Things to Do in Parker

The Preserve (City Park)

The Preserve is Parker's only city park, on Gray Lane just south of East Parker Road, close to City Hall. It sits on Blackland Prairie soil in the floodplain of Maxwell Creek, and the city describes it as home to egrets, ducks, cardinals, jays, swallows, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, armadillos, and other wildlife.

What is there:

• Nature Trail: a loop of about 4,250 feet (0.8 miles), part crushed granite and part concrete, running beneath the trees and along Maxwell Creek and the pond. The ground beside the trail gets muddy after rain, but the trail itself stays mostly passable.
• The Barn: built by John Gray in 1847 and expanded in 1943. Visitors may not enter it, but it is visible from the pond and the trail.
• Parker Cotton Gin remains: part of the original foundation of William C. Parker's gin, which ran first on mule power and later on a steam engine.
• Wishing Well: a Scout project in the trees north of the gazebo. The well is sealed.
• Wildflower Garden: just south of the trees.
• Gazebo: open to everyone, with shade and seating.

Park rules worth knowing: the park closes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., alcohol and glass containers are not allowed, dogs must be cleaned up after, amplified sound is prohibited, and swimming or wading in the pond or creek is not allowed. Motorized vehicles are limited to parking areas. The city's Living Legacy Tree Program lets residents fund trees in the park.

Southfork Ranch

Southfork Ranch, at 3700 Hogge Road, is the house and ranch used for the exterior of the Ewing home in the CBS series Dallas. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided Ewing Mansion tours every hour from 10:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. General admission in 2026 is $30 for adults and $25 for seniors 60 and older and children 6 to 12, plus 8.25 percent sales tax. Children 5 and under are free.

Beyond the mansion tour, the ranch offers:

• The Dallas Legends Museum and a theater showing episodes of the series
• The Lincoln and Longhorns exhibit, with a 1978 Lincoln Continental from the show
• Ranch animals near the visitor check-in at Miss Ellie's Deli
• Trail rides and horse education packages (riders at least 8 years old and 48 inches tall)
• A chuckwagon dinner package and overnight stays in the mansion for up to four guests

Southfork closes to tours on some dates for private events, including October 16 and 17, 2026. See the full Southfork Ranch guide.

Community events

• Parkerfest: the city's own festival, run with volunteers. In 2026 the city recruited volunteers through its Parkerfest page and parkerfest.org. Check the site for the current date.
• National Night Out: held in Texas in early October; in 2026 it fell on October 6. Parker police, fire, council members, and staff visit registered block parties.
• City meetings: the Parks and Recreation Commission meets publicly and oversees park programs. Meeting dates are on the city calendar.

Events in neighboring cities

History stops

Parker's history is visible in a few places along Parker Road:

• Corinth Presbyterian Church: organized August 2, 1846, and thought to be the oldest continuing congregation in Collin County. Its sanctuary on Parker Road was completed in 1923, and a bell steeple was added during a 1980s renovation.
• T.L. Johnson Store site: a 2017 Collin County Historical Commission marker describes the two-story store that stood on the north side of Parker Road, east of the church across what is now Church Road. It held Parker's post office from 1888 to 1900.
• Parker Cotton Gin marker: placed by the Collin County Historical Commission in 2016. Part of the gin's foundation remains in the Preserve.
• William C. Parker marker: for the community's namesake (1836 to 1898).

Parks and outdoor recreation nearby

Parker has one city park, so most playgrounds, sports fields, and longer trails are in the neighboring cities.

Murphy Central Park and Amphitheater

550 N. Murphy Road, Murphy, about 2.5 miles south of Parker City Hall on FM 2551. The park has 52 acres of parkland, 16 of them developed, with an amphitheater seating 2,500 to 3,000, 5 acres of multipurpose fields, and about 0.6 miles of concrete trail that connects to Murphy's Maxwell Creek Trail. Maxwell Creek is the same creek that runs through Parker's Preserve.

Lucas Community Park

665 Country Club Road (FM 1378), next to Lucas City Hall. It is the home of the Lucas Farmers Market and many Lucas city events.

Allen parks north of Parker

• Celebration Park, 701 N. Angel Parkway, Allen: 97 acres with sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground and sprayground, walking trails, and two rentable pavilions.
• Bethany Lakes Park, 745 S. Allen Heights Drive, Allen: trails, fishing, a playground, disc golf, an amphitheater with seasonal events, and the Allen Veterans Memorial.

Lavon Lake

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir east of Wylie, with both Corps-operated and leased public parks. Check the Corps' Lavon page for park closures.

Hunting season

Dove season runs from September 1 to October 31, and hunting is permitted on several private tracts in and around Parker. Expect to hear gunfire in fall.

Shopping and dining districts nearby

• FM 544 and Murphy Road, Murphy: the closest cluster of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores, including an H-E-B that opened on July 22, 2026 at FM 544 and McCreary Road.
• Watters Creek Village, 970 Garden Park Drive, Allen: open-air shopping and dining near US 75 and Bethany Drive, with a calendar of events.
• Historic Downtown Plano, along 15th Street in Plano: restaurants, galleries, shops, and an event calendar maintained by the downtown association.

See the restaurants page for specific places.

Last reviewed October 2026. See something out of date? Email info@grisak.com.