Recreation / Culture / Entertainment / Shopping

Allen residents enjoy a wholesome community atmosphere. From extracurricular activities for children and adults to the Allen Philharmonic Symphony and Allen Civic Ballet, Allen has something for everyone. For the golf enthusiast, the City of Allen owns a 27-hole public course, Chase Oaks, annually ranked in the Top 10 North Texas Courses by PGA members. Twin Creeks Golf Club features an 18 hole Arnold Palmer Links course. Allen's new public library is a community, cultural, information and learning center with over 135,000 volumes including special libraries for children and teens. The 54,000 square foot facility includes an auditorium, meeting rooms and an art gallery. Allen's planned parks and recreational areas provide scenic enjoyment for other types of outdoor activities and there is plenty of indoor shopping available in-town or a short drive away. As the community continues to grow, additional services and retail establishments are being added to meet the demand. Allen began to be recognized as a retail "destination" with the development of Allen Premium Outlets, a 458,000 square-foot center at the northwest corner of US 75 and Stacy Road. The upscale designer and name-brand outlet center features over 100 stores such as Neiman Marcus Last Call, Banana Republic, Reebok, Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Ann Taylor, Nike and Liz Claiborne. Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm brings the best-in-class shopping, dining and entertainment to Allen. Located at the southwest corner of Bethany and US 75, the mixed-use, urban lifestyle project includes Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, Woodlands Grill, Mi Cocina, Cru Wine Bar and other great dining options. Anchored by Market Street and Borders Books, other shopping choices include Chico's, Sephora, Jos. A. Banks, DSW and more. The project has 300 loft residential units and 90,000 square feet of office space. In a model example of public and private partnership, the City of Allen has entered into a joint venture with Global Entertainment Corporation and The MGHerring Group to build a $52-million event center. Making this project a reality was a team effort between the City of Allen, the AEDC and the Allen Community Development Corporation, Herring and Global that will give Allen a first-class entertainment venue for concerts, top touring shows, family entertainment and professional sports. The event center is scheduled to open in fall 2009 and will be home to a Central Hockey League team, the Allen Americans. The Allen Event Center, to include 6,275 fixed seats and 24 luxury suites, will be part of The Village at Allen, a 181-acre mixed-use development of The MGHerring Group, located on the southeast corner of US 75 and Stacy Road. In addition to the event center and a hotel, the development features over 1.5 million square feet of retail, restaurant, and office space. The shopping center is opening with new stores including Best Buy, T.J.Maxx, Homegoods and Uncle Julio's. The Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium is a fully enclosed swimming facility located on the southwest corner of Exchange Parkway and Rivercrest Drive. The Natatorium features a 25-meter x 25 yard swimming pool and indoor swim/play area complete with water lagoon, waterfalls, slides and much more. The facility also includes a 5,000 square foot fitness center. The phone number is (214) 509-4770. Celebration Park offers 15 soccer fields, two ball diamonds, horseshoe pits, a "spray-ground" and "Kid Mania," a fully handicapped-accessible playground. Allen Station Park, a community park with ball fields, includes a 35,000 square foot covered skate park (the largest in Texas), a basketball pavilion and an outdoor in-line hockey rink. Bethany Lakes Park provides picnic areas, fishing piers, a clubhouse and play areas.

ALLEN PARKS

Type Total Number Acres
Developed Parks 46 874
Undeveloped Parks 9 135
TOTAL 55 1,009

GOLF COURSES

CHASE OAKS GOLF COURSE
  • 27 holes of championship golf
  • Public Course
TWIN CREEKS GOLF COURSE
  • 18 hole Arnold Palmer course
  • Public Course

TENNIS COURTS

  • 11 Tennis Courts are located in Allen

FITNESS FACILITIES

  • Allen Sport (a 24-Hour Fitness Center)
  • 24-Hour Fitness
  • Lady of America
  • LifeTime Fitness
  • Metroplex Gymnastics & Swimming
  • ShapeXpress for Women
  • Unlimited Success Martial Arts
  • Taekwondo USA Family Center
  • Curves for Women (Two Locations)
  • Jazzercise of Allen
  • Express Fitness
  • Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium/Fitness Center
  • Joe Farmer Recreation Center
  • Eagles Wings
  • ASI Gymnastics

MOVIE THEATRE

  • 16 Screen Cinemark

PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

  • Ford Park
  • Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium/Fitness Center

AREA LAKES

  • Lake Lavon (15 miles)
  • Lake Ray Hubbard (20 miles)
  • Lake Texoma (55 miles)
  • Lake Lewisville (20 miles)

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • In-Line Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • Swimming
  • In-Line Skating
  • Handicapped-Accessible Playground

ADULT ACTIVITIES

  • Basketball
  • Softball
  • Volleyball

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

Senior Citizen Center - 451 St. Mary Drive
  • Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Bridge - Dominoes - Luncheons - Wellness Programs - Computer Classroom
The new 23,000 square foot Senior Center features classroom areas, a multi-purpose room, an exercise room, a full kitchen and the SeniorNet Learning Center. Call (214) 509-4820 for more information.

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT

  • Allen Civic Ballet
  • Allen Philharmonic Symphony
  • SpringFest
  • Allen USA Celebration/July 4th Celebration
  • Summer Sounds Concert Series