Recreation Facilities
From neighborhood parks to greenways, Hillsborough offers many opportunities for recreation. Town parks are managed by the Public Space and Sustainability Division, which implements decisions made by the Parks and Recreation Board. Orange County provides additional parks and recreational programming in and around town.
Town-maintained parks and greenways are open daily from 8 a.m. until a half hour after sunset.
To reserve a park facility, visit the reservations section of this website.
For additional information about recreation in Hillsborough, see frequently asked questions.
Park and recreation facility locations in town can be found on the Town Map on this website. An interactive map of trails and greenways in Orange County can be found on the county website.
North-south greenway
The proposed greenway would run north-south connecting Cates Creek Park in southern Hillsborough to the town’s future train station in central Hillsborough, adjacent to the Collins Ridge neighborhood. It further would connect to the downtown and the Riverwalk greenway via Exchange Club Park and Faribault Lane.
Calvin Street Greenway
The Calvin Street Greenway provides a connection from Calvin Street south to Riverwalk and Gold Park. It is a 300-foot paved, accessible path with a 100-foot elevated walkway. It allows pedestrian and bicycle access from downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.
Riverwalk
Riverwalk is a paved, accessible, urban greenway that stretches about 2 miles along the Eno River between Gold Park in western Hillsborough and trails east of town. For more information, visit the Riverwalk page on this website.
Cates Creek Park
Located at 1445 Cates Creek Parkway, Cates Creek Park is a nearly 17-acre park. Amenities include restroom facilities, playground, multi-use field with soccer goals, and picnic tables. See the park's master plan below for more information.
Gold Park
Located at 415 Dimmocks Mill Road, Gold Park is a 20-acre park. The park includes 0.3 miles of the Riverwalk greenway and links to downtown through Riverwalk. Amenities include restroom facilities, playground, dog park, multi-use field, picnic tables, picnic shelters, natural areas, pedestrian trails and a pollinator garden and bee hotel. A trail map is available below.
Hillsborough Heights Park
Located at 510 Terrell Road, Hillsborough Heights Park includes a tot lot. Amenities include playground equipment, picnic tables and a grill. See the park's master plan below for more information.
Kings Highway Park
Located at 1001 Ben Johnston Road, Kings Highway Park is an 18-acre natural area. The property is bounded on the south and west by Lake Ben Johnston. The park was developed by volunteers. It has almost 1 mile of nature trails. The name Kings Highway Park is based on the research of Tom Magnuson, who documented the presence of remnants of a river ford and historic road known as King’s Highway on the property. Amenities include trails, bridges, picnic tables and a kiosk. See the park's master plan at the bottom of this page section for more information.
Mayo Park
Located on the south side of West King Street, adjacent to the town parking lot, Mayo Park is a pocket park named in memory of Odell Mayo, a former town employee. Mayo retired from the Public Works Division and was responsible for keeping downtown swept and clean. Amenities include a sitting area.
Murray Street Park
Located at 225 Murray St., Murray Street Park is slightly under 1 acre. Amenities include an open area, play structure, slide, swings and a bridge crossing a small creek. See the park's master plan below for more information.
Turnip Patch Park
Located at 333 W. King St., Turnip Patch Park is a 0.6-acre neighborhood park built primarily with volunteer donations. A neighbor, Hoyt Crabtree, previously had permission from the town to plant a garden on the site, and the water account for the site bore the name "Turnip Patch." When neighborhood residents petitioned the town for permission to build a park, they asked to keep the name. Amenities include a play structure, footbridge, several garden areas, sitting benches and a water fountain. See the park's master plan below for more information.
Exchange Park
Located at 331 Exchange Club Lane, Exchange Park is privately owned and operated. The park covers 16 acres and includes a baseball field used frequently for Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association games. Amenities include two playgrounds, open space areas, picnic tables and picnic shelters. There is interest by the Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board for the town to lease the park to provide additional recreational opportunities for area youth. See the park's master plan below for more information.
Fairview Park
Located at 195 Torain St., Fairview Park is maintained by Orange County. For more information, visit the Orange County website.
HYAA baseball fields
The Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association has multiple baseball and softball fields located in and around Hillsborough. For more information, visit the association website.
River Park
Located at 140 E. Margaret Lane, River Park is maintained by Orange County. For more information, visit the Orange County website.
Ayr Mount
Ayr Mount is a Federal-era plantation house built in 1815 with a 1-mile Poet's Walk along the Eno River. For more information, visit the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust website.
Duke Forest
Duke Forest consists of over 7,000 acres of forested land and open fields in Durham, Orange, and Alamance counties. For more information, visit the Duke Forest website.
Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail
The Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail and James M. Johnston Nature Preserve is a 44-acre site with four miles of trails, including the 1-mile oval Occoneechee/Orange Speedway. For more information, visit the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust website.
Kings Highway Park
Located at 1001 Ben Johnston Road, Kings Highway Park is an 18-acre natural area. The property is bounded on the south and west by Lake Ben Johnston. The park was developed by volunteers. It has almost 1 mile of nature trails. The name Kings Highway Park is based on the research of Tom Magnuson, who documented the presence of remnants of a river ford and historic road known as King’s Highway on the property. Amenities include trails, bridges, floating canoe and kayak launch, picnic tables and a kiosk. See the park's master plan at the bottom of this page section for more information.
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area offers three miles of trails through riverside forests, with bluffs reaching to the highest point in the area. For more information, visit the N.C. State Parks website.
Central Recreation Center
Located at 302 W. Tryon St., Central Recreation Center is operated by Orange County. For more information, visit the Orange County website.
Orange County Sportsplex
Located at 101 Meadowlands Drive, Orange County Sportsplex is operated by Orange County. For more information, visit the Orange County Sportsplex website.
Jerry M. Passmore Center
Located at 103 Meadowlands Drive, the Jerry M. Passmore Center is operated by Orange County. For more information, visit the Orange County website.
