New Hanover County

The 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
Oleander Drive, Wilmington 28401
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
7069 Market Street, Ogden 28411
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
River Road, near Snow's Cut Bridge 28428
(910) 798-7181
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.

Castle Hayne Park
Off Parmale Road, Castle Hayne 28429
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
161-102 Halyburton Mem Pkwy, Wilmington 28412
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.

Empie Park
3300 Park Avenue, Wilmington 28403
(910) 270-3351
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

Greenfield Park
U.S. Hwy. 421 (Carolina Beach Road), Wilmington 28401
(910) 341-7852
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

Halyburton Park
South 17th Street, Wilmington 28403
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
U.S. Hwy. 421 (Carolina Beach Road), Wilmington 28401
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
Water Street, Wilmington 28401
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
401 S 8th Street, Wilmington 28401
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.

Wrightsville Beach Park
Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach 28480
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.

Carolina Beach Lake Park
Atlanta Avenue and U.S. Hwy. 421 28403
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
1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach  28428
(910) 458-8206
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
U.S. Hwy. 421 S., Kure Beach 28449
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
U.S. Hwy. 421 S., Kure Beach 28449
(910) 458-5798
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 activities. 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. Facilities include a visitors center, a concession stand open Memorial Day through Labor Day, restrooms and outside showers. Park hours are: November through February 8 AM to 6 PM; March and October 8 AM to 7 PM; April, May and September 15-30, 8 AM to 8 PM; June through August 6 AM to 9 PM; September 1 to 14, 6 AM to 8 PM.

McDonald Park
Wilson Avenue, Carolina Beach 28428
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
Dow Road, Carolina Beach 28428          
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
K Ave. at Seventh Street, Kure Beach 28449
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
K Ave. at Seventh Street, Kure Beach 28449
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.