Best Parks in Winston-Salem, NC

The Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department operates and maintains 79 amazing parks. These both vary in size and offerings. You can art-themed parks, skate parks, playgrounds, splash pads, pools, sports fields/courts, picnic shelters, and more at Winston-Salem's amazing parks.

About Winston-Salem, NC’s Parks

Winston-Salem not only runs nearly 80 parks within the city, but they also offer numerous programs, events, games, historic sites, and more to keep their residents outdoors and active. All Winston Salem parks are open from sunrise to sunset. Each park also has posted park rules. Dogs in parks must be leashed except for the dog park in Washington Park where they can remain unleashed. Among the amazing amenities and features that Winston Salem Parks boast are:

  • 100+ tennis courts
  • 2 golf courses
  • 1 skate park
  • 25+ basketball courts
  • 40+ soccer fields
  • 50+playgrounds
  • 47+ softball fields
  • 50+ picnic shelters
  • 8 swimming pools
  • 1 football field
  • 6 volleyball courts
  • Nearly 20 recreation centers
  • 3 dog parks
  • 10 splash pads

Best Parks in Winston-Salem, NC

ARTivity On The Green

ARTivity On The Green is an extension of the Art District and connects it to Innovation Quarter. The park features central water misting towers, a bandstand, a mural wall, and rolling grassy hills. All of the elements, twoers, and bandstand are lit at night with ample coverage and fun colors. The park hosts multiple concerts and events throughout the year in downtown Winston-Salem. The mural wall features area artists and is repainted each Spring during a festival called “Concrete Canvas”.

ARTivity On The Green Amenities

  • Water-misting towers
  • A bandstand
  • Mural Wall
  • Rolling grassy hills
  • Lighting on the bandstand and towers that shine at night
  • Limited seating near the bandstand

See more information here.

Bailey Park

Bailey Park is a large family park with fun food trucks, public movie showings, yoga and group fitness classes, and concerts. This park is dedicated to people from all walks of life and families looking for a breath of fresh air, a bite to eat, or a place to get exercise. Many different activities take place at Bailey Park including cultural events, festivals, concerts (with multiple genres of music), wellness activities, and more. They have a calendar for the upcoming events they plan along with descriptions of each event. Indoor and Outdoor activities are available for the purpose of social interaction and are hosted near Bailey Park that can be fulfilling for kids and parents alike.

Bailey Park Amenities

  • Access to Innovation Quarter & Long Branch Trail
  • Amphitheater
  • A frequent host of food trucks
  • Cascading waterfall feature
  • Electric scooter rentals
  • Bike share rentals
  • Public restrooms
  • Tables & Chairs for enjoying a coffee, conversation, or meal
  • Public murals
  • & More

See more information here.

C.G. Hill Memorial Park

C. G. Hill Memorial Park is full of historical plant and tree life along with human history as well. The park was originally owned by a third-generation American named John Jacob Schaub, an early Moravian settler. He built his family’s home on the site in 1830 and lived there until his death seven years later. Mr. Schaub’s descendants sold the property to Mr. Charles G. Hill in 1951.

The Hill family donated 13 acres to the City of Winston-Salem and the County of Forsyth in 1971 for use as a public park. The Schaub House and certain parcels of surrounding land were sold for renovation in early 1983. The house has since been restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park used its portion of the funds generated from the sale to develop the park which opened in 1985 and was named after its benefactor. This is Forsyth County’s fourth-largest park and has been developed in a manner that retains its appeal to families and nature lovers with many amenities and facilities for the public to enjoy. A paved trail system also has been developed to encourage more park walkers and bicycle riders along with a new playground.

C.G. Hill Memorial Park Amenities

  • Gazebo Courtyard
  • 500+-Year-Old Poplar Tree. To learn more about this ancient tree, click here.
  • 2½ Acre Fishing Lake (no swimming or boating)
  • Scattered picnic tables along the shoreline for small family picnics
  • Playground
  • Walking Trails:
    • Lower Trail – 1825 Feet
    • Upper Trail – 2337 Feet
  • Restrooms
  • Parking Lot – 50 spaces, 3 handicap
  • & More

See more information here.

Hanes Park

Hanes Park is a public park off of Northwest Blvd. in Winston Salem, NC. The park sits right across from RJ Reynolds High School and Wiley Magnet School and offers tennis courts, baseball fields, a playground, a jogging track, and walking trails. Hanes Park is currently undergoing renovations to help bring it up to code, make it a safer park, and keep this beautiful park going for decades to come.

Hanes Park Amenities

  • 20 Paved Tennis Courts
  • 3 Baseball Diamonds
  • Large Playground
  • 2 Open Fields
  • 1/4 Mile Track
  • Walking Track

See more information here.

Hathaway Park

Hathaway Park is a public park off of Country Club Rd. in Winston Salem, NC. The park sits right across from Forsyth Country Club and offers a picnic shelter that seats approximately 88 people, public restrooms, water fountains, and adjacent basketball courts and green space. Hathway Park also has a walking trail, a sprayground, and a castle-themed playground. If you want a great kid-friendly park right next to home, Hathaway Park is an excellent option.

Hathaway Park Amenities

  • Picnic Shelter
  • Public Restrooms
  • Large Playground
  • Large Sprayground
  • Basketball Court
  • Baseball Diamond
  • Walking Track

See more information here.

Leinbach Park

 

Leinbach Park is a public park off of Robinhood Rd. in Winston Salem, NC. The park sits right next to Jefferson Middle School and offers a picnic shelter that seats approximately 112 people, public restrooms, water fountains, and adjacent tennis courts and sand volleyball court. Leinbach Park also has over half a mile of walking trails, a gazebo for sitting, and a nautical-themed playground. If you want a great kid-friendly park right next to home, Leinbach Park is an excellent choice.

