When habitat and water are present, this is a top birding site in Lubbock. It serves as a "migrant trap" during both spring and fall migration and summer highlights include breeding Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Common Yellowthroat, and Green Herons. Mississippi Kites also breed in the area and can regularly be seen in the park. In addition to seeing warblers, vireos, tanagers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, water birds, soras, hawks, and more, there can be impressive shows of Common Nighthawks, Chimney Swifts, and swallows moving through the park in the evenings. Vagrants are regularly found here. In winter, highlights include waterfowl and hawks when there is water. 

This hotspot is broken into two main areas. The west side is the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum (bathrooms available at the Municipal Garden and Arts Center and the Hodges Community Center during business hours) and the east side is Clapp Park proper. This property is fairly diverse with the Arboretum side generally being more managed by the city than Clapp Park, although every now and again the areas of Clapp that are normally left to nature around the playas are mowed, too. 

Named areas on the map highlight good areas to check for birds and help with local vernacular for this site. Parking can be found on all of the perimeter roads, except for University, and there are several parking areas labeled on the map as well. 

Be aware of your surroundings here. This park has its share of problems including homeless camps, loose dogs, and occasional muggings and assaults. It is generally safe to bird, but problems have occurred. During warm months, the city also regularly sprays for mosquitoes, including along the nature trail. If you see a vehicle on the nature trail, it is most likely the city spraying. There is a concrete bridge near the east end of the nature trail. It has been in disrepair for some time now and may or may not be passible due to high water or crumbling. The nature trail may also have trees or branches (living or dead) across portions that need to be ducked under or climbed over. There is a fence that runs between the Arboretum and Clapp Park and a gate and a small bridge on the northeast side of map section 4 that may be locked. Sometimes the only way to access both sections of this hotspot is to walk outside of the fence on the south side (along 46th Street) or exit the Back Garden on the north side and walk north of the baseball fields into Clapp Park.