Our Favorite Neighborhood Park: Anderson Mill West Park in Cedar Park
If you’re a local parent looking for a great park in Cedar Park or northwest Austin, let me put Anderson Mill West Park on your radar. I stumbled across this place a few years ago with my daughter’s playgroup, and it’s been one of our go-to spots ever since.
It’s tucked away near Dagama Drive and El Salido Parkway, right by Cypress Elementary School. It’s technically part of Williamson-Travis MUD #1, and honestly, they do a great job keeping it clean and welcoming. You can tell someone actually cares about this place.
What I love most is that it has a little bit of everything without being overcrowded. There’s a big open pavilion (they even had a full orchestra perform there once—how cool is that?), plenty of climbing structures, and some fun “ride-on” playground pieces that help spread the kids out so no one’s climbing over each other. And yes, it still has one of those old-school metal merry-go-rounds. My kids are obsessed.
They also love watching the tennis camps going on next door while they play. And if I remember to pack them, we’ll bring shovels and buckets so they can dig around in the sand volleyball court, which is usually empty.
A few things to know:
- There are bathrooms, but I don’t think there are any water fountains (and even if there are, I wouldn’t count on them being super refreshing in the Texas heat—bring your own drinks).
- There’s no dedicated parking, so most of us just park along Dagama Dr. I’ve seen some folks use the school lot during the summer or after school hours, too.
- The park opens straight onto El Salido Parkway, so if you have a runner, keep that in mind.
Overall, it’s a solid park that works for little ones and bigger kids alike. It’s got enough variety to keep them entertained, and it’s just one of those spots that feels like a hidden gem.
Anderson Mill West Park
at the intersection of Dagama and El Salido Parkway
Cedar Park, TX 78613