Grapevine parks and trails, by the city's own numbers

The system in numbers

The Parks & Recreation Department's own count is a total of 73.89 miles of hike-and-bike trails located throughout the city [S1]; its trails page rounds that to over 73 miles [S2]. Grapevine Lake covers about 8,000 acres, and the city describes more than nine miles of wilderness trails along its shoreline [S3]. The city maintains and operates 11 public-access boat ramps, including both low-water and high-water ramps so launching still works as the lake level moves [S3]. The lake itself is federal: the Corps of Engineers owns the land, and Meadowmere Park, Oak Grove Park, Rockledge Park and The Vineyards Campground are run by the City of Grapevine under a lease with the Corps [S4]. The Grapevine city profile has the verified population, market and commute figures to weigh alongside the parks.

What the lake parks cost

Meadowmere Park, Rockledge Park, Lakeview Park and all of the city's boat ramps are fee areas [S1]. The day-use fee is $10, or $20 on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and payment is by credit or debit card only, at a gatehouse, a pay kiosk or by text or scan-to-pay [S5]. An annual pass covers the city's lake parks and boat ramps for one year from purchase and is tied to your vehicle's license plate, not your boat trailer's [S5]. It costs $40 at the resident rate and $100 for non-residents; seniors 62 and older, disabled citizens, active military and veterans also get the resident rate, and residency or discount status is verified [S5]. Owners of Grapevine property who live elsewhere can get the resident boat-ramp pass with proof of ownership [S1].

Meadowmere, Lakeview and The Vineyards

Meadowmere Park, at 3000 Meadowmere Lane, lists 288 acres with a designated swimming beach, a playground, shaded picnic tables, grills and lakeside primitive tent campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, where pets are allowed [S6]. It is open 8 a.m. to sunset, with the front gate closing 30 minutes before sunset; entry is $10 per car ($20 on holiday weekends) and $1 per person on foot ($5 on holiday weekends) [S6]. The park's low-water boat ramp is currently closed, so boats launch at the Meadowmere Lane Boat Ramp [S6]. Lakeview Park, at 3850 Lakeview Dr., is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and has a non-motorized launch onto the Grapevine Lake Paddling Trail, a boat ramp, trails, a playground and a two-story pavilion; the fee is not required to walk, bike or drive the park loop [S7]. The Vineyards Campground and Cabins, at 1501 N. Dooley St., has furnished lake-view cabins and full-hookup RV sites with pull-throughs, plus a beach, a fishing pier and a nature trail; reservations go through VineyardsCampground.com [S8]. Rockledge Park has a Northshore Trail trailhead, and Flower Mound's Twin Coves Park also has access to the trail [S4].

Around town: The REC and the neighborhood parks

One rule matters for anyone choosing an address near the city line: resident membership at The REC of Grapevine is set by where you pay city property taxes, not school taxes [S1]. The city says families in GCISD who don't pay Grapevine city property taxes may have to buy a non-resident membership, and employees of Grapevine businesses join at the non-resident rate [S1]. The REC's childwatch takes children from 3 months to 9 years old for up to two hours a day while a guardian is in the building [S1]. The spraygrounds at Dove Park, Parr Park and The REC are open May 1 to September 30, and Casey's Clubhouse at Dove Park is a playground designed for total access by wheelchair users [S1]. Dogs are allowed in city parks on a leash, and alcohol is prohibited in parks except at Grapevine Lake as the city code allows [S1].

Weighing Grapevine against its neighbors

Parks are one input, not the decision. The comparisons put Grapevine beside its neighbors on verified population, market and commute data: Flower Mound vs Grapevine (the other city on Grapevine Lake), Grapevine vs Southlake, Coppell vs Grapevine, Grapevine vs Keller and Frisco vs Grapevine. The same city-amenities series covers Flower Mound, McKinney, Allen and Prosper.

How many miles of trails does Grapevine have?

The city's Parks & Recreation Department reports a total of 73.89 miles of hike-and-bike trails throughout the city [S1]. Its Grapevine Lake page also describes more than nine miles of wilderness trails along the lake [S3].

How much does it cost to use Grapevine's lake parks?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, or $20 on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. An annual pass for the city's lake parks and boat ramps is $40 at the resident rate and $100 for non-residents, card only [S5].

Who gets the resident rate at The REC of Grapevine?

Residency is set by city property taxes, not school taxes: if your property taxes are paid to the City of Grapevine, you qualify for resident membership. GCISD families outside the city may need a non-resident membership [S1].