Ticket for Being in Park After Hours but Was Only Making U-Turn

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas

I received a violation for being in a park after hours. However, i wasn't familiar with the area and I made a wrong turn. I pulled into the parking lot of the park and started to turn around so I could go the right way and a cop was sitting in the parking lot with his lights off, turns them on and stopped me for being in the park after hours and issued a ticket. I tried explaining that i was just making a u turn and was in the process of turning around when he stopped me. He still issued the citation and now i have to appear in court or pay a 270 dollar ticket. I pleaded not guilty and have court soon. How should i go about doing this? i never stepped on the vehicle or even parked the car in the park.

Appear in court and plead not guilty. Appear for the trial and obtain the officers testimony, confirm it with yours (proof you have also) and motion the judge to dismiss the case in the interests of justice.

Actually, you're better off trying to resolve the ticket before hearing, by talking to the prosecuting authority and trying to work out a deal (ideally a dismissal) based upon your having made an honest mistake. While you may need to request a hearing on the ticket in order to get the time and opportunity to talk to the prosecutor, if you work out an acceptable deal you don't need to go to trial.

You should not expect a court to dismiss the case "in the interests of justice", as that's not actually the court's call to make -- that's the prosecutor's call.