Leinbach Park Amenities

  • Tennis Courts
  • Amazing Playground
  • Walking Track
  • Sand Volleyball Court
  • Picnic Shelter
  • Public Restrooms
  • Gazebo

See more information here.

Nelson Malloy Jr. Park

 

Nelson Malloy Jr. Park is a public park off of Bethabara Rd. that hosts plenty of new features and activities for active kids and families. This park has trails, dog parks, spraygrounds/splash pad, accessible and modern playground, restrooms, picnic pavilion, and more. This new park was built for 1 million dollars and the proof of the hard work put into it is paying off in the form of an outdoor kid-friendly hub for North Winston-Salem.

Nelson Malloy Jr. Park Amenities

The park includes a:

See more information here.

Polo Park

Polo Park is a public park off of Polo Road in Winston Salem, NC. This park has a lot of variety and is near multiple elementary, middle, and high schools. Polo Park also is a haven for water lovers, with a public pool and sprayground. This park is perfect for active adults, larger kids who love sports, or young children who can take advantage of the green space, swimming pool, sprayground, and playground.

Polo Park Amenities

See more information here.

Quarry Park

Winston-Salem’s new Quarry Park is a sight to behold. The park is built around an old quarry that was in operation from the mid-1920s until the early 1970s. After the quarry shut down, the deep hole created by rock mining filled with water. The former Vulcan quarry property has been improved with walking and bike trails, a restroom draped with crushed rock, and the platform offering views of the quarry, downtown, and nearby mountains. The public restroom tucked under the observation platform at the new Quarry Park is lined with large gravel, not too different from the gravel produced by the old quarry for use in the construction of the nearby Business I-40 and U.S. 52.

Quarry Park Amenities

  • Amphitheater / Stage
  • Drinking Fountains
  • Lake / Pond
  • Open Play Area
  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Walking Trail

See more information here.

Reynolds Park

Reynolds Park is a hidden gem just east of downtown Winston-Salem. The park has a recreation center, a public pool, two playgrounds, a sprayground, picnic shelters, ample parking, and more. The park shares entrances and parking lots for Reynolds Park Golf Course and Quarry Park as well. If you are looking to host an outdoor event or birthday party, Reynolds park has 4 different picnic shelters as well. The multiple playgrounds offer two totally different experiences as well to provide a fun play area for kids and families.

Reynolds Park Amenities

Salem Lake

Salem Lake is literally a stone’s throw away from downtown Winston-Salem. Located off Reynolds Park Road, the 375-acre lake is a perfect stop for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Salem Lake offers miles of paved and unpaved trails, a playground, restrooms, a fishing pier, and boat rentals to keep the whole family entertained and close to nature.

Salem Lake & Salem Lake Park offers the following amenities:

  • Playground
  • Concession Stand
  • Dog Waste Station
  • Drinking Fountains
  • Electrical Outlets
  • Greenway
  • Grill
  • Lake / Pond
  • Mister
  • Off-Street Trail Access
  • Parking
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Restrooms
  • Walking Trail
  • 7-Mile Trail
  • 365-Acre Lake
  • Fishing

See more information here.

Washington Park

Washington Park is a public park off of Broad Street in Winston Salem, NC. Once known as Sunnyside Park and Southside Park, the original 17 acres of designated parkland now known as Washington Park has grown to more than 75 acres with shelters, greenways, baseball fields, playgrounds, and a dog park. This park is perfect for active adults, larger kids who love sports, or young children who can take advantage of the green space and playground.

Washington Park Amenities

  • 3 Picnic Shelters
  • Public Restrooms
  • Dinosaur Playground with Swings
  • Dog Park
  • Baseball Field
  • Parking Area
  • Greenway
  • Pedestrian Bridge

See more information here.

Winston Salem Skate Park

 

The Winston Salem Skate Park has a 325-foot-long “pump” track, an undulating track of dips and banks that helps riders master the basics of how to balance and handle their bikes, skateboards, and roller blades without hurting themselves. The skate park also includes a shade structure, a water station for filling jugs and bottles, a seating area, and an emergency call station.

Winston Salem Fairgrounds Skate Park Location

The skate park is located next to the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex across from Wake Forest Baseball Park. For directions, use gate 5 along Deacon Boulevard to enter the park.

Winston Salem Skate Park Cost

Admission to this skate park is FREE.

See more information here.

Other Winston-Salem Parks To Consider

Fairview Park, 925 Bethlehem Ln, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

  • Fairview Park is one of Winston-Salem’s signature parks that is perfect for kids needing to burn off some steam on a playground or basketball court.

Forest Park, 1184 Tower St, Winston-Salem, NC 27107

  • Forest Park is a Winston-Salem city park with a playground, picnic shelter, three lighted tennis courts, restroom, playground, ball fields, baseball/softball diamonds, and fitness trail.

Happy Hill Park, 1230 Alder St, Winston-Salem, NC 27127

  • Happy Hill Park is home to a section of the Salem Creek Greenway, a track, tennis and basketball courts, a sprayground, playground, picnic shelters, and a community center.

Piney Grove Park, 4725 Indiana Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

  • Piney Grove Park is one of north Winston-Salem’s most jam-packed parks and is easily accessible to residents in the North Point, Cherry Street, and Oldtown areas. This park has something for everyone, with a community center, picnic areas, ball fields, and playgrounds.

Shaffner Park, 900 Yorkshire Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

  • Shaffner Park features four tennis courts, a playground, soccer fields, and a 1.1-mile walking track. Silas Creek Greenway connects Shaffner Park to Robinhood Rd in an almost 1-mile stretch of greenway.