Lubbock, Texas

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Mackenzie Park, Lubbock, TX IMG 1644.JPG|thumb|Entrance to Mackenzie Park]]
In March 1877, during the [[Buffalo Hunters' War]], the [[Battle of Yellow House Canyon]] took place at what is now the site of Mackenzie Park. Today, Mackenzie Park is home to the now closed [[Joyland Amusement Park]], [[Prairie Dog]] Town, and both a [[disc golf]] and a regular golf course. The park also holds the [[American Wind Power Center]], which houses over 100 historic windmills on {{convert|28|acre|ha|abbr=off}}. Two tributaries of the [[Brazos River]] wind through Mackenzie Park, which is collectively part of the rather extensive Lubbock Park system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traveltex.com/pg/Activity.aspx?id=966cfb5b-6be4-41f1-9d95-7b3b16b73f8b |title=Mackenzie Park/Prairie Dog Town |publisher=Texas Travel |access-date=July 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210344/http://www.traveltex.com/pg/Activity.aspx?id=966cfb5b-6be4-41f1-9d95-7b3b16b73f8b |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lubbockhospitality.com/mackenzie |title=Lubbock's Mackenzie Park |publisher=Lubbock Hospitality |access-date=July 11, 2007 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084417/http://lubbockhospitality.com/mackenzie/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> These two streams, [[Yellow House Draw]] and [[Blackwater Draw]], converge in the golf course, forming the head of [[Yellow House Canyon]], which carries the waters of the [[North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River]].<ref name=Board>United States Board on Geographical Names. 1964. Decisions on Geographical Names in the United States, Decision list no. 6402, United States Department of the Interior, Washington DC, p. 54.</ref>

Lubbock is home to numerous parks, scattered throughout the city. Most parks feature a small lake and attract waterfowl of various species. One of Lubbock's larger lakes, Dunbar Historic Lake, lies in Dunbar Historic Lake Park, near Mackenzie Park. Drainage exits into the North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River. The park features miles of hiking trails and the [[Crosbyton-Southplains Railroad]] trestle, built in 1911, which spans the North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River at the park's southeast end. This trestle has become known by many locals as "Hell's Gate" or "[[Hell's Gate Trestle]]" for its supposed paranormal activity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-09 |title=Hell's Gates: A Haunted Texas Railroad Trestle Near Buddy Holly's Grave |url=https://texashillcountry.com/hells-gates-haunted-railroad-trestle/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Texas Hill Country |language=en-US |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223154831/https://texashillcountry.com/hells-gates-haunted-railroad-trestle/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many parks in Lubbock are home to a series of Playa Lakes. Often small in size, the lakes serve as reservoirs for stormwater and irrigation runoff, and are an important part of the West Texas High Plains ecosystem.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Playa Lakes |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/high_plains/wetlands/playa.phtml |access-date=2021-12-30 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |archive-date=December 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230141856/https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/high_plains/wetlands/playa.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Playa lakes generally drain from one to another over land during a rainfall event, but many were connected as part of an underground drainage project in the early 2000s to avoid flooding.