TRA owns Lake Livingston in East Texas and in cooperation with the City of Houston, has acquired and operates numerous park sites on this 83,000 surface acre, non-federal facility. Several free public boat ramps and picnic areas have been provided. One site, Wolf Creek Park, has been comprehensively developed for camping and other outdoor recreational activities. The Trinity River Authority funds its Lake Livingston recreational activities from entrance and user fees at Wolf Creek Park and some other park lands around the lake. For the construction of Wolf Creek Park, the Trinity River Authority issued recreation-based revenue bonds.

Parks development is increasing along the major forks of the river in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. Fort Worth has for many years had its major parks centered along the Clear Fork just west of downtown, and a few years ago converted the former Riverside wastewater plant site into a park, on the West Fork. Dallas has one park in the floodway between the levees, and has passed a bond referendum to finance and develop more parks in that same area. Arlington has just completed a large park on the West Fork just upstream from the Elm Fork.

One fundamental development, which has made these sites attractive, is the great improvement in the river water quality in the last 10-15 years. Odor, turbidity, and other aesthetically objectionable factors have been greatly reduced, and the river is more attractive to be near.