Within 20 miles of Converse, TX · Updated 2026-06-03Booking your kid's birthday outdoors in Converse means a quick call to Public Works beats a $400 indoor venue every time. Converse runs three parks — City Park, North Park, and Anton Schumann — and every single one has a pavilion you can rent for $10 an hour with a $50 cleanup deposit. Cross the city line and Universal City's splash-pad-adjacent pavilions and Schertz's large covered pavilion with kitchen fill out a solid five-option list. All within 3.5 miles of Converse's center, all bookable before you send the invites.
1. Converse City Park (Converse)
Location: 307 School St, Converse, TX 78109
Amenities: electricity available ($5/hr), restrooms on site, swimming pool adjacent
Reserve Converse City Park pavilion →
Converse's downtown flagship pavilion — biggest park, easiest logistics. City Park packs 184 acres, a playground, restrooms close to the picnic area, an Olympic swimming pool, and fishing lakes — all within a few minutes of most Converse addresses. The pavilion rents at $10/hour plus $5/hour if you want electricity, and the cleanup deposit returns after the event. Call Public Works first to confirm your date, then finish the booking online. Weekend mornings fill faster than most parents expect, so don't sleep on it.
Good to know: pavilion, playground, restrooms, swimming pool, lakes, ball fields, walking trail.
Parent tip: Call Public Works at 210-659-9513 before booking online to confirm the date is open — Converse uses a phone-first, book-second process. City Park gets the most foot traffic of the three Converse parks, so weekend mornings book faster than you'd expect for a small city.
2. Converse North Park (Converse)
Location: 8200 Spring Town St, Converse, TX 78109
Amenities: electricity available ($5/hr), restrooms on site, splash pad adjacent, playground adjacent
Reserve Converse North Park pavilion →
Converse's splash-pad park for warm-weather birthday parties. If your kid's party lands between April and October, North Park is the obvious pick — a working splash pad steps from the pavilion, plus a full playground and on-site restrooms. Same $10/hour rate as the city's other pavilions (electricity adds $5/hour), returnable $50 cleanup deposit, and the same call-first reservation step at 210-659-9513. Nine ball fields and a butterfly garden give older siblings something to do while the birthday kid runs the splash features.
Good to know: pavilion, playground, splash pad, restrooms, lakes, ball fields, walking trail, butterfly garden.
Parent tip: Book North Park when your kid's birthday falls between April and September — the splash pad is the difference between a good party and an unforgettable one for the 4–10 set. Call 210-659-9513 first to confirm availability, especially for May and June weekends.
3. Anton Schumann Park (Converse)
Location: 10565 Old Cimarron Trail, Converse, TX 78109
Amenities: electricity available ($5/hr), playground with zip line, 1-mile nature trail
Reserve Anton Schumann Park pavilion →
Worth considering when the other two Converse parks are booked. Anton Schumann is Converse's newest and smallest park — 7 acres built around a historic homestead, opened 2024 — with a zip-line playground and a 1-mile nature trail as the draws. Because it's newer and less known, it sees less booking pressure than City Park and North Park. Same flat $10/hour rate (electricity +$5/hour), same call-first booking step at 210-659-9513. If you prefer fewer crowds and a nature setting over the busier sports parks, this one has a real case.
Good to know: pavilion, playground, hiking trail, camping, historic homestead.
Parent tip: Schumann is the least-booked of Converse's three parks — if City Park and North Park are taken for your date, check here. The City's booking process is the same for all three: call 210-659-9513 to confirm the date first, then complete the reservation online.
4. Northview Park (Universal City)
Location: 100 Randolph Plaza Dr, Universal City, TX 78148
Pavilion: Pavilion C · Capacity: Holds up to 100 people / 8 picnic tables · Amenities: restrooms and changing rooms on site, splash pad adjacent (free, Apr–Oct), playground adjacent, soccer field, BBQ grill (Pavilion C), ADA compliant
Reserve Northview Park pavilion →
The right pick when your Converse party list tops 30 people — Northview's 100-person Pavilion C. Just 2.8 miles away, Northview Park has a graded pavilion system: smaller 25-seat options for intimate parties (A and B, $200–$235) and a 100-seat Pavilion C with BBQ grill ($230–$275 resident). All three overlook the same free 4,000-square-foot splash pad running April through October across three water-play zones. On-site restrooms and changing rooms mean no scrambling for facilities. Minimum 5 days advance booking via Universal City Cogran portal.
Good to know: pavilion, splash pad, playground, soccer field, restrooms.
Parent tip: Pavilion C at $275 on a weekend handles 100 people — that's the large-birthday pick if you're inviting the whole class plus parents. Pavilion A or B at $200–$235 covers smaller 25-person parties. Book through the Universal City Cogran portal; key pickup at City Hall is required before your event, so plan for that errand.
5. Pickrell Park (Schertz)
Location: 701 Oak St, Schertz, TX 78154
Pavilion: Large Covered Pavilion · Amenities: covered pavilion with kitchen, BBQ grills on site, restrooms on site, playground adjacent, basketball courts
Reserve Pickrell Park pavilion →
The cook-at-the-party option near Converse — Schertz Pickrell Park's large covered pavilion. Pickrell is the only park in this guide with a kitchen in the pavilion, which means hot food is actually on the table instead of fighting Texas heat in a cooler. BBQ grills add outdoor cooking for families who want both. Playground visible from the pavilion, restrooms on site, basketball courts and walking trail for older siblings. The catch: you need a signed lease 10 working days before the event (2 calendar weeks) and a damage deposit. Call Schertz Parks at 210-619-1850 to start the process.
Good to know: pavilion, playground, basketball courts, restrooms, BBQ grills, walking trail, swimming pool.
Parent tip: The kitchen is the pick's selling point — use it. Book 10 working days out (2 calendar weeks) to satisfy Schertz's lease requirement. A damage deposit is required for the large pavilion. Pricing isn't posted publicly on the Rec1 catalog — click through to see the fee schedule, or call Schertz Parks at 210-619-1850.
Frequently asked questions
How do I actually reserve a pavilion at one of these parks?
Every reservation here runs through the city's own Parks & Rec portal — the link under each park above takes you straight to the booking page. You'll set up a quick resident account (one-time, takes two minutes), pick your date, and pay the rental fee online. You'll get a confirmation email with a permit PDF — print it or save it to your phone; rangers sometimes ask to see it day-of.
Can I just use a pavilion for free without reserving one?
Sometimes, but it's a gamble worth knowing about. Unreserved pavilions are open first-come first-served, so yes — you could roll up at 8 a.m. Saturday with coolers and snag one. The catch: anyone holding a paid permit for that pavilion can show up and politely ask you to clear out. A $40 rental is cheap insurance against repacking the cake while ten kids watch.
Does renting the pavilion give us the playground too?
No, and this surprises a lot of parents. Your reservation locks in the covered pavilion and its picnic tables only — the playground, splash pad, restrooms, and trails stay open to the public the whole time. In practice it's usually fine (other kids playing nearby is more entertainment, not less), but you can't rope off the play area for a "private" feel.
Can I pick any time window, or are there fixed slots?
Most cities split weekend rentals into half-day blocks — typically a morning block around 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and an afternoon block around 3 p.m.–8 p.m. Weekdays tend to be more flexible. The block system lets the city fit two parties into one day and gives staff a window to clean up between bookings, so don't count on booking a custom noon–4 p.m. slot on a Saturday.
Heads-up: rental fees, capacity limits, and rules around bounce houses, alcohol, and amplified music vary city by city and shift every season. Always click through to the official Parks & Rec page linked under each park before you send invites — it's the only source guaranteed to be current.
How we picked these
We only included parks with an outdoor pavilion or canopy you can reserve through the city's own booking system — no first-come picnic tables, no community-center rooms dressed up as party venues. Every pick links to the actual reservation page so you can check details before reading further. We weighted picks toward pavilions with restrooms on site, a playground or splash pad close enough for parents to supervise from the picnic table, and lead times short enough to matter for a kid's birthday. Where the city publishes capacity and pricing online, we listed it; for Universal City and Schertz, the booking page reveals real fees on click-through.
Planning your visit
Converse's three parks all book through the same city system — call Public Works at 210-659-9513 first to confirm your date is open, then reserve online. Rates are $10/hour (2-hour minimum) plus $5/hour if you want electricity, and a $50 cleanup deposit is returned after the event. Universal City's Northview pavilions book online through the city's Cogran portal with a 5-day minimum and require key pickup at City Hall — budget time for that step. Schertz's Pickrell Park books through the city's Rec1 portal with a 10-day signed lease required. Spring through early fall is peak season across all three cities — May weekends fill fast as end-of-school parties stack up, so lock your date as soon as the school calendar drops.
For more kids' events near Converse this week, see the Converse events page.
Converse Parks for Birthday Parties — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best parks for birthday parties for kids near Converse, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout parks for birthday parties within about 20 miles of Converse. The top picks include Converse City Park, Converse North Park and Anton Schumann Park — each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are parks for birthday parties near Converse free?
Yes — every parks for birthday partie in this guide is free to visit. You won't need tickets or a reservation for Converse City Park, Converse North Park, Anton Schumann Park or any of the other picks.
What is the closest parks for birthday partie to Converse?
Converse City Park is the closest pick at under a mile from Converse. It's the easiest one to fit into a weekday afternoon — short drive, low commitment, easy to leave early if the kids melt down.