Greensboro, NC
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Parks
The Planning and Project Development Division of Greensboro Parks and Recreation is responsible for planning and development of City parks, trails and greenways. Division staff work closely with other departments as well as residents to provide opportunities for everyone to experience the diverse recreational amenities our city has to offer.
The division also manages voter-approved projects through the City's Participatory Budgeting process. Those projects can be reviewed here.
P&R Current Projects
- The 2023 approved Aquatics Master Plan.
Barber Park, located at 1500 Barber Park Dr, has recently completed numerous construction projects including the addition of the maintenance building, the Ken Free, Jr. basketball court and the Barber Park Event Center and Ruth Wicker Tribute to Women. The recently redesigned disc golf course now features an updated 9-hole course, perfect for beginners or a lunch hour game. Safety Town was completed Summer, 2022. For more information, please visit www.safetytowngreensboro.com. Simkins Indoor Sports Pavilion received interior upgrades to the lobby, multi-purpose room and restrooms. ADA access to the amphitheater and permanent shade structure for the sprayground are under design. For additional information on existing amenities, or for reservations, please visit the Barber Park website.
Country Park, located at 3905 Nathanael Green Dr, is within the BPD. The hillside project at Country Park was completed summer 2022 and includes a canopy walk, zip-line across the lake and back, new parking lot (50 spaces) at the Lawndale Drive entrance, new picnic shelter and restroom, new dog park location south of the hillside improvements, and reconfiguration of existing parking at the Orman Rd access. The Rotary Club of Greensboro Carousel, the largest indoor carousel in North Carolina opened in 2020 atop the hillside at the Greensboro Science Center.
Through the Cycle 3 (2020-2021) Participatory Budgeting process, District 1 voted to create master plans for three neighborhood parks: Hampton, Greentree and Old Peck.
Hampton Park Master Plan | Old Peck Park Master Plan | Greentree Park Master Plan
- Hester Park, located at 3615 Deutzia received upgrades to the multi-purpose fields and added a fitness challenge course through Participatory Budgeting. A new entrance canopy was added in summer 2022. Trotter Active Adult Center, located within Hester Park at 3906 Betula St, held a grand opening event on April 30th, 2021.
Keeley Park, located at 4100 Keeley Rd completed Phase II development in December 2020. The Up in the AIR playground is the largest inclusive playground west of Raleigh. Expansion of the community garden is comprised of raised beds, additional plots and a teaching deck. The sprayground deck expansion allows for lounge chairs and more picnic tables. Four new shelters are available for rental and includes additional parking. Other fun items added is the outdoor fitness area, festival field area, and cornhole courts, a beginner mountain bike trail at the existing pump track and an 18-hole tournament /recreational disc golf course. An adaptive mountain bike trail is scheduled for construction in winter 2022, and will open in early summer 2023.
Peeler Community Park, located at 1300 Sykes Ave, was completed in 2023. The project included expanding parking and an improved driveway entrance, renovation of the existing ballfield, new gathering spaces with seating, new play structures, an outdoor fitness area, paved accessible pathways throughout the park with an interpretive story walk, and site amenities such as solar picnic tables, safety lighting, benches, trashcans, bike rack, signage and landscaping. Phase I was completed in November 2019 and included a multi-sport court with basketball and soccer, and tennis court renovations. Recreation center improvements include interior painting and bathroom modifications. For more information on the facility, please visit the Peeler Recreation Center site.
Rosewood Park is a neighborhood park located at 1324 Mayfair Ave. The park, comprised of 1.25 acres in the heart of the Rosewood neighborhood, contains a playground, water fountains, game tables, bike rakes, shade trees, and a short walking trail around the periphery of the park. Many of the park features are dated and are in need of repair or renovation. This plan creates a new master plan for Rosewood Park that offers a diversity of modern recreational opportunities, including a new playground, adult fitness equipment, a shelter with grills, and more.
The creation of this plan was funded by the Community Development Block Grant, administered by the Housing and Neighborhood Development department. Phase 1 includes the creation of construction documents and moving some utilities that run through the center of the park, which has also been funded by the CDBG. Parks and Recreation will apply for full construction renovation costs to be funded by CDBG in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
View the master plan.
P&R Facility Naming Requests
For questions or comments, please contact Erin Kenney via email or at 336-373-710.
The Parks and Recreation Department has received a request to name the basketball court at Benbow Park after Mr. Bob McAdoo.
In accordance with our policies, the Parks and Recreation Commission accepted the application for the naming of this park amenity in December 2023.
At the next 2 meetings, community members are invited to attend and voice their opinion on the renaming request.
February 13, 5:30 pm, Glenwood Recreation Center, 2010 Coliseum Blvd.
March 13, 5:30 pm, Leonard Recreation Center, 3624 Ballinger Rd. Commission will receive and review feedback, and vote at this meeting.
Feedback is also accepted via phone call 336-373-7710 or email for those unable to attend.
Application for naming the basketball court at Benbow Park after Mr. Bob McAdoo.
I would like to formally ask the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Commission to consider naming the basketball court at Benbow Park “Bob McAdoo Court” in honor of Benbow Park native and NBA All Star Bob McAdoo.
Robert Allen McAdoo Jr. was born on September 25, 1951 in Greensboro, NC, where he resided until the 1972 NBA draft. Bob started to play basketball at age 10 at the YMCA, but that was too far from his house and he needed a closer location for his daily practice. That's when he discovered the court at Benbow Park, so, along with a handful of friends, he began to walk there every day after school and play until sundown, including Saturdays and Sundays.
One day at the park he lost track of time and failed to be home at the designated time. His mother, worried, sent her husband to look for Bob. The father drove around in his car and finally found Bob at Benbow Park, shooting basketballs under the street light. He then drove away, went back home, approached his wife and told her "don't be hard on the kid, he is not in trouble or doing anything wrong, he is just playing basketball!'
From that day on his parents lifted the "curfew" and the court at Benbow Park became Bob's second home!
In 1972, he was first round pick by the Buffalo Braves. During his 14 NBA seasons he played for some of the major NBA teams: Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76rs, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Lakers. He was five-time NBA All Star and the NBA MVP in 1975. After his last NBA season in 1986, he accepted an offer to play overseas and played six more seasons in Italy.
In 1992 he was the technical advisor for the movie "The air up there" with Kevin Bacon.
In 2000 he was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights:
All City (High School)
All County (High School)
All American (High School)
East West High School All Star Game
All State Band (Alto Saxophone)
North Carolina State High Jump Champion (1969). Jumped at 6'8" 3/4 and held the State record at the time.
2 time Junior College All American
Junior College Championship Game MVP
Junior College Champion (Vincennes)
Pan American Games
NCAA All American (UNC) 1st Team
Final 4 All Tournament Team
NBA Rookie of the Year (1973)
NBA MVP (1975)
3 time NBA Scoring Champ
1 time NBA Field Goal % Leader
5 time NBA All Star
2 time NBA Champion (LA Lakers)
2 time Euro League Champion (1987-88 Milan)
2 time Italian League Champion (1987-88 Milan)
1 time Intercontinental Champion (1987 Milan)
2 time Euro League Championship Game MVP (1987-88)
3 time NBA Champion as Assistant Coach (Miami Heat)
North Carolina Hall of Fame
Guilford County Hall of Fame
National Junior College Hall of Fame
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Voted Best Player born in North Carolina
Voted Top 75 Players of All Time
Voted Top 50 Influential Personalities of European Club Basketball, and is one of just 35 players to receive honor.
P&R Master Plans
- The 2023 approved Aquatics Master Plan.
Following the completion of a new park entrance and parking area in 2017, Heath Park located at 3830 Holts Chapel Road is slated for additional improvements that include a new, related playground and natural walking loop.
Keeley Park, located at 4100 Keeley Rd completed Phase II development in December 2020. The Up in the AIR playground is the largest inclusive playground west of Raleigh. Expansion of the community garden is comprised of raised beds, additional plots and a teaching deck. The sprayground deck expansion allows for lounge chairs and more picnic tables. Four new shelters are available for rental and includes additional parking. Other fun items added is the outdoor fitness area, festival field area, and cornhole courts, a beginner mountain bike trail at the existing pump track and an 18-hole tournament /recreational disc golf course. An adaptive mountain bike trail is scheduled for construction in winter 2022, and will open in early summer 2023.
Mayer Park, located at 135 Poe St, in the Brice Street area on the far-east side of the Lindley Park neighborhood is densely populated with housing serving the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) off-campus student population. Factors such as aging facilities, shifting neighborhood trends, and ideas generated by Plan2Play make this an exciting time to reimage the future of Mayer Park. In October 2021, the department will apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding to be used to upgrade the site that could include a shelter surrounded by a grill and chill zone of Adirondack seating, cornhole and hammock area and a fitness and play area could include a gag pit, outdoor fitness area, half-court basketball court, open play field and dog park. Paved pathways throughout the site will link park amenities and provide accessibility.
Peeler Community Park, located at 1300 Sykes Ave, was completed in 2023. The project included expanding parking and an improved driveway entrance, renovation of the existing ballfield, new gathering spaces with seating, new play structures, an outdoor fitness area, paved accessible pathways throughout the park with an interpretive story walk, and site amenities such as solar picnic tables, safety lighting, benches, trashcans, bike rack, signage and landscaping. Phase I was completed in November 2019 and included a multi-sport court with basketball and soccer, and tennis court renovations. Recreation center improvements include interior painting and bathroom modifications. For more information on the facility, please visit the Peeler Recreation Center site.
Rosewood Park is a neighborhood park located at 1324 Mayfair Ave. The park, comprised of 1.25 acres in the heart of the Rosewood neighborhood, contains a playground, water fountains, game tables, bike rakes, shade trees, and a short walking trail around the periphery of the park. Many of the park features are dated and are in need of repair or renovation. This plan creates a new master plan for Rosewood Park that offers a diversity of modern recreational opportunities, including a new playground, adult fitness equipment, a shelter with grills, and more.
The creation of this plan was funded by the Community Development Block Grant, administered by the Housing and Neighborhood Development department. Phase 1 includes the creation of construction documents and moving some utilities that run through the center of the park, which has also been funded by the CDBG. Parks and Recreation will apply for full construction renovation costs to be funded by CDBG in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
View the master plan.
The Smith Community Park Master Plan was approved in March 2019. Phase I improvements include conversion of two tennis courts to six pickleball courts, construction of accessible sidewalk between the pickleball courts and southern parking area and from the parking lot to the playground, ADA parking spaces at the southern parking area and striping of parking spaces on Fairview St., and a social seating area between the courts and playground.
Phase II elements include permanent cornhole, horseshoe pits, a paved walking trail, outdoor fitness equipment and shade structures, renovation of community garden area and installation of yard hydrant, and construction of picnic shelter with restrooms.
Spencer Love Tennis Center (SLTC), located at 3802 Jaycee Park Drive in Jaycee Community Park, is within the BPD. The court expansion project will include six additional clay courts and is scheduled for completion in fall 2022. Building renovations will begin in summer 2022 and will include roof replacement, exterior and interior painting, and decking upgrades.
Steelman Park is located on Highland Avenue within the Glenwood neighborhood. This three-and-a-half acre neighborhood facility has a community garden, basketball court, open areas and a small stream. The adopted master plan incorporates feedback received from the neighborhood meetings and includes renovated walking trails with exercise stations, expanded basketball courts, refurbished and repaired chess area, new stage, shade at playground, park signage, improvements to concrete pad, new bike racks, modified drainage at multi-purpose field, proposed fencing at park boundary, landscaping along stream, replaced bridges, and stream restoration.
The recently completed Steelman Park Streambank Restoration Project enhanced and stabilized eroding streambanks. This has improved water quality and the stream itself within the park as well as protect park infrastructure. The project was a collaborative effort initiated by the City's Water Resources and Parks and Recreation departments. Construction was completed in the spring 2018. As a component of the project, vegetation was planted along the streambanks. Typically, it takes three growing seasons for vegetation to become completely established and evident.
Sussman Park is a neighborhood park located at 299 Sussman Street. The park has over 14 acres including a multipurpose concrete court, basketball court, picnic shelter, and playground. Outdoor fitness equipment was recently installed.
The Twin Lakes Park Revitalization Feasibility Study was adopted in 2022 and identifies recommendations based on the following planning components:
- Water Level Management
- Connectivity through Greenway Trails
- Safety and User Experience
- Environmental Education and Awareness
P&R Site Plans