Nöel Heritage Plaza is an oasis in the center of downtown Odessa. Located next to the Ector County Library, it is a popular place for cultural events such as “Musical Menus”. The landscaping, archways, small stage and life-size statues make this a perfect place for weddings and private parties. During the holidays it is a winter wonderland alive with twinkling lights and decorations. 320 West Fifth Street

Comanche Trail Park encompasses 160 acres and is adjacent to the Monahans Draw. The 3.5 mile paved trail system is a highlight because of the unique concentration of wildlife and foliage. The park has a man-made pond that is stocked with a variety of game fish. Comanche Trail is home to many birds and is a wonderful place for the aviary enthusiast. The playground, soccer and baseball fields provide facilities for kids and adults alike. Interstate-20 and West County Road

Sherwood Park is Odessa’s most active park site and offers a variety of recreational and sports activities. The 65-acre park has facilities for baseball, soccer, sand volleyball and tennis. The park has a large playground facility and is home to “Prairie Pete.” Children have enjoyed this facility for many years. New features at the park include a family aquatic facility. The new facility includes water slides, lap pools, a water playground, a tots sprayground, and picnic pavilion. The Community Center, located in the northeast corner of the park, is a great place for gatherings and events. 44th and Dixie Boulevard

Woodson Park has a total of 13 acres and is the official site for the annual Juneteenth celebrations. The park has softball and tennis facilities, along with a playground. In addition, the park is home to a new family aquatic facility that will include water slides, lap pools, a water playground, a tots sprayground and picnic pavilions. The Community Center will accommodate up to 150 people, and provides a great place for celebrations, church and social gatherings. 1020 East Murphy.

U.T.P.B. Park is a community sports park. The park is home to 8 lighted softball fields; 4 lighted women's softball fields; 7 soccer fields; 6 lighted tennis courts; 2 little league baseball fields; a playground; covered picnic facilities; courts for sand volleyball, basketball and tennis courts; paved walking trails; a one acre pond; ample parking area; and beautiful landscaping. University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus

Jim Parker Park is a neighborhood park with a picnic pavilion and playground. This popular park is home to baseball, tennis and volleyball facilities. Covered picnic area for an enjoyable picnic. Located at University and Bonham.

Optimist Park is a neighborhood park. Visitors enjoy the seasonal color landscaping, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts and a baseball field. 37th and Grandview.

McKinney Park is a neighborhood park that offers a special celebration during the Christmas season. Thousands of Christmas lights decorate this park during the month of December.  “Starbright Village” offers excitement for the kid in all of us

Slator Park is a neighborhood park with playground and softball facilities. This park is home to the area’s most popular community center. 38th and Pleasant

Salinas Park is a neighborhood park that provides area visitors with playground and baseball fields. 600 West Clements

Memorial Gardens, formerly Buffalo Wallow, is a playa lake that formed when buffalo wallowed in the dirt, digging out a large area that later filled with water. It was recently developed as a hike/bike trail that includes a xeriscape garden with a waterfall, bridges, restroom and lights. There is a powerful fountain in the center of the water that adds to the scenic area. Several beautiful sculptures adorn this park. Across from the Music City Mall at John Ben Sheppard on Parkway and 42nd St.

Floyd Gwinn Park was the first park built in Odessa. This park sits on 40 acres and has two playground areas, two tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, lighted volleyball courts, and soccer fields. The pool provides fun and recreation for area swimmers in summer months. The Floyd Gwinn Gymnasium gives local groups the opportunity to provide activities for children and adults alike. This park houses the Police Athletic League facilities. 10th and West County Road.

The Barrier Free Progressive Park, A Special Park for Special People, is especially designed to meet the needs of disabled children. The park features two play areas for different age groups, a sensory garden for visually challenged children, and talking tubes to communicate around the park. The park is a project sponsored, designed and partially funded by the downtown Lioness Club. Tom Green Avenue and Sixth Street

Ratliff Stadium Soccer & Softball Complex is one of the newest parks in Odessa. Located next to Ratliff Stadium at Yukon and Grandview. The complex encompasses two lighted fields for fastpitch and softball and two-lighted soccer fields.

Additional information about parks can be obtained by calling the City of Odessa Parks and Recreation Department at (432) 368-3548.

Comanche Trails Park in Odessa, Texas is classified in the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Urban Landscapes Master Plan as a special purpose park containing 100 acres in a linear formation along the natural Monahan’s Draw. 

Approximately half of this trail system is located in an undeveloped draw area of the park site that provides a natural habitat for birding. 

Some species that can be found are:

Winter; multispecies flocks of birds from the Rocky Mountains... red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, golden crowned and ruby crowned kinglets, lesser and american goldfinches, pine siskins, yellow rumped and orange crowned warblers, white-crowned sparrows

Spring migration; the forest is an excellent "migrant trap" for many species of warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, buntings, sparrows

Summer nesters and residents; yellow billed cuckoo, lesser goldfinch, curved billed thrasher, cactus wren, painted bunting, blue grosbeak, black chinned hummingbird, lark sparrows

Fall migration; warblers    

Also, the first week in October is when the monarch butterflies will sometimes gather in huge numbers (thousands) and spend the night in the trees in our area.