Town of Swansboro, Parks and Recreation Department

PARKS AND RECREATION

The Town of Swansboro Parks and Recreation program consists of seven facilities that serve the needs of Town residents and visitors to the community. These include the following:

COMMUNITY PARKS

Municipal Park is a diversified 18-acre community park with entrances on both Commerce Drive and Main Street Extension. The park’s amenities include a Recreation Center, multi-use fields, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts, a basketball court, skateboarding park, a playground, small picnic shelters, a .66 mile fitness/nature trail, and a concessions/restrooms building.

WATERFRONT PARKS

Underscoring its heritage as a harbor, Swansboro has three waterfront recreational facilities – Bicentennial Park, Ward’s Shore Park, and Riverview Park.

Bicentennial Park, located on the shores of the White Oak River along the Swansboro waterfront, includes areas on both sides of the White Oak River Bridge. This attractive and popular facility includes a fishing dock, picnic facilities, a brick walkway and a boardwalk, benches, historical information, a dual entry kayak launch, and restrooms.

Ward’s Shore Park, located on Water Street just south of downtown, is a passive park facility located directly on the water at the “turning basin” of the Intracoastal Waterway. A great place for viewing boats and Pelican Island, Ward’s Shore has picnic tables, seating, and a rain garden area.

Riverview Park, which is located directly off NC 24 (Corbett Avenue) between Main and Elm Streets, features hundreds of feet of elevated shoreline walkways along the White Oak River and an excellent view of Jones Island, an element of Hammocks Beach State Park. Both a scenic overlook and a roadside park, Riverview has two covered observation shelters - each of which has binoculars or a telescope for enhanced viewing - and three picnic shelters.  The park also offers interpretive signage about the coastal environment and has a generous parking area constructed with environmentally-friendly pervious pavers.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Swansboro has two neighborhood parks designed to serve surrounding residential areas.

Pirates Den Park is a .62-acre play area located at the junction of Broad Street and Shore Drive, just one block off NC 24 in the Edgewater Heights neighborhood. The park includes an outstanding, nautically-themed playground designed for smaller children, picnicking, and restroom facilities.

Pineland Park, located in the Swansboro Heights neighborhood, is a mini-park which includes several types of play equipment and a covered picnic pavilion with tables.

TOWN DOCKS

The Town Dinghy Dock, located in the heart of downtown where Main Street meets the water, includes both a fishing dock and a dock for small boats.  Also a great location for viewing the harbor and boating during visits to downtown, the facility provides a location for visiting boaters to tie up their vessel, at no cost, and enjoy dining and shopping downtown.

Moore Street Dock, located at the foot of Moore Street adjacent to the Icehouse Waterfront Restaurant, includes a dock for small boats and a walkway for pedestrian access.  This location provides a great view of the White Oak River and excellent view of the iconic Phillips Seafood.  Docking is limited to two small boats at no cost. 

Church Street Dock, located at the intersection of Front and Church Streets in the historic downtown district, within one block of the Swansboro Visitors Center and Olde Towne Square.  The 10-slip Town Dock is located along the Intracoastal Waterway at Latitude 34 degrees, 41 minutes, 10.44 seconds and Longitude 77 degrees, 7 minutes, 10.08 seconds.  Slips are available for anovernight stay to 26 ft or larger, non-trailerable vessels. 

PARKS AND RECREATION PLANNING AND INITIATIVES

In 2008, the Board of Commissioners adopted a Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan to address the current and future recreation needs of the community. The plan includes specific recommendations to:

• Make significant improvement to existing park facilities.
• Acquire additional park land.
• Begin providing recreational programming.
• Add a parks and recreation director within two years.
• Provide significant funding to meet parks and recreation needs.

The Town has recently upgraded its requirements for subdividers to dedicate land or provide financial contributions to park facilities, has budgeted major funding for park upgrades, was awarded a grant to help construct a new public dock and pier facility in downtown Swansboro, and successfully sought a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to help fund $1 million in new facility at Municipal Park. The improvements were completed in 2013.  Improvements include a new playground, an exercise trail, a skateboard area, a new concession and restrooms facility, and a recreation center.

OTHER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Soccer 

The Swansboro Soccer Association, a non-profit group, operates an extensive youth soccer program, using both fields at Municipal Park and its own soccer complex on Hammocks Beach Road. For more information, go to www.ssa-nc.com.

Youth Baseball and Softball 

The Swansboro Baseball & Softball Association, also a non-profit group, offers youth baseball and softball at its privately-owned baseball and softball complex on Swansboro Loop Road. For information, call (910) 326-6471.

Hammocks Beach State Park 

One of North Carolina’s most beautiful state parks lies three miles from NC 24, accessible from Hammocks Beach Road. The park includes the unspoiled beaches of Bear Island, 33 acres of mainland park area (including a large, educational visitors center), Huggins Island, and Jones Island. Accessible by a small ferry, Bear Island is a rare find for beach enthusiasts and includes restrooms, showers, and primitive camping. The mainland portion of the park includes terrific picnicking areas and an excellent canoe and kayak launching site.

Croatan National Forest 

Located of NC 58 in Cedar Point, just three miles from Swansboro, a Croatan National Forest campground has attractive facilities for RV and tent campers, picnic areas, trails, and a boat launching area that connects to the Intracoastal Waterway, the White Oak River, and the many interesting creeks and inlets along the estuary.

North Carolina Aquarium 

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is located on Bogue Island less than a half hour east of Swansboro. The Aquarium is open daily and features extensive exhibits of maritime life, including touch tanks. The aquarium also offers a variety of educational presentations, shoreline trails, and canoe trips along the Roosevelt Natural Preserve.

Private Recreation 

Private recreational opportunities in the immediate area include an aquatics center in Cape Carteret, a canoe and kayaking outfitter in Cedar Point, a bowling alley and arcade in Cape Carteret, and a movie theater complex in Emerald Isle.

The Parks and Recreation Department strives to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors of Swansboro, North Carolina through quality parks, recreation programs, and opportunities; promoting diverse, inclusive, and quality events and activities across all demographics to build a strong sense of community and positive experience.