From an afternoon of kayaking on Lake Wilson to taking in a Tobs baseball game, the choices of recreation in Wilson are many. Here you will find citizens who spend their free time outdoors strolling in one of our 30 parks, hitting the links at one of three golf courses, playing soccer at Gillette or getting a few laps in at Recreation Park’s year-round swimming pool. Wilson has the facilities for any sport or activity you could imagine – even ultimate frisbee!
Ample recreation facilities serve Wilson. How many you ask? Let’s talk numbers: 30 beautiful public parks, three recreation centers, a 10-screen motion picture theater, three 18-hole golf courses, one bowling alley, four reservoirs for boating and fishing, a combined total of 35 tennis courts owned by the city, and two city swimming pools, one being a multi-purpose complex with an air-supported dome for year-round use.
Natural beauty is always just outside your window in Wilson – bike trails, bird trails, running and walking trials, rose gardens, botanical gardens, even you neighbor’s garden! The reservoirs which so graciously provide Wilson County’s water double as a perfect place for boating and kayaking. Did we mention there are four? A large part of our history lies in agriculture, and through careful thought, the community has preserved Wilson’s abundant and lush greenspaces into the modern era of industry business.
Built in 1939 and preserved to be one of the finest in the region, Fleming Stadium is often considered the place to be during the summer months. The municipal professional baseball stadium accommodates 3,000 people and the Wilson Tobacconists (Tobs for short!), a semi-pro summer league baseball team. Show up on Saturday for the occasional double-header or weekdays for night games against regional rivals, all washed down with a cold soda and couple of hot dogs the Carolina way.
Local high schools and middle schools keep area sports active all year, and opportunities exist for development outside of school athletics through organizations like WYSA and WCYAA. In addition, Wilson's Recreation Department provides programmed activities for all interests and ages.
Opened in 2009, the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex, which is a part of The City of Wilson's Parks and Recreation department, encompasses 113 acres of land and has 6 regulation size soccer fields. The fields measure 120 yards x 70 yards and are perhaps the most beautiful in the state. The Musco Lighting that provides the opportunity for exciting night time play meets NCAA specifications. The Complex also has a spacious field house with full bathrooms and a concession area.