Tag: Playground

Explore Wilmington

Arrowhead Park

WilmingtonMom

Address: 720 Arnold Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412

4. Arrowhead Park

Off of Carolina Beach Rd and River Road in the Silver Lake area is Arrowhead Park, which is one of the “go-to” parks if you are looking for Disc Golf. There are large open fields, a small playground, a covered picnic area, in addition to a basketball and tennis court. Overall, the park is geared towards older kids and it doesn’t have any paved trails for walking. (Yes, I walked around the parking lot while pushing my baby in the stroller. Haha!) The open fields would be ideal to let your dogs run free; however, there is not an enclosed “dog park” area.

The park also has a fenced in sand pit with a sign explaining a game I’ve never heard of before – “Gaga Ball”. You need to bring a ball that bounces in order to play.

Keep in mind the park is mainly in the sun with little shade unless you follow the disc golf course, which is in the woods. Make sure to bring sunscreen!

  • Parking: There is a large parking lot that can accommodate a large number of cars
  • Restrooms: Available at the picnic shelter
  • Stroller Friendly: yes, but not much of a walking area other than the parking lot

If you have small kids and live near the park, it would be a great place for a picnic; however, if you live on the opposite side of town, I personally wouldn’t waste the drive.

If disc golf is your jam, I think this would be a great spot. If it isn’t, I’d personally choose another park to venture to.

Best, Amanda
Explore Wilmington

Empie Park

WilmingtonMom

Address: 3405 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403

3. Empie Park

Located near the Independence Mall and behind Wilmington Fire Station 2, Virginia Pearson Empie Park aka “Empie Park” is a nice park for tennis players, small humans and dogs alike. The park includes:

  • a dog park
  • nice large playground
  • several covered picnic areas
  • 19-tennis courts with a clubhouse
  • basket ball court
  • baseball field
  • bocce ball court
  • access to the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail
  • Parking: Lots of parking spots on both the right side (where the playground, dog park and picnic shelters are) and on the left side (where the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex is).
  • Restrooms: Available near the playground and tennis annex
  • Stroller Friendly: yes!

Looking to get your walk on? You can do as my friend Jessie and I did and walk part of the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, which crosses through Empie Park. We followed the trail onto the campus of UNC Wilmington. There and back is about 5 miles.

You will first pass through a neighborhood (Rosemont Ave), pass Flying Machine Brewery, and around the pond (down Randall Pkwy). It’s a nice walk and along the way are benches and a picnic area at Mill Creek Apartments. If you do choose to walk to UNCW, be mindful that crossing S. College Road requires everyone in your group to pay close attention. This is one of the most traveled roads in Wilmington.

If you are up for a walk, I recommend jumping on the Cross-City Trail. If not, enjoy the playground, watch the pups play and maybe try tennis. I hope you enjoy Empie Park.

Your Friend – Amanda
Explore Wilmington

Wade Park

WilmingtonMom

Address: 3500 Bethal Rd, Wilmington, NC 28409

Tucked away at the end of Bethel Road in the “Pine Valley” area of Wilmington is James E. L. Wade Park, also known as “Wade Park”. It is a 17-acre wetland park filled with nature, beautiful scenery, a playground, covered picnic area and a .5 mile paved trail. The trail is wide enough to ride bikes around or simply walk around pushing a stroller.

  • Parking – A small parking lot fits ~ 12 cars
  • Restrooms – Available
  • Stroller Friendly: yes!
  • Small playground area beside the sheltered picnic area
  • Me and Brooke on the trail
  • Educational signs about the wildlife
  • Boardwalk over the Marshland

On my last visit, I saw a ton of red-winged black birds and they were really neat to watch and listen to. As you can see below, this park also is the beginning of the “Gary Shell Cross-City Trail”. As covered on City of Wilmington’s website “The Cross-City Trail is a 15 mile off-road, multi-use trail that runs from Wade Park, through Halyburton Park and Empie Park to the Heide-Trask Drawbridge at the Intracoastal Waterway. The trail provides bicycle and pedestrian access to numerous recreational, cultural and educational destinations in Wilmington.” Click here for more details on the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail.

I hope you find Wade Park as relaxing, scenic and educational as I did. Enjoy friends!

Your Friend – Amanda