Green Meadow Park is located on the northwest side of Hobbs, NM…read more It features a large human-made pond with a walking path upon its perimeter. I brought my daughters here for their first time on 8/27/2022. It was my first time visiting the City-maintained park in over ten years. While it has some new-to-me features, I think that in the coming years there could be some major improvements. There was ample parking. On a sidenote, when we were there, two large dogs were not on leashes playing fetch with their owners. My dog is no longer around, so I often walk my brother's pitbull and want to start walking my other brother's German Shepherd... good dog owners know where I'm going with this. Just be careful when going to any park with your dog in this town. The "let's all win, toss it in the bin" campaign certainly seems to help keep waste off the ground. Here, it's printed on large signs with trash cans spread throughout the park. Much appreciated! Now if we could just get all of the morons to stop throwing trash out their car windows... TIP + The Hobbs Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM at Green Meadows Park.

This us a very nice clean park to take your family. New playground equipment , large pond with…read moreducks and geese. You can also fish there. Clean restrooms which is a plus!

Yours truly recently acquired the role of "soccer mom" for the first time ever (3/4/2023)…read more In turn, Jefferson Park became our practice field because 1) it's a free public space & 2) hardly anyone goes here! In Jefferson's defense, it is on the south side of town - meaning it's too far for most Hobbsans to consider - plus it's tucked away in a lesser known area. I used to teach at the elementary nearby over 10 years ago... I don't recall any of this being within short walking distance of the school: + basketball courts + bbq grills + lights + pavilions + picnic tables + playground + restrooms + sand volleyball courts + soccer goals + youth baseball fields (still referred to as Bensing Park) + & a .80-mile walking path I give this city park 4 stars because while it has great amenities, it is not at all debris-free nor is it in a particularly nice neighborhood.

While City Park in Hobbs, NM, isn't the largest, it's one of the best overall…read more Located within a neighborhood and behind the newest elementary school, Murray, this park has several amenities: + Restrooms + BBQ grills + pavilions + lights + walking path + playground equipment + tennis courts (with no nets as of 9/2/2022) + splash pad + & shaded basketball courts! There is free parking on the north & south ends as well as street parking. I remember what this park looked like when I was in high school. It has seen a major improvement over the years. The landscaping & shade trees look beautiful & healthy.

Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL, author, and all-around bad ass - said this back in May 2022, "My…read more[16-year-old] daughter and I will be going to Normandy for the D-Day events and commemorations there." By no means does the Hobbs Veterans Memorial Park possess anywhere near the past and signifance that Normandy does. Still, I walked with one of my young daughters there recently (3/22/2023) to discuss the reason behind veteran memorials and the impact that history has had on us Americans. She is currently 8-years-old & seemed to have grasped these stories very quickly. In Lea County alone, there are "over 8,000 veterans." There are a few in my family. Our neighbors. Our friends. So I think it's important that my children understand freedom comes with a heavy price. Every parent should explain this to their family even if they don't agree with or like the past. In order for us to not repeat the bad events, we have to examine history. We have to be prepared at all times. Moving onto this particular site... There is a small parking lot at no charge. Features of this memorial include: + a large brick sign + flags of America (fly, baby fly!), New Mexico, and POW MIA in addition to all of the United States Armed Forces + F-105 fighter jet used during the Vietnam War + military chopper (I couldn't find any info on its history) + markers honoring each branch of the military & several wars in which the U.S. was involved + 2 placques "in appreciation to the men & women" who served on the Hobbs Army Air Field - which is approximately where the memorial sits today There are a number of individuals to express my gratitude for this, but for now I will say thank you, District 5 City Commissioner and United States Army Veteran Dwayne Penick, for your vision and for helping this dream come true. Thank you Hobbs native and former U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce for locating the jet which was apparently "delivered at no cost to the city." Also, thanks to Wilbanks Trucking Inc. for transporting and setting up the jet on display. SOURCES https://www.leacountytribune.com/2022/05/31/hobbs-veterans-memorial-park/ https://www.leacountytribune.com/2021/04/16/veterans-memorial-park-approved/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1083&v=1qQuPYKE9oQ&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fpermianproud.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

You don't accidentally end up at Bottomless Lakes State Park you make the choice to drift a little…read moreoff the grid. It's a short drive out of Roswell, but it feels like you've stepped into a quieter, older story. Legend says they tried to measure the lake with ropes tied end to end and never hit bottom. Maybe that's true. Maybe it's just a good tale told over a couple beers. Either way, standing there, staring into that dark water, you start to feel it--that little itch in your brain that wonders if everything you've been told is only half the story. We rolled in like we knew what we were doing cooler packed, grill fired up, chicken skewers sizzling, jalapeño poppers snapping over the flame, and my buddy throwing together something that leaned suspiciously close to Hawaiian poke. No crowds. No noise but what we brought with us. Bose speaker cranked, music bouncing off the water, beers cracking open one after another like punctuation marks in a long, lazy sentence. It wasn't polished. It wasn't fancy. It was just right. That's the thing about a place like this it doesn't try to impress you. It just sits there, quiet and a little mysterious, letting you project whatever story you came with. Some of it feels real. Some of it feels like the kind of myth you tell because reality isn't quite enough. Either way, it sticks with you. Bottom line off the beaten path, a little rough around the edges, and exactly the kind of place that earns its spot on the list.

Just outside of Roswell is a wonderful camping park surrounded by Pecos Diamonds, short trails, and…read moreswimming holes. We just dropped in during the winter months on a beautiful sunny afternoon to watch the NM sun go down over the west horizon. We stopped by the visitor center and met volunteers, Will and Jody. Let me just say they were super friendly and knowledgeable about the park. When we come back it will certainly be because of these awesome hosts...they were living their best lives. I was jealous. We drove over to a couple of the lakes. We checked out Mirror Lake and the Devil's Inkwell. They both had small trails around them to view the watering hole and the surrounding layers of red quartz on limestone. The area around Lea Lake is better set up for picnics, swimming, and water sports. It was closed for the season, but would open in the Spring. Tip: Make a reservation for space during the warmer months. It was a great outdoor distraction just outside Roswell. Beautiful sunsets, and super calm during the winter.

If you can find the MVD office on Jack Gomez Boulevard in Hobbs, NM, then you can find the…read more"Fortress on the Plains." About a 1/2 mile northwest of the MVD lies the metal sculpture of Brian Norwood, a local artist. It's back off of the Lovington Highway. You can certainly see it from the highway, but there are a couple of ways to drive closer to it too... What stands out immediately and can be seen as your zipping along on Highway 18 is the silouhette of a Boeing B-17, which is also referred to as the "Flying Fortress." The heavy massive planes were "four-engined bomber" planes that helped provide remarkable and highly accurate capabilities for attacking our enemies. It also depicts pilots-in-training who flew these Boeing B-17s at the former nearby Hobbs Army Air Field which was a prevalent training base during the Second World War. To my knowledge, there is no plaque or highway sign informing of said historical piece. I hope that someday soon this would change. My oldest daughter and I parked on a caliche road as close to it as we could and walked up to it to take photos. If you choose to do this, just be careful of wildlife holes - prairie dogs and snakes live here as do mesquite bushes and all the desert weeds and prickly flora! Lol. Norwood's website states that the structure is "19 feet tall at the tail and stretches for 82 feet from end-to-end." The sculpture was funded by the City of Hobbs and dedicated "at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month -- Veteran's Day 2008." As I always say, history - no matter our opinion - should always be remembered so the good may be repeated and the bad shall not! Please make a point of viewing this artwork as it is free and rich with history if you know how and where to look for it. TIP: The sun sets behind the "Fortress." New Mexico's sunsets are stunning! Works Cited http://briannorwoodart.com/fortress_on_the_plains https://www.britannica.com/technology/B-17

A wonderful State Park, located on Brantley Lake! There are 47 camp sites with water and electric…read more They also have dispersed sites as well.

We have stayed here for 14 days. It is a nice secluded park, quiet, and dark but still close enough…read moreto Carlsbad and local attractions. We went to Carlsbad Caverns and Bat Flight Program, Sitting Bull Falls and The Flume during our second visit to this area. The park is in need of some trimming and weed control. Our site is filled with Texas Star Thistle. We had to do yardwork before setting up our pet fence. I mean it is everywhere here. There are dead trees at sites which should be taken down before they fall on someone. The sites are not level. The dump station is closed. They said they are taking bids from local companies and should be up in two weeks but it has been two weeks. We were able to use our blue boy and dump at a vacant host site. The park would be so much nicer if a little care was taken to clean the sites of vegetation. I'm not sure if we would stay here again.

The only dog park in town but it's a good one! The grass is usually always green and they seem to…read morecut it down about every two weeks. They have a section for small dogs, large dogs, and they a middle section for all the dogs to mingle. The middle section also has a water fountain for the pups, oh and for the humans too. There is also a Ramada here with tables. Every area also has its own agility course for dogs to roam around and play on. There also poop bags for ones use, but people seem to overlook them. For the usual, people don't believe in picking up after their dogs and so there's poop all over the place. Beware.. The park is open till 11pm and it's open daily!

Del Norte Dog Park. I think this is the only official "dog park" in Hobbs, NM…read more Nope, this is not cutting it for a dog park, though. Broken glass in the streets. Beer cans always in the parking lot near here. Trash everywhere. Dog owners not picking up after their canines. Sticker patches in the large dog area - huge ones that I noticed they tried to weed whack down, but the damn things are still all over the ground. I walk a 75-pound pitbull here often early mornings and constantly see other dogs not on leashes. They run immediately towards us. It's always small dogs. Makes me nervous because I never want to see this sweet girl get provoked. When you face the entrance, the small dog area is over to the left. A communal area is in the middle. Large dog area is to the right. All of them have separate fencing and gates. Don't come here in the evenings when all the youngsters are revving up their engines and trying to be cool nearby. It's a late night hangout for them. PROS + the gates are set up nicely + dog waste stations + obstacle courses + free, ample parking within walking distance + one water station in the communal area

Here's the thing I would've given this a five star review but umm they removed the sand excavator…read morebecause that was my favorite thing there. Overall very fun with LOTS to do

I would definitely give this park a five star, that is mainly if you are comparing this to the…read moreother parks around. It was just perfect for my kids 2.5 and 3.5 years old. The park was constructed or dedicated for children with special needs, so it is made very accommodating and accessible for wheel chairs, and the swings are like chairs to be secure and comforting. There are plenty of plays for the kids of different ages, pretty colorful, and the weather is best after 7 pm, beware of the mosquitos though there are quite a few to bite you over there!

Wow! What an AWESOME park!…read more It is nice to have a play area for my older 2 (ages 3 and 4) and my little one (age 1). I actually couldn't believe how HIGH the older-kids equipment was! The slides were SO long! I really liked the turf ground cover! Looks great! No mess! No watering! Soft to land on. We didn't walk around the " fitness track" area but it appeared to have exercise equipment along the trail. The one thing that would have been nice would be a restroom. (Unless I'm mistaken and didn't see it). Of course my kids had to "go" like 20 minutes after we arrived so we had to leave. We'll be back!

Just moved here from Louisiana. I have never seen a park like this back home. This park is great!read more