Parks and Recreation

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department provides for maintenance and operation of all City park and recreation facilities. The Parks and Recreation Department has no employees and all maintenance work is performed by Public Works Department personnel. The City of Marion does not provide recreational programming. Such programs are provided by McDowell County for County residents. For more information about recreation programs, please contact the McDowell County Parks and Recreation Department at 652-3001.

The City maintains several park facilities, as follows:

Marion Community Building Park – Located in Downtown Marion at 191 North Main Street, this park contains basketball and tennis courts, picnic shelters and tables, and a large playground. Restrooms are available on-site during certain hours. The park can accommodate a large number of people, and parking is available on site. The picnic shelters are available on a first come first served process. The Community Building Park was renovated in 2001 from generous donations of new playground equipment by individuals and businesses in the community. The park is open seven days a week, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 PM.

West Marion Park – Located next to Addie’s Chapel United Methodist Church on Ridley Street, the West Marion Park was constructed in 2001 on land donated by Addie’s Chapel. The park contains a walking trail, a picnic shelter and tables, a basketball court, and playground equipment. Parking is available on site. The hours of the park are dawn to dusk.

Cross Mill Park - completed in 2003, located on Granby Street. The park contains a walking trail, a picnic shelter and tables, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a disc golf course and playground equipment. Parking is available on site. The hours of the park will be dawn to dusk.

Downtown Gazebos – The City maintains two gazebos in the downtown area to allow people to relax and enjoy and atmosphere of Main Street. One gazebo is located on North Main Street at Brown Drive, in the heart of the downtown area, and another gazebo is located on South Main Street at Morgan Street, on the southern edge of downtown.

Other recreational opportunities available within the City include the McDowell County Recreation Department facility located on Academy Street, which includes a skate park, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, swimming pool and ballfields, the McDowell County Senior Center located on Crawford Street, and the Maxwell Corpening YMCA, constructed in 2003 on Sugar Hill Road.

For more information about City parks and recreational opportunities, please contact City Hall at (828) 652-3551 or the Public Works Department at (828) 652-4224. A list of rules pertaining to each facility is posted at each park location.

Copyright 2005 - City of Marion - All Rights Reserved