Auburn, Alabama is a vibrant college town with a population of over 60,000 residents. Nestled in the eastern central part of the state, Auburn offers plenty of outdoor recreational activities for residents and visitors.
The area is home to 12 wonderful parks that offer amenities like walking trails, sports fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, and more. From small neighborhood parks to large community parks, Auburn has green spaces perfect for the whole family.
| Park Name | Size (Acres) | Main Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Town Creek Park | 90+ | Walking trails, playground, sports fields, picnic pavilions, fishing, bike trails |
| Felton Little Park | 2.8 | Playground, walking trail, picnic tables, basketball courts |
| Sam Harris Park | 8 | Youth baseball fields, batting cages, picnic pavilions |
| Kiesel Park | 4 | Pool, tennis courts, picnic tables, playground, multi-use field |
| Bowden Parks & Skatepark | 7 | Skatepark, multipurpose court, playground, picnic areas |
| Kreher Preserve & Nature Center | 111 | Woodland trails, boardwalks, education center, picnic areas |
| Teague Park | 14 | Aquatic center, disc golf, playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic areas |
| Martin Luther King Park | 6 | Play equipment, basketball court, multi-use field, Peace Pole |
| Martin Aquatics Center | 8.8 | Waterslides, pools, splash pad, picnic areas |
Parks bring communities together, provide access to nature, allow for physical activity, and create space for events and social gatherings. The parks in Auburn enhance quality of life through recreational opportunities that support health, wellness, connection to nature, leisure activities, and a space to gather outdoors. Keep reading to learn about the top 12 parks across the city and see which ones you’ll add to your must-visit list during your next trip to Auburn.
Town Creek Park
Name and Location: Town Creek Park
History and Significance: Spanning over 100 acres two miles east of Auburn University’s campus, Town Creek Park has offered vast wooded areas, fields, walking trails, sports amenities and a 12-acre lake for community recreation since opening in 1993.
What to Expect: Visitors hike miles of trails for wildlife viewing, exercise at the adult fitness park, play sports on the fields, relax in a creekside swing and use the picnic pavilions, playground, fishing pier and splash pad located around the park’s central lake. Canoe rentals offered too.
Visitor Information: Located at 1150 S College St in Auburn. Park open daily dawn to dusk. Free admission and parking available onsite. Restrooms situated around park.
Town Creek Park is one of Auburn’s hidden gems, tucked away off South College Street, just minutes from downtown. Spread across over 90 acres, this large public park features an abundance of amenities amid forests, creeks, and ponds.
Town Creek Park is divided into two sections—North and South—offering visitors plenty of recreation options like walking trails, playground equipment, sports fields and courts, fishing, picnic pavilions, and more.
The North side, sometimes called the Duck Pond area, features a large pond stocked with fish and several small picnic areas along the water. Trails throughout wind beneath shady hardwood forests near Duck Pond and over small footbridges. Wildlife is abundant with opportunities to view ducks, geese, turtles, and other wetland birds.
The playground features slides, swings, and climbing structures perfect for small children. Four athletic fields and a basketball court provide for pickup sports.
The South side includes four larger covered picnic pavilions available for rent, restrooms facilities, nine athletic fields including a newly renovated baseball diamond and softball field, three playground areas, and access to 31⁄2 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails.
Shade canopies, parking lots, and drinking fountains make the South side ideal for events or group gatherings. Visitors will also find connections to the 18-mile Waddell Marble Quarry hiking trail. With so much to do, Town Creek Park is perfect for hosting birthday parties, family reunions, or enjoying a nice picnic by the pond.
Felton Little Park
Name and Location: Felton Little Park
History and Significance: Serving as Auburn’s first public park, historic Felton Little Park has provided community green space, oak and magnolia tree shade and playground facilities enjoyed by generations of residents since opening downtown in 1887.
What to Expect: Locals and visitors relax on benches circled around towering old grove trees or let kids burn energy at the playground and splash pad area. Concerts and events at the outdoor amphitheater further activate this community hub embracing history.
Visitor Information: Located at 368 E Magnolia Ave in downtown Auburn. Open daily 5am to 10pm. Free admission. Available street parking nearby otherwise city garage across street.
Felton Little Park packs plenty of fun into its compact 2.8 acres. Located on Overbrook Road, directly adjacent to Auburn Junior High School, the park offers a variety of amenities including a playground, walking trail, picnic tables, and basketball courts.
Vintage playground equipment with slides and climbers brings a nostalgic element. The loop trail makes an excellent spot for a family stroll, jog, or dog walk. Several picnic shelters provide space for enjoying snacks and small gatherings. Two well-maintained basketball courts allow for friendly pickup games.
The proximity to Auburn Junior High makes this neighborhood park ideal for school day meetings or functions when not occupied by area families. Visitors will feel at home amongst towering hardwoods draped in Spanish moss that add beauty and an element of nature right in the city.
BBQ grills, trash cans, and lighting allow for use from sunup past sundown. While one of Auburn’s smaller parks, Felton Little checks plenty of boxes for enjoying the outdoors while spending a nice day with family or meeting friends for an afternoon of recreation.
Sam Harris Park
Name and Location: Sam Harris Park
History and Significance: Occupying over 40 acres adjacent to Auburn University, Sam Harris Park has offered expansive fields, walking trails, and sports amenities like tennis and basketball courts catering to community recreation since opening in 1985.
What to Expect: Visitors play pickup games on the baseball and soccer fields, walk dogs through open grassy areas and on winding trails, use the playground and courts, or enjoy scenic views of Auburn University across the road from this sprawling community park space.
Visitor Information: Located at 601 Biggio Dr in Auburn near campus. Open daily dawn to dusk. Free admission and parking available roadside. Public restroom building onsite.
For baseball lovers, Sam Harris Park is a field of dreams located in a quiet neighborhood between Bent Creek Road and Richland Road. This 8-acre park maintains four well-groomed youth baseball fields, batting cages, bleacher seating, electronic scoreboards, and tall chain-link fences.
In the heart of Dixie Youth Baseball territory, hundreds of little athletes have perfected their swing over the years on these immaculate fields. Tournaments throughout the spring and summer keep the park full of action. Ample parking gets full use during opening day ceremonies. Modern brick and wrought iron entrance signs greet guests as they arrive.
Multi-use green space offers room for warmups, spectating, or simply spending a sunny afternoon. Mature oaks scattered throughout provide intermittent shade cover on hot game days.
Two picnic pavilions give teams a spot for meetings or a place for families to celebrate post-game. Grill pits allow for tasty tailgating. Concessions, restrooms, and equipment storage buildings make tournaments easy for staff, players, and guests. For your future baseball all-star or lifelong fan, be sure to catch a game or enjoy some batting practice at Sam Harris Park.
Kiesel Park
Name and Location: Kiesel Park
History and Significance: Formerly farmland, 50-acre Kiesel Park opened for public use in 1989 and has since provided Auburn residents and visitors expansive lawns, mature shade trees, and a meandering creek perfect for relaxing in a natural area minutes from downtown.
What to Expect: Locals primarily visit the park to walk dogs, read, or picnic under the sprawling oaks that dominate the landscape along the creek. Open fields offer space for flying kites, frisbee and other leisurely recreation away from city bustle.
Visitor Information: Located off Richland Rd between Swann St and Sanders St. Open daily 8am to sunset. Free admission. Park along residential Sanders St. No divided parking lot. Portable toilets onsite.
Nestled among historic homes along Glenn Avenue lies William A. Kiesel Memorial Park, a nearly 4-acre city park named for a former Auburn mayor. Only a short walk from downtown Auburn, Kiesel Park is convenient for area residents and visitors alike.
The focal point of the park is the recently renovated Kiesel Park Pool, featuring zero-depth entry, water features, and an epic 30-foot water slide—the only public pool for 35+ miles. For cooling relief on hot summer days, this state-of-the-art aquatic center can’t be beaten.
In addition to the stellar pool complex, Kiesel Park contains two lighted tennis courts available on a first-come basis, four picnic tables, a small playground with vintage equipment, and a multi-use field. Mature oaks provide intermittent shade.
Recently added security cameras and fences ensure safety. Guests can access available parking along Glenn Avenue when visiting. Annual pool passes are affordable for families who want to make it their go-to summer hangout. Definitely one of Auburn’s most popular community spots from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, be sure to add Kiesel Park Pool to your must-do list.
Bowden Parks & