Odessa’s first park was McKinney Park (Pool Road and Crane Avenue), which was developed in June 22, 1927. Soon after in September 1927, Crump Park (5th Street and Washington Avenue), was developed. It was purchased from Albert Smith for the sum of $1,500 and was 1.04 acres in size. In 1936, it was selected as the site for the first city hall. The original building is still in use today.

The first community park was Floyd Gwin Park, developed in 1940. This park, located at West 10th Street and West County Road, contained the "Ector County Auditorium," built in 1940, and it served as the first Ector County Coliseum.  Today the Police Athletic League and the Parks and Recreation Department utilize the auditorium.

The first aquatic facility was developed in 1945 at Floyd Gwin Park. The swimming pool remained operational until the 1980s, when it was renovated. It remains in operation today. Three other aquatic facilities were developed in the early 1950s, including McKinney Park Pool, Woodson Park Pool (Murphy Street and College Avenue), and Sherwood Park Pool (44th Street and Dixie Boulevard).

In 1954, Sherwood Park, a second community park was developed. Sherwood Park contained Prairie Pete Playland Park, a playground developed by the Rotary Club, and a prairie dog town. Freedom Park (Lakeview Drive and Byron Avenue) was developed by the Oasis Foundation in 1976. In 1986, Comanche Trails Park (West County Road and Clements Street) opened and it contained the area’s first major hike and bike trail system. Noel Plaza (Fifth Street and Lincoln Avenue) was developed in 1991, in honor of Mr. W.D. Noel.

In 2002, two (2) new Family Aquatic Centers were built.

AND NOW…

Today the park system contains over 600 acres of dedicated parkland at 36 different site locations.  The maintenance and operations of the parks consists of an employee force of 40 full time employees and 4 part-time employees.  Support facilities for the system include a 110' x 30' greenhouse and a 10-acre tree farms that contains approximately 3,000 trees.  The Parks tree program has entitled Odessa to be as a Tree City USA as identified by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Currently the renovation of Sherwood Park is underway with a completion date of late 2010.