As a photographer, I’ve spent a lot of time in some of our city’s prettiest parks. And I’m frequently surprised by the number of families who have never been to many of these spots. So I thought I’d share some info – and beautiful pictures – from some of my favorites. You can find links to more down at the bottom but for today: Tom Slick Park.
Tom Slick Park
Tom Slick Park probably isn’t one of the city’s most well-known parks, but it’s a gem on the westside that is definitely worth a visit. The park is named for Thomas Baker Slick, Jr. Slick was an heir to an oil business and became a well-known businessman, inventor, philanthropist, and adventurer. He had a particular fascination with exploring creatures like Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster…and there’s even a little Nessie sculpture peeking out of the park’s quarry in honor of this! Nessie may be hidden when water levels are high, but take a look when you’re there to see if you can spot her in the water!
Tom Slick Dog Park
One of the main attractions at Tom Slick is for dog-lovers. This park boasts TWO dog parks on site! The main dog park is an entire acre and has separate areas for big dogs and small dogs. There are benches and picnic tables for the humans and some agility structures. Best of all, there’s water. In addition to dog water fountains, there’s a water tub that your dog can splash and cool off in. Definitely a great feature in San Antonio!
Playground and Amenities
Tom Slick Park has a small playground, a basketball court, and has a baseball field, soccer field and football field available for reservation. The park also has a line of outdoor fitness equipment near the dog park. You can get some exercise in while your dog does too!
Quarry and Trail
My favorite part of the park is the quarry and the .7 mile trail that loops around it. I met some friends out there to take pictures and enjoyed showing up early to walk the loop before we met up, and then we had fun exploring the water’s edge and taking some pictures with their sweet pup. You may see people letting their dogs swim in the quarry, but there have been reports of sickness so it’s recommended that you don’t let your furry friends in the water. But it’s fun to explore along the edge and along the rocks. You can also fish in the quarry.
Pictures at Tom Slick Park
As for photos, I loved that the quarry gives a unique background that looks like maybe you’re at a mountain lake rather than in the middle of San Antonio!
Interested taking portraits here? Contact me through my website and let’s chat about creating something beautiful together!
OR take a look at some other parks I’ve written about in this location series:
