Parks & Recreation in Hendersonville, NC

One thing I love pointing out to clients is how much park space Hendersonville packs into a town this size. Whether you want ballfields, river access, a quiet trail, or a shuffleboard court with your neighbors, there’s a park for it, and none of them are far from wherever you end up living.

Jackson Park

Jackson Park is the big one: 220 acres, making it the largest municipal park in Western North Carolina. It has 9 lighted softball and baseball fields, 2 soccer fields, 8 lighted tennis courts (2 set up for pickleball), 2 basketball courts, a mountain bike skills park, a disc golf course, a 1.2 mile nature trail, and an all-inclusive ADA playground. There are also covered picnic shelters, a dog-friendly atmosphere, and the entrance to the Oklawaha Greenway if you want to keep walking. On weekends it’s where half the town seems to end up, whether they’re at a kid’s ballgame or just out for a walk.

Westfeldt Park and the French Broad

If you’d rather be on the water, Westfeldt Park is the spot. It sits on the French Broad River at the county line with Buncombe County, and it’s a genuinely nice put-in for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, this stretch of river is slow-moving and shallow, so it’s forgiving for beginners. There’s a floating boat ramp, picnic tables, an open field, and enough parking to make it an easy afternoon trip. It’s also the starting point for longer paddles downstream if you want to make a day of it.

Tuxedo Park and Toms Park

For something smaller and closer to daily life, Tuxedo Park and Toms Park round things out. Tuxedo Park, in the Tuxedo community south of town, has a playground, two pickleball courts, a walking trail, and a rentable shelter, it’s the kind of park where you actually run into your neighbors. Toms Park is more of a niche favorite: five acres built almost entirely around 27 shuffleboard courts, a big draw for retirees and anyone who wants to give the game a try.

The Bottom Line

However you like to spend a Saturday, Hendersonville’s park system probably already has a spot for it. All of these are maintained by the Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department, and their office (708 South Grove St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, (828) 697-4884) is a good resource if you want the full list of parks, trails, and rec programs before you move.