5 Fun Reasons Cedar Park is Growing Fast

Cedar Park is a beautiful and well-rounded suburb just 16 miles northwest of Austin. Expansive parks, successful sports teams, excellent schools, varied shopping and dining, and full event schedule make this city one of the fastest growing towns in the country.

1. The Phenomenal Parks of Cedar Park

Photo: Freeimages/Russell Thomas

Cedar Park does, in fact, have beautiful parks! This city of around 70,000 people boasts hundreds of acres of parkland for residents and visitors. The parks are designed for everyone to have fun! Whether you want to play a variety of sports, barbecue, swim in the community pools, or take your furry friend to the park, you’re in luck!

Baseball, softball, basketball, bocce, disc golf, bmx, soccer, rock climbing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and hiking are all sports supported by the facilities in Cedar Park. Many of the parks have group areas available to reserve for team and private events. Multiple sports areas are offered at many of the parks as well. You can go for a swim, take the kids to a playground, and then climb a rock wall all in close proximity!

Cedar Park is home to a unique dog park in the Hill Country. The Bark Park covers a stunning five acres with has three fenced areas for dogs, a natural dog pond, benches and shade for family members, as well as obstacles and agility equipment. Double gates with doggy shower areas ensure safe and clean dogs!

Bring the whole family to one or more of Cedar Park’s amazing Hill Country parks!

2. Cedar Park’s Successful Sports Stars

Photo: Freeimages/Peter Bruce Wilder

Sports are a serious business in Texas, and Cedar Park supports their student and adult athletes. There are two top-level minor league teams that have home court advantage in Cedar Park. The Austin Spurs is a successful team in the NBA’s D-League, and the Texas Stars is one of the premier teams in the American Hockey League.

All of the high schools in Cedar Park/Leander have prime teams in a variety of sports. The community supports their student athletes with game attendance, fundraising, and enthusiasm! The City of Cedar Park offers many recreational leagues and excellent programs for younger children as well. Adults in the community stay active and competitive with a full adults’ sports schedule with a variety of sports in Cedar Park.

3. High Achieving Schools

Photo: Freeimages/Herriberto Herrera

Cedar Park is part of the top-rated and highly desirable Leander Independent School District. The district spans over 200 square miles, contains 39 schools and educates over 37,000 students (leanderisd.org). Elementary schools are well located in geographical areas to produce tight-knit neighborhood schools. These successful primary schools funnel students into eight middle schools and six high schools. There are also two alternative education campuses available for students.

The schools and community partners work in tandem to achieve their ongoing goals. Leander ISD has opportunities for every learner and prides itself on providing options for everyone. The dedicated, passionate teachers and a strong community of support make a successful combination for Cedar Park families.

4. Right-sized Suburb

Photo: Freeimages/Joe Zlomek

Cedar Park is not too big, not too small, it’s just the right size for a wide variety of dining and retail options. Many national chains of ‘big box’ stores are found in Cedar Park, either along Farm to Market 1431 or the Lakeline area. The Lakeline Mall offers large retail options like Macy’s, Dillard’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Chico’s, Old Navy, Party City, and much, much more. 1890s Ranch shopping center on 1431 also provides additional shopping opportunities with Super Target, Academy, and Hobby Lobby among others. National chain restaurants also call Cedar Park home, like Chili’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, and IHOP.

If you dig just a little deeper, you will find amazing local and family-run restaurants with big city cuisines without the Austin traffic. Big Cat BBQ is one such eatery; with award-winning barbecue and deep ties to the community, this is as good as it gets. Blue Corn Harvest Bar and Grill is the freshest Tex-Mex with locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to the area farmers. It is also dog-friendly on their patio so your pooch will be happy to come out on date night! Whitestone Brewery is a unique brewery and taproom. In addition to high-quality craft beers brewed on location, they host a rotating schedule of food trucks in their outdoor area, are family and dog-friendly, have a variety of board and lawn games, have live music on the weekends, and fun events throughout the week.

Whether you are looking for retail and dining experiences from your favorite national chains or to find a unique, local shop or eatery, Cedar Park has it all.

5. Full Calendar of Fun

Photo: Freeimages/Natalya Bruner

Between the large HEB Event Center, full community calendar, festivals, and music, there will never be a dull moment in Cedar Park! The HEB Center is a versatile space that houses the Austin Spurs and Texas Stars, as well as local festivals like the NOLA Festival, and hosts musical guests like Brad Paisley and the OUTCRY Tour. Large events in the Cedar Park always have an ideal location in the HEB Center.

The City of Cedar Park puts together a fun and fulfilling calendar of local events, athletic schedules, live music, movies in the parks, and festivals. The Austin Steam Train, many historical markers, Lake Travis Zipline, and churches of many denominations round out the possibilities of family time in Cedar Park.