Makin' Plans; Interesting Places to Explore in the City of Lubbock
- While the Buddy Holly Recreation Area was 99.9% scraped clean of native growth in the process of converting wild canyon land to tame park (a tiny residue remains at a spot or two along the west fence line), the most interesting places lie on private land. North of Cesar Chavez Drive and west of Akron Avenue are some vacant lots and lots with houses that look like they preserve the original canyonland vegetation. [See https://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/lake-1.pdf?sfvrsn=c8765bc9_2 ] Be interesting to get a close look. There is a sizeable property that looks as though it is a home and bird sanctuary -- one of the few properties in the city that I could covet.
- The hillside south of Berl Huffman athletic complex I have not explored. On the satellite view -- https://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/lake-1.pdf?sfvrsn=c8765bc9_2 -- it looks bare but you never know.
- I have driven and cycled by the canyon lakes between University Ave. and Mackenzie Park. They look to be as scraped as the Buddy Holly area but you never know. Worth a closer look.
- There is an area north of Meadowbrook Golf Course that in the early 2000s was used by mountain bikers who made trails (as they have on the north side of Dunbar Lake). Think it is still city property. No idea what's there.
- The Mackenzie Park west rim I have not fully explored.
- There is still much to see in the part of Mackenzie Park that remains "wild" north of the farm implement museum. That may be the least spoiled portion of Lubbock parks.
- There is a roughly triangular wooded area SE of Meadowbrook that may be accessed off of Parkway Drive. https://www.mylubbock.us/docs/default-source/parks-rec-file-library/mackenzie-park---north.pdf?sfvrsn=17775bc9_2 Hanker to know what's in there.
- The area between Broadway and 19th west of Cesar Chavez Drive I've spent some time at but there is much left to explore. It appears the high ground to the west has been ruined by dumping but I haven't gotten that far. There is a "keep out" sign on city property next to the TV antenna, but none that I've seen to the 19th Street access.
- South of 19th, the wooded area that is now a disk golf course used to be quite wild and I explored there. In the conversion to a disk golf course it has been thinned and tamed and I haven't gone back.
- The Mae Simmons area was scalped like the canyon lakes to the northeast. Not to say there is nothing interesting growing there. Saw an observation posted recently.
- Around Dunbar Lake I have only begun to look at the rim area west of Sunrise Canyon facility, and could spend weeks tramping the weedy mesquite woods to the east. A lot of plant life is best preserved on the heights and there are heights inside the road at various points around the lake. Vegetation is so thick that I believe I'll stop tempting fate and will wear high boots. On the old Caprock Tri-Sport forum, bike riders regularly reported rattlesnakes on the trails.
- The Hell's Gate and east area looks bare and is smelly, but there are things to find there.