Matthews, situated in the suburbs of Charlotte, is among the towns in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States.
Mathews is an incredible place to visit, with its lively suburban lifestyle and historic landmarks dating back to the 19th century. This town has multiple parks, outdoor spaces, and green spaces to enjoy and connect with nature.
Some of these parks include Colonel Francis Beatty Park, a 256-acre Park with five lighted soccer mountain biking trails, fields, and a lake perfect for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Another green space is the Four Mile Creek Greenway, famous for its well-maintained trails.
Here are some of the best parks in Mathew, NC.
Parks in Matthews, NC
1. Fountain Rock Park
Fountain Rock Park is a refuge amid the Four Miles Creek Greenway. It is one of the best Parks in Mathews, NC.
This passive Park is perfect for those who want to relax or take a quick break from their walk along the Greenway.
Here, you can picnic, read a book, relax, sit on the benches, and meditate at the flowing fountain. The fountain is lovely, and beautiful trees, plants, and wildlife surround it.
Visitors can also engage in birdwatching or walk their four-legged furry friends in the Park.
Address: 311 S Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
2. Matthews-Sardis Park
Matthews-Sardis Park is a beautiful, peaceful, and small neighborhood park in Matthews, NC.
The 2.8-acre Park features a gazebo-style picnic shelter with playgrounds, swings, tables, portable restrooms, open grassy play areas, and paved walking trails.
The play area is shaded, so kids can still use it during the hot season.
The gazebos in the Park can be leased, but they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Address: 9650 Sardis Rd, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
3. Four Mile Creek Greenway
The Four Mile Creek Greenway connects downtown Mathews with Squirrel Lake Park. It is the first in Matthews and is built with a boardwalk and an asphalt trail.
This Greenway is an excellent trail for a jog or a pleasant walk with your dog. Whether you bike, run, or stroll, nature will provide you with the break you desire.
Four Mile Creek Greenway also contains 2 miles of paved walking trails, numerous neighborhood access points, and connections to Fountain Rock Park, Mathews Elementary School, Matthews Company Center, the Matthews Sportsplex, and the Matthews Heritage Trail.
Four Mile Creek Greenway is always open except during greenway repairs and flood events. The picturesque pathway contributes to the relaxing vibe of the place.
Address: 1102 E John St, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
4. Squirrel Lake Park
Squirrel Lake Park has 36 acres of land and a pond. This Park also links to the Four Mile Creek Greenway, which offers several miles to jog, walk, hike, or run with your furry friend.
The Greenway is relatively long, with numerous options for various routes, all linked between different neighborhoods and other smaller parks.
Squirrel Lake Park also features multiple shelters, outdoor grilling areas, picnic tables, and walking trails. Additionally, the Park has restrooms, a pond with fishing piers, swings, playgrounds, a 12-hole disc golf course, and a cornhole.
The extensive pier provides opportunities for observing pond life and fishing. The playground structure is for children aged 2-12. It provides a safe and fun area for kids to play. Squirrel Lake Park is undoubtedly one of the best parks in Mathews, NC.
Address: 1631 Pleasant Plains Rd, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
5. Idlewild Road Park
Idlewild Road Park is a well-known recreational area in Matthews, NC. The Park spreads over 97 acres and offers various activities for all ages.
Some excellent reasons to visit Idlewild Road Park include the many amenities available, such as tennis courts, disc golf courses, a playground, and basketball courts.
Guests can also enjoy hiking and picnicking along the Park’s trails. The Park is notable for bird watching, with over 100 varieties of birds spotted there.
Certain points of interest at Idlewild Road Park include the historic Robinson Rock House, which offers a peek into the area’s past, and the scenic pond, which is perfect for fishing and relaxation.
The Park also hosts events throughout the year, including festivals and concerts. Idlewild Road Park is undoubtedly one of the fun parks in Mathews, NC.
The best time of the year to visit this Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is calm and the Park’s natural beauty is in complete bloom. However, it is open throughout the year and offers delightful activities for guests in all seasons.
Address: 10512 Idlewild Rd, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
6. Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a 5-acre property with many fun features. Despite its size and location, it is reputed as one of the fun parks in Mathews, NC.
The playground provides safe and fun areas containing slides, swings, a zipline, and climbing structures.
There is also a trail system with 16 fitness stations, a pond and Creek with stepping stones, a pedestrian bridge for crossing, and an open play space.
The Park contains a picnic shelter with a large family-size grill and six picnic tables that can seat 36-48 people. A rope spider web and a wide climbing tower are also located in the Park.
Windsor Park is quiet and shady, which makes it an excellent place for the hot summer days.
When going to the Park, wear sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen to protect you from the sections of the Park that do not have shades.
Also, take enough water because there are no facilities for refilling and Bug spray to repel ticks and mosquito
Address: 10140 Northeast Pkwy, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
7. McAlpine Creek Park
McAlpine Creek Park is quiet and offers picturesque trails and a pier for fishing. The entire scene is an ideal place to gather your thoughts.
The most notable feature at McAlpine Creek Park is a championship-level cross-country-course course. It meanders through the woods, around a lake, and across open fields.
The Park is usually somewhat underpopulated but has a large dog park popular for large breed dog lovers and a few soccer fields.
McAlpine Creek Park may not be the best Park to visit if you are searching for activities, but it might be the right place to visit if you need a peaceful place to chill.
Although the Park has cross-country trails, as indicated above, it is also a well-known place to meet with some cycling pals.
Address: 8711 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212, United States
8. Colonel Francis J. Beatty Regional Park
Colonel Francis J. Beatty Regional Park, one of the larger parks in Matthews, spans 263.8 acres. The Park is celebrated for its beautiful forests and ponds.
Aside from its natural scenery, this Park has parking lots and playgrounds. The pond is large and great for fishing. It is fantastic to sit and enjoy it. The Park’s trails have signs that show their levels of difficulty.
Colonel Francis J. Beatty Regional Park has three complete soccer fields, tennis courts, nice restroom facilities, and covered picnic areas.
Address: 4330 Weddington Rd, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
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9. Stumptown Park
Stumptown Park is a 9-acre Park used yearly for concerts and special events. The Park is home to a performance stage with a dance floor.
With a sand volleyball court and open grassy areas, Stumptown Park provides many opportunities for various recreational activities.
Reservation is not required, but the picnic area and the volleyball courts are used on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Stumptown Park is open from dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs can join their humans for a walk or picnic on the grassy lawns.
Address: 120 S Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
10. Freedom Park
Freedom Park, boasting almost 100 acres, is a rejuvenating and free escape from the bustling city. The Park is famous throughout the year thanks to the different biking and walking paths and plenty of green space.
Amid the joggers, dog walkers, and families, you will find tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, and other recreational activities.
Many events occur here throughout the year, including the Festival in the Park in September, which features entertainment, local food, and arts and crafts.
Guests have applauded the Park’s neat facilities and say the Park is a wonderful place to spend a few hours, especially if you have kids in tow.
In addition to two playgrounds, Freedom Park houses a full-size train engine that little kids can explore and Discovery Place Nature.
Discovery Place Nature, an affiliate of Discovery Place Science, is an interactive museum for children that features various exhibits about bugs, animals, plants, and live animal presentations.
Freedom Park has bathrooms, but it does not have food and beverage facilities. Close to the Park, however, are a bevy of shops and restaurants, including Starbucks and locally-owned eateries such as JJ’s Red Hots and Kid Cashew.
The Park is open daily, but tennis court hours differ by season. Freedom Park is in Charlotte, NC, 24 minutes from Matthews, NC.
Address: 1908 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, United States
11. The Purser-Hulsey Park
Head to Purser-Hulsey Park to check out a magical forest. As far as hikes go, this one is straightforward. The 1-8-mile loop trail, also called the Purser-Hulsey Main Loop Trail, cuts across a beautiful forest.
The trail, also called the Enchanted Forest Trail, houses hundreds of painted rocks. Visitors are encouraged to uncover them and move them to other forest spots.
You never know when you will come across a painted rock, whether on the dirt footpath, Broad Boardwalk, or the stone-covered path. However, when you do, it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
The Purser-Hulsey Main Loop is open throughout the year and is perfect for all family members. The hike has no difficult sections and only minimal elevation gains and losses.
If uncovering painted rocks in the Enchanted Forest rouses your interest, you should come here. If you like, you can paint your own rocks before you go so you drop them behind for other visitors to discover.
You will also find benches littered throughout the Park if you want to pause and enjoy this natural refuge’s serenity.
Purser-Halsey Park is open from sunrise to dusk daily, and entry is free.
Address: 13201 Phillips Rd, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
12. Baucom Park
While not a very big park, Baucom Park is incredible, with lots of shade and equipment for kids to have fun.
This 1-acre Park has a gazebo with tables, a playground, an outdoor grill, and swings. It also has an open center area for parents to relax and view the entire Park.
The gazebo-style shelter close to the playground has three picnic tables and can seat 18-24 people.
There are two big kid swings, four baby swings, and climbing equipment. It is well-shaded, making it suitable for relaxing during the hot season.
Address: 601 Sadie Dr, Matthews, NC 28105, United States
13. Romare Bearden Park
The Romare Bearden Park was completed in 2013, making it one of the most recent parks in Mecklenburg County.
Romare Bearden Park is a fantastic home base for different events. The Park is a great choice if you are looking for where to have a picnic or some fresh air; it is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Romare Bearden Park may not have large playgrounds and a soccer field, but it is still terrific.
The Park is named after an artist who became popular partly due to the Civil Rights movement. Specific parts of the Park are designed to commemorate Romare Bearden’s art.
One well-known sculpture is called the Spiral Odyssey. Even the waterfall has a unique lightning scheme that is luminous under the night sky.
The Park also has designated gardens and a crushed granite café-like sitting area; it is truly beautiful.
Another thing to adore about Romare Bearden Park is that it is in the middle of almost everything to do in Uptown Charlotte.
Address: 300 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
14. Park Road Park
Park Road Park
Despite its small size, athletic fields cover Park Road Park’s acreage. This is one of the notable reasons why the Park serves as a magnet for the residents of South Charlotte.
Even though it is near the South Park business district and high-end communities, Park Road Park’s entrance and location are relatively unassuming.
Park Road Park is usually busy at night and during the weekends. Besides the traditional youth sports leagues, the Park hosts a famous senior softball league.
The kid’s playground sits on top of a rubberized surface. The rubber surface provides additional cushion for scrapes, falls, and bruises.
Plenty of picnic tables and trails encircle the playground, so there are places for parents to sit close by while keeping a watchful eye.
Adults enjoy Park Road Park as it is a terrific place to exercise. It is also an excellent place to play basketball and softball and go for a walk or jog.
Address: 6220 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210, United States
15. First Ward Park
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First Ward Park
First Ward Park also has a splash pad, perfect for children to enjoy on a hot summer day. Furthermore, there is a top-level kid’s playground, including a jungle gym shaped like a sphere with woven ropes for climbing.
First Ward Park contains a series of outdoor fitness equipment, such as various bars for bodyweight exercises and a stationary bike to jumpstart your cardio.
The Park has numerous museums, libraries, exhibitions, and museums. Most of the activities in the parks are kid-friendly.
First Ward Park offers something for everybody. The skyline view and countless activities make the Park worth visiting.
Address: 301 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
16. Reedy Creek Park Dog Park
Reedy Creek Park Dog Park is also known as Barkingham Park. The Park offers a section for larger dogs and smaller dogs. Generally, you will find around 4 acres of space enclosed for your four-legged friends.
You will find picnic tables and benches for the humans, a walking path where you can exercise while your furry friend plays off-leash, and a large tree canopy that provides shade for most of the Park.
To switch it up, you can put the leash back on your doggie friend and explore around 10 miles of hiking in the 600+ acre nature park.
For pets, you will find toys and water stations to keep your dogs engaged and happy. There are also trash cans and doggie waste bags to enable easy cleanup.
Reedy Creek Park Dog Park offers many acres to roam free, shaded areas, water stations, opportunities to socialize with other dogs, and more.
Address: Charlotte, NC 28215, United States
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Plan Your Trip to Mathews
Matthews is a vibrant town in North Carolina. The town’s many parks, outdoor areas, trails, and recreational areas make it a fantastic place for nature lovers.
Start planning your visit to Matthews, NC, today! It is a perfect getaway destination for the family.