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ParksThe southern costal region is rich in parks
ranging from inviting walkways along the river in downtown Wilmington to
the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area with seven miles of beach, wildlife
reserves and a visitor center. You can find neighborhood parks, beautiful
gardens, hiking trails, playgrounds, athletic fields and family-friendly
county facilities. Here are some places for you to explore.
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New Hanover CountyThe New Hanover County Parks Department
maintains 25 parks, three trails and two gardens. Facilities vary and
include gazebos, tennis courts, athletic areas such as soccer or
baseball/softball fields, playground equipment, a disc golf course, an
equestrian ring or picnic tables. In some cases, a fee is required. For
information on specific parks or to make facility reservations, call (910)
798-7275.
Hugh MacRae Park One of the oldest and best-known parks in
the county, 98-acre Hugh McRae Park is well-known for its outdoor concerts
and Annual Chili Cook-Off. The tranquil pond, alluring garden and
picturesque gazebo are very popular for weddings, especially in spring
when the azaleas are in bloom and the weather is balmy. Facilities include
a playground, ball fields, lighted tennis courts, an equestrian ring,
picnic shelters and restrooms.
Ogden Park This 125-acre county park offers four
baseball fields, lighted soccer/football fields, lighted tennis courts,
picnic areas, restrooms, playgrounds, walking/jogging trails and a
concession building. The entrance is on the west side of Market Street,
about 0.2 miles north of the intersection of Military Cutoff Road. Look
for the entrance beside Mt. Ararat AME Church at Planter's Walk.
Snow's Cut Park This scenic park located about 14 miles
south of downtown Wilmington on River Road, overlooks Snow's Cut and is
divided into two sections, one directly beneath the bridge and the other
some 100 yards to the west. The park offers shady picnic grounds,
sheltered tables, a children's play area, a gazebo, a boardwalk to a
scenic overlook, and pedestrian access to Snow's Cut for some great
fishing. Call (910) 798-7181 to reserve the shelter.
Castle Hayne Park Up in the far north-central part of New
Hanover County, this 50-acre park is home to several sporting teams.
Castle Hayne is a great family park. You'll find lighted tennis courts,
soccer/football fields, playground equipment, picnic shelters, a ball
field, restrooms and the area's first disc golf course.
Veterans Park Veterans Park is a unique
development of educational, recreational and cultural facilities in the
southern portion of New Hanover County. This 212-acre complex is home to
Ashley High School, Murray Middle School, the 1,000-seat Minnie Evans
Performing Arts Center and an array of athletic facilities, playgrounds and
walking trails.
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The 13 city-wide parks and 56 neighborhood parks, 14
green spaces and 23 landscaped areas maintained by the City of Wilmington
add up to 495 acres of parkland, and they all differ widely. From the
historic Riverwalk of downtown's Riverfront Park and the athletic fields
of Empie Park to the sculpted benches of Carolina Courtyard and sunken
cypress stands of Greenfield Lake, there is always a park nearby with the
kind of recreation or quiet you desire. We list here a cross-section of
the larger parks. For more information, call the Parks Hotline at (910)
341-7852.
Empie Park Empie's amenities include athletic fields,
picnic shelters, a children's playground, lighted tennis courts,
basketball courts, restrooms, open space and a senior activity area with
shuffleboard, Bocce and horseshoes. Bike racks and a concession stand are
available. Due to popular demand, tennis courts here should be reserved in
advance by calling the Wilmington Athletics office at (910) 343-3682. Greenfield Park Greenfield Lake and its surrounding gardens are the
centerpiece of Wilmington's park system and a scenic wonder that changes
character from season to season. Among the city's oldest parks, it was at
one time a working plantation and, later, carnival grounds. The lake
attracts a wide variety of birds and contains alligators. When the azaleas
bloom in early spring, the area explodes in a dazzling profusion of color.
Stands of flowering magnolia, dogwood, long-leaf pine and live oak, many
hung with Spanish moss, line the shady Lake Shore Drive. On the north side
of the 158-acre park are tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, a skate
park, a concession stand and docks where canoes and paddleboats are
available for rent. A free public boat ramp is on W. Lake Shore Drive
immediately east of U.S. 421. The benches at mid-span on Lions Bridge are
a wonderful spot to relax on a breezy day. Open-air performances are
presented in summer at the amphitheater off W. Lake Shore Drive, adjacent
to the Rotary Wheel. For additional information, call the Parks Division
(910) 341-7852.
Halyburton Park Located in the southwest district of Wilmington near
Independence Boulevard, the 58-acre Halyburton Park represents an oasis in
the midst of suburban sprawl. A hidden treasure of gently rolling
sandhills, wet pine flatwoods and limesink depressions known as Carolina
Bay Ponds, one of which holds water year round, Halyburton Park offers an
abundance of diverse undisturbed plant collections. While the park
emphasizes the property's natural areas, lighted recreational facilities
are also available. A community building serves as a public gathering
place, volunteer center, educational facility and an event area for public
rentals. The park has a handicapped-accessible 1.3-mile walking/bike
trail, a picnic shelter and a playground. Legion Sports Complex Near Greenfield Lake is the 25-acre Legion
Stadium and Sports Complex, home to New Hanover High School sports teams.
