Sports & Recreation

Sports in Orange County revolve mostly around the Tar Heel basketball, football and other teams for obvious reasons, but outdoor activities are very big here, too, because the county and towns have a long-standing commitment to the preservation, development and promotion of parkland—25% of the county's nearly 400 square miles is undeveloped—including nature preserves, parks and playgrounds, walking trails and bicycle routes and paths, not to mention state parks and lakes and reservoirs. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for personal athletic activities, e.g. biking, fitness, golf, swimming and even ice-skating year-round.

A.D. Clark Pool

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216 North Roberson St (Hargraves Community Park),
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 968-2784; recorded info (919) 968-2794

Call for hours.

Outdoor pool is open during the warm weather only. The parks department offers a number of programs and activities at the pool. Call for specific details, open swim time and fees.

Blue Urban Bikes

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431 West Franklin St (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 960-6886

Members may rent bikes for up to 24 hours from several downtown locations. $10 per year.

Caddy Shack Golf-Training Facility

6911 Mount Herman Church Rd
East of Hillsborough, NC 27278

phone (919) 383-0695

Daily, 10am-6pm (summer, till 8pm).

Offers dual-elevation tee stations (with ground-level mats sheltered for use during rainy conditions), large grass tee area, three chipping areas, large putting green, and sand bunker, plus well marked yardages and targets. Jim Schwab, master teaching professional, offers private lessons for adults and juniors. Also available are lesson packages, group lessons and clinics.on packages

Cane Creek Reservoir

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Located 10 miles west of Carrboro on NC Highway 54
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 942-5790

Open from late Mar. to mid-Nov., Thu.-Sat., 6:30am-6pm, and Sun., 1-6pm.

THE CANE CREEK RESERVOIR IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE DROUGHT. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR FUTURE UPDATES.  The reservoir was built in 1989 to complement University Lake. Free picnic and sunbathing areas. Rowboats, canoes and motors are available for rent. Fees charged for lake use, boat rentals and related activities. Parking.

Carolina Fitness

503-C West Main St
Carrboro, NC 27510

phone (919) 960-9910

Carrboro Parks

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100 North Greensboro St (Carrboro Century Center)
Carrboro, NC 27510

phone (919) 918-7364

Parks office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm. Center's office hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and during scheduled events. Both closed major holidays.

Parks are open daily, 7am to dark (lighted areas till 11pm). Athletic fields, meeting rooms, kitchen and pavilions are available for reservations, and a variety of programs and events are scheduled for all ages. The Cybrary in the Carrboro Century Center has five computer stations, books and periodicals.

Cedar Grove Golf Course

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700 McDade Store Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

phone (919) 732-8397

Open daily.

18-hole, par-71 golf course. Electric and pull carts are available for rent. Includes driving range and putting green. Snack bar. Call for green fees and reservations.

Chapel Hill Greenways

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Various locations
Chapel Hill, NC NC

phone (919) 968-2784

Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Among the 11 separate trails in the 40-mile system, about 28 miles will have paved and natural surfaces. Nearly 10 miles have been completed to date. The trails allow easy access by pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as those on roller skates, rollerblades or skateboards and in wheelchairs or baby strollers.

Chapel Hill Parks

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200 Plant Rd (off East Franklin St)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

phone (919) 968-2784

Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm; closed major holidays.

Parks are open daily, dawn to dusk, with lighted areas (tennis and basketball courts), till 11pm. Facilities include the Community Center (see below), (919) 968-2790; Hargraves Center, (919) 968-2794; and Lincoln Center, (919) 968-2792. Parks include Burlington Park, Cedar Falls Park, Ephesus Park, Homestead Park, Jones Park, North Forest Hills Park, Oakwood Park, Phillips Park, Umstead Park and Westwood Park. Most activities free; some cost. Also, the Chapel Hill Greenways (see below).

Chapel Hill Skate Park

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100 Northern Park Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(919) 932-7399

May-Aug open Mon-Fri, 11am-8pm; Sat, 10am-noon (beginners), noon-8pm (normal session); Sun, noon-6pm. Sep-Apr open Mon-Thu, 3-8pm; Fri, 3-9pm; Sat, 10am-noon (beginners), noon-9pm (normal session; Sun, noon-6pm.


New facility for skateboarding, managed privately by Vertical Urge of Raleigh. Skateboarding is a modern sport that originated as “sidewalk surfing” in California in the 1950s. Membership packages. Orange County residents, $7; non-residents, $8.

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Did You Know?

Orange County offers a wide range of spectator and recreational sports and leisure activities, and is home to the fastest 3/8-mile oval stock car race track in the U.S.