The first of six parks planned at Babcock Ranch will open Aug. 24. The public and their dogs are invited to Paw-ty in the Park, a grand opening celebration for its dog park in the Midtown section of the master-planned community. 

“We’re excited to debut Bark Park and its many amenities. We know the park will bring joy to pets and their people,” Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, said of the event, which will include entertainment, dog-friendly activities, raffle prizes, food and model home tours. 

The pet party will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 17300 Babcock Trail in the Curry Creek Preserve area. 

The event kicks off The Parkway Adventure Series, which will highlight exploration, outdoor recreation, community connections and new home neighborhoods located close to parks. 

The Bark Park will have separate play areas for small and large dogs in addition to agility equipment, shade pavilions, watering stations, restrooms and a pet memorial. 

Kitson & Partners also announced upcoming parks for humans of all ages. 

This fall Hillcrest Park and The Lagoon will open. 

Hillcrest will be perched atop the community’s highest point and feature a two-story observation tower, as well as tall grassy mounds, hillside slides and climbing nets. 

The Lagoon will have a fishing pier for catch and release and floating docks adrift on 3.3 acres of water. 

The three additional parks include Bluebird Park and Palmetto Park planned to open later this year, and Explorers Park, which is expected to open in early 2025. 

Bluebird Park will be for the younger set, with a bluebird theme throughout, grass hills and playground equipment. Explorer Park is going to be an all-inclusive park for everyone regardless of their ability levels. 

Palmetto Park is geared to those with high energy and will include a basketball court, waterfall splash pad and a two-story treehouse. 

All parks will include restrooms, shaded pavilions, parking and blend with new trails leading into the preserve. 

The parks at Babcock Ranch will run along a 3.5-mile stretch of green space and span 313 acres of Curry Creek Preserve.  

Half of Babcock Ranch’s footprint has been set aside as greenways, parks and lakes, and from its inception, the 18,000-acre Babcock Ranch community was planned to have outdoor amenities, including parks, community pools, fitness centers, a lazy river and more.