Also calling the complex home are the Wilmington Hammerheads, a member of
the Professional D-3 United Soccer League, and the Wilmington Sharks, a
collegiate Coastal Plain League baseball team. The site also has lighted
athletic fields, lighted tennis courts and a swimming pool as well as plenty
of parking. Riverfront Park For many locals, this park epitomizes the
Wilmington lifestyle. Once congested with the wharves of the state's busiest
port, the Riverwalk is now a place for quiet strolls, sightseeing, shopping,
live outdoor music and dining. Several major festivals take place here
throughout the year and the sternwheeler Henrietta III docks here. You'll
also find a visitors information booth. Historic sailing ships visiting town
often dock at Riverfront Park and usually offer tours. Robert Strange Park The heart of this 15- acre park is its
swimming pool. Other facilities include a recreation center, restrooms, a
playground, picnic shelters, softball fields and lighted tennis and
basketball courts. |
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Wrightsville Beach Park This sprawling recreation and athletic facility is
impossible to miss when traveling Causeway Drive. It spans 13 acres and
includes four tennis courts, a basketball court, a softball field, a
football/soccer field, sand volleyball courts and playground equipment.
The 2.45-mile sidewalk Loop, bordering much of the park and traversing
both of the island's bridges, is popular among walkers and joggers.
Parking and restrooms are available.
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Carolina Beach and Kure BeachCarolina Beach Lake Park Primarily a picnic site, this 11-acre park
has four small gazebos, sheltered picnic tables and a playground. A
.75-mile concrete trail circling the lake is ideal for walkers, skaters,
bikers and joggers who are looking for a convenient, safe place to
exercise. A small amphitheater is the site of local holiday events and
concerts. An especially popular feature is the pedal-boat and kayak
concession operated by Wheel Fun Rentals.
Carolina Beach State Park This is one of the most biologically
diverse parks in North Carolina and a contender for the most beautiful
park in the area. Maritime forest, sandhill terrain, waterfront and sand
ridges support carnivorous plants and centuries-old live oaks. Six miles
of easy trails wind throughout the park. The marina offers two boat ramps
($5 per launch) and more than 40 boat slips off the Cape Fear River.
Excellent overnight camping facilities are available. The park is on
Pleasure Island, 1 mile north of Carolina Beach and less than a half-mile
from U.S. 421, off Dow Road. Day use is free.
The Cove at Fort Fisher State Historic Site The
Cove is a beautiful getaway about 6 miles south of Carolina Beach. Bordering
the beach and a rocky sea wall, a grove of windswept live oaks provides
shade for the picnic tables and grills. Come to fish and sunbathe but don't
swim. Dangerous currents and underwater hazards make swimming extremely
hazardous. Parking is available south of the area near the Fort Fisher
Memorial and at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site museum across the road. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Miles of white sandy beach, salt marshes,
tidal creeks, mudflats and wildlife habitats make the Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area a true treasure among the state's park offerings. Located
on the southern tip of Pleasure Island, with the Atlantic Ocean on the
east and the Cape Fear River on the west, this well-maintained park offers
visitors a wide variety of pleasurable activities. Swimming, sunbathing,
strolling and shelling are among the favorites for beachgoers. Fishing,
hiking and birding rank high with many folks, along with boating or
canoeing through shallow bays and channels. Loggerhead turtles and other
endangered species make nests in the park's protected areas. Park staff
offer interpretive and environmental education programs as well as
surf-fishing clinics and a wide variety of special events and activites.
Call for information and clinic availability. If you're interested in
driving your four-wheel-drive vehicle out onto the beach strand, please
read the Sun, Sand and Sea chapter's section on Beach Driving for fees and
regulations. McDonald Park This quarter-acre community park is tucked
away in a neighborhood setting. A great place for taking the toddlers to
play and picnic, the park has slides and swing sets and picnic tables.
Mike Chappell Park Two lighted ball fields and a
football/soccer field make up the largest area of this 10-acre park, which
also offers picnic tables, two tennis courts, two lighted sand volleyball
courts, a dog park and a playground. The park is bounded by Sumter Avenue
and Clarendon Boulevard.
Joe Eakes Park This small park, a short walk from the
beach, offers a playground, two tennis courts, a picnic area and volleyball and basketball
courts.
Gurney Hood Barking Lot Adjacent to Joe Eakes Park, the Gurney Hood
Barking Lot is a fenced pooch-play area. Sandy soil, trees, play
equipment, Frisbees, balls and other doggie amenities make this a fun
place for your pet. Water is available, a couple of benches are provided,
and clean-up bags and trash containers are supplied so you can be a
responsible pet handler. An especially good feature is a fenced entry area
for holding your dog until you're ready to go into the main play area.
Latches on both gates prevent your pup from accidentally getting loose
outside the Barking Lot.
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Brunswick County The parks in this section are maintained by the
Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department. All have excellent
facilities, including tennis courts, ball fields, football/soccer fields,
basketball courts, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Most of them also
feature shuffleboard courts and horseshoe pits, plus community buildings
for group use for such occasions as reunions, exercise classes and other
events. For specific information about any of these parks or to reserve
picnic shelters and community buildings, call (910) 253-2670. Tennis
players at Ocean Isle Beach also may note the town's public courts on
Third Street across from the Museum of Coastal Carolina. Brunswick River Park This 11-acre park includes restrooms
and a boat ramp.
Leland Community Park This is an 11-acre community park, situated behind the
Leland Post Office. Facilities include two baseball fields, a community
building, a concession stand with restrooms, a playground and three picnic
shelters. Lockwood Folly District Park This 20-acre park is a mile north of the town of Supply.
Its community building, however, is at Holden Beach. The park offers three
baseball/softball fields, a football/soccer field, a concession stand with
restrooms and a separate restroom facility, a basketball court, two tennis
courts, three picnic shelters and a playground. Northwest District Park This 35-acre park lies 15 minutes west of Wilmington, on
the south side of U.S. 17. You will find three baseball/softball fields, one
football/soccer field, a concession stand with restrooms, two basketball
courts, four tennis courts, four picnic shelters and a playground. Shallotte District Park To find this 64-acre park from U.S. 17, follow signs for
U.S. 17 Business. Amenities include four baseball/softball fields, a
concession stand with restrooms, a basketball court, two tennis courts,
three picnic shelters, a playground and four soccer fields. Smithville District Park Smithville District Park covers 23 acres and includes two
baseball/softball fields, one regular football/soccer field and five mini
football/soccer fields, a concession stand with restrooms, a basketball
court, two tennis courts and two picnic shelters. Town Creek District Park You can't miss this park on the east side of U.S. 17,
about 15 or 20 minutes southwest of Wilmington. Contained in 35 acres, it
offers four baseball/softball/soccer fields, a concession stand with
restrooms, a basketball court, two tennis courts, two picnic shelters, a
playground and a community building as well as shuffleboard and horseshoes. Waccamaw Park Though this park comprises 35 acres, 20 remain undeveloped
at this writing. The park provides two baseball/softball fields, a
football/soccer field, a concession stand with restrooms, a basketball
court, two tennis courts, a beach-style volleyball court, two picnic
shelters, a playground and a community building. Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve This nature preserve, owned and administered by UNCW,
comprises 174 acres of lush woodland with educational displays and ten miles
of hiking trails. One of these trails meanders along the banks of the
beautiful Town Creek. Among the many natural points of interest is an old
tar kiln of the type once ubiquitous throughout the region. Suitable for
families, the preserve is open during daylight hours seven days a week.
Picnic tables and a restroom are available, and there's an onsite caretaker.
Don't forget the camera and lunch. Admission is free. E. F. Middleton Park The primary city park on Oak Island, Middleton Park offers
a large playground with sand pits, swings and climbing bars, plus two tennis
courts, basketball courts, a baseball field and picnic tables with some
shade. There is a gazebo as well, where concerts are held throughout the
year. (Bring your own chairs.) The park is across the street from Town Hall. William S. "Bill" Smith Park At this writing the new "Bill" Smith Park on the
mainland features a football field, T-ball field, sand volleyball court,
croquet yard, 9-hole disc golf course, picnic shelter, walking nature trail,
concession stand, restrooms and four baseball/softball fields. Future
amenities will include soccer fields, walk-in camp sites and an additional
picnic shelter. Park hours are 8 AM until dark. Hannon A. Templeton, Jr. Park The property holds some of the oldest and
most beautiful Live Oak trees on the island. Scattered among the trees you
will find picnic tables, wooden swings and park benches. There is a sunny
area as well which has been planted with flowers for the enjoyment of
everyone.
The following is a listing of Boiling Spring Lakes City Parks, including amenities and activities: Big Lake
and Alton Lennon Park Mirror Lake Spring Lake Seminole Lake North Lake Muse Park Charles Schneiders Park Soundside Park This 19-acre park located on Topsail Sound is a real gem. Watch the boats
go by on the Intracoastal from the boardwalk that winds around the park's
shoreline. Or drop a line and try your luck on the fishing pier. The park
has public boat ramps, covered picnic shelters with grills, playground
equipment and restrooms. Softball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a
children's playground and picnic shelters are available at this Onslow
County park. It opens daily at 10 AM and closes at dusk. The park is
between U.S. 17 and N.C. 210, less than 1 mile from the Four Corners
traffic light.
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