providing a recreation area for the youth of Waco, it was William L. Baine who provided many of the ideas and design for the layout of the park. He developed the plans for the entrance way, supervised its construction, and the overall landscaping plan. He also supervised the landscaping. As a result of his efforts, Lions Park grew into a million-dollar effort and became known as one of the most beautiful areas in Waco.
In August if that year, the first part of a recreational plan was put into motion for what became known as Lions Park. Plans were coordinated and approved by the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department. The overall project, over a period of five years, was estimated to cost approximately $255,000.
Features in the park built over the years included a grandstand, bleachers, a baseball diamond and a putt-putt golf course. A swimming pool was also added and at the time, the opening day was televised and claimed by the tile industry to be the largest swimming pool in the State of Texas.
In June of 1965, Kiddie Land was added to Lions Park and continued to expand with rides like go-karts, a large slide and a train.
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