Jack Brooks Park Is the County's Big Mainland Playground Near Hitchcock

When mainland Galveston County wants elbow room, it goes to Jack Brooks Park, 678 acres at the corner of FM 2004 and State Highway 6 near Hitchcock. This is where the island's beach-and-bay life gives way to woods and trail. The mountain bike trails have a real following, roughly six and a half miles of singletrack with enough technical bite to draw riders from across the region, and there are horse trails, a kayak and canoe launch, and two full 18-basket disc golf courses.

It's also the county's gathering ground. Baseball and softball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas share the grounds with a covered rodeo arena and fairgrounds — the home of the Galveston County Fair and Rodeo every spring. A weekend here can be a bike ride, a ballgame, and a barbecue without leaving the gate.

It's open daylight hours and free to walk in. The park office is at (409) 934-8100 if you're booking a pavilion, the arena, or a field for a tournament.