I'm surprised that this park is not already on the Yelp map as it's massive and it's well utilized…read more According to the website, the official name is "Gaston County Park at Dallas" and it is operated by the Gaston County Parks and Recreation Department. At 100 acres, it is large and it is definitely diverse. There are three lighted softball fields and one little league field. They have four covered shelters (two large, two smaller), there are a bunch of equestrian facilities (don't ask me how any of that works) with a show ring and 124 horse stalls. Playground, restrooms, amphitheater, three stocked lacks, a walking track, jogging trails and six lighted tennis courts. There was some sort of baseball competition going on when I stopped by today. One of the fields was in use by a girls softball team and there was a pretty big crowd. To access that area, there was a $5 parking charge but the rest of the park is free. Neat space! [Review 11896 overall, 1678 of 2019.]

Biggerstaff Dallas Park is really a nice park to visit!!!! They have a dark park, fishing area, a…read moregravel walking track & a little gym on the property. They even have a rescue shelter for animals on the property and a Senior Citizen building nearby for people 50 & over! Go check them out! They have loads of things to do at the Senior Citizen building. Monday at 3 pm is Bingo!!!

This beautiful park is still quite natural. Even the parking lot is just gravel and dirt…read more From the parking lot, a mile of natural surface trails for walking and running and mountain biking. I took a short walk to check it out and it is quite nice. At the river side, there is an access area for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and picnicking. Get outside! [Review 14247 overall, 1570 of 2020, number 2682 in North Carolina.]

This is a really nice trail in the Charlotte area that not many people know about…read more We first did the South Fork Catawba River Greenway which is about a mile round trip. It's starts at Goat Island Park south of 85. Another weekend we came back and did the South Fork Catawba Trail which is north of 85. That was about 4 miles round trip. I really hope they connect the two because they're so close together, but there is a small gap between the two, so you can't hike straight through. I saw some signs that made it look like there were plans to extend it, so hopefully that happens. If you're looking for an easy walk that's not crowded, check out either of these two trails!

This is a great park that's secluded from the city. It has great walking trails if you want to get…read morein some exercise on the regular, but it also has fields for sports if you're interested in doing that. (For what it's worth, I'm not sure how you go about reserving the fields as I've never done it, but I'm sure calling Parks and Recreation could lead you in the right direction...) I'd go as far as saying this is probably the best park in Gaston County.

Great place to go and sit and read in quiet for a while. Or even pack a picnic for the family and…read morealso take a while around the beautiful man made lake. Make sure to look out for the bald eagles and turtles!

Bradley Center and Park seems like quite the spot for recreational activity in Gastonia. Hosting…read moreprograms like cheerleading, martial arts, tennis leagues and disc golf, there's a lot going on. There is a large 15,058 square foot community center that includes a college-sized basketball court and seating for up to 350! The large park was built in 1977 and is dedicated to the late Mayor Roland E. Bradley. Outside, lighted multi-purpose ball field, eight lighted tennis courts, two concrete basketball courts, two large picnic shelters, a playground and a sprawling 18-hold disc golf course. Much of those facilities is available for rental. [Review 11894 overall, 1676 of 2019.]

Awesome staff and great friendly regulars. Great place to play Table Tennis if you are up to the…read morechallenge. Come join us.

This is a really nice trail in the Charlotte area that not many people know about…read more We first did the South Fork Catawba River Greenway which is about a mile round trip. It's starts at Goat Island Park south of 85. Another weekend we came back and did the South Fork Catawba Trail which is north of 85. That was about 4 miles round trip. I really hope they connect the two because they're so close together, but there is a small gap between the two, so you can't hike straight through. I saw some signs that made it look like there were plans to extend it, so hopefully that happens. If you're looking for an easy walk that's not crowded, check out either of these two trails!

While not quite "over the river and through the wood" type of trail, getting into the heart of it…read moretakes some maneuvering, especially from the parking area nearest I-85. Once you have crossed under the overpass (which some might find intimidating), walk another 200 yards until the trail quiets down. Ahhh . . . you are on your way. South Fork Trail is one of the few Carolina Thread Trails that has a legitimate natural surface with two parking areas, each at either end of it. At about 2 miles in length (or 4 miles to go out/back from whichever end you parked), it's a lazy stroll along the south fork of the Catawba river. I've seen deer, turkey, turtles, snakes, along with various birds and foliage. Mostly, I feel alone on the trail (depending on the day), sometimes meeting the occasional hiker or bike enthusiast. OK, that works. When I want to want hike to clear my head, avoid the crowds, and sometimes walk barefooted, this trail scores. Beware, however, of the height and roll of the river. Too much rain can turn this little trail into a deadly torrent. Otherwise, I say "give it a whirl."

Another big green blob on Google Maps, this one with the label "Flyer Park." It looks like one day…read moreit will be an amazing cultural and recreational resource but at this time it is gated off and still in its natural state. I was tempted to hop the fence and look around but you know what they say about hiking alone, right? I don't know if the City of Gastonia has it in their budget to do anything with this park but if you're like me and investigating green blobs on the map, you'll want to skip this one. [Review 11895 overall, 1677 of 2019.]

First off, this part of the park is FREE. My two boys loved this park and had a ball for almost an…read morehour. They were able to run and burn off so much energy. We were going to go to the pool area but it seems like it never opened. So we stayed in the free part of the park and enjoyed ourselves. After the boys were finished, we changed out of the wet clothes and took three trips around on the train. The boys also loved the ride and for only $1 each person, it was a bargain. Once we got back in the car, the boys immediately were knocked out. I can see why families would enjoy coming here.

I'm a fan of this excellent park. First off, it's Gastonia's first park. It's located not too far…read morefrom the downtown area which makes it a good spot for a picnic lunch. At 18.5 acres, it's a nice spot with some tall shade trees and some wide open space. I am particularly impressed by the miniature railroad thing they have going on. While it was not running this afternoon, it looked like a whole lot of fun for kids and for the parents who are bringing them here. Permanent restroom building, picnic shelters, gazebo and huge playground, lighted concrete basketball court, water pad and a concession area. There is a ton of parking. [Review 11890 overall, 1672 of 2019.]

Lovely park in Stanley that has a number of features for sporting activities. Lighted baseball…read morefields, picnic shelters, a large fenced-in playground area and basketball courts that seem to double as cornhole courts. I found a really nice walking path that looped around the park. Very nice. Lots of parking and some shade here at there. [Review 14250 overall, 1573 of 2020, number 2685 in North Carolina.]

Wish there was an additional fence between the water area and the play ground, but otherwise great!read more