Do you like to be outdoors and enjoy outdoor fitness activities? Are you looking for a way to get some exercise without leaving your hometown? Look no further than downtown Celina. That’s right. Downtown Celina is known for the historic city square with numerous shops and restaurants, but it is also home to many fitness opportunities and outdoor activities. Here are just a few of them:
1. Fishing at Old Celina Park
It’s been said that a bad day can be made better with some fishing time. All you need is a fishing pole and some bait then head over to Old Celina Park. Old Celina Park, or OCP as it's commonly called, hosts a beautiful catch and release fishing pond. Enjoy some peace and quiet as you relax fishing a variety of fish in the city’s most popular park.
2. Baseball Parks and Multi-Purpose Sports Fields at OCP
You can’t drive by OCP without noticing the baseball and softball fields, especially the newly expanded section of the park. The fields are primarily for youth sports, but it also hosts adult co-ed softball leagues in the summer. Currently, OCP just opened its new expansion adding two more baseball and softball fields (each) to the existing 4-plex fields. The four new fields have synthetic grass and infields allowing for more year-round play. Information about the youth or adult baseball and softball leagues can be found at Sports.Celina-TX.gov/adultsports
The Multi-Purpose Sports Fields are commonly used for soccer and flag-football games. Like the baseball and softball fields, this area is also mostly used for youth sports, but the City’s Parks and Recreation Department notes that the fields can also be used for a potential adult flag football league. If there is enough interest, the city will start up a league.
For both the baseball/softball fields and the multi-purpose sports fields, reservations are required by submitting a reservation form to the Parks and Recreation Department.
3. Greens at Little Wooden Penguin
If golf is your game, then don’t forget about The Greens at the Little Wooden Penguin, home to an 18-hole putting course. Up to four people can play for the small fee of $7 per person. Fun for the whole family, here you can work on your short game as you putt around a few holes of golf. You can also enjoy the entire experience of Little Wooden Penguin – food, fun, yard games, a succulent bar, live music, and more!
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Take your family and head on over to the east side of Downtown Celina for even more fun and games. The basketball courts are open year round and host many a pick-up game while the tennis court has become popular for the newest rage, Pickleball. Plans are in place for historical Bobcat Stadium, after the final school football game was enjoyed there in the Fall.
4. Basketball Courts at Founders Station Park and Preston Streams Park
Celina has two parks which host outdoor basketball courts: Founders Station Park on Louisiana Street and Preston Streams Park. Here you can shoot some hoops or play a pick-up game of basketball with your buddies.
5. Pickleball Courts at Founders Station Park
One of the fastest growing sports in the country is Pickleball. According to the USA Pickleball Association, Pickleball is a sport for all ages that combines “elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.” Celina has four courts currently at Founders Station Park on Louisiana Street.
Don’t worry if you have never played. Every Tuesday at 7:00pm, beginner lessons are available at no cost with paddles and balls available. All ages are welcome in Pickleball too. For more information, visit Sports.Celina-TX.gov or via the Celina Pickleball page on Facebook.
6. Traditions Park and Bobcat Trail
The Celina City Council adopted The Trails Master Plan in March 2019. As stated in the plan, The Trails Master Plan is “a guide for the future development of trails, bikeways and trail amenities in Celina”.
Celina also created a plan for parks. In February 2020, the Celina City Council adopted The Master Park Plan. The adopted plan was created with feedback from Celina residents as well members of the Celina Parks and Recreation Board.
Both the Trail Plan and the Parks Plans are available on the City of Celina’s website Celina-TX.gov/1329/Parks-Master-Plan. One notable long-term proposed goal in the Master Park Plan is the vision for improvements to Preston Streams Park encompassing the proposed Bobcat Trail with the intention of incorporating the original Bobcat Stadium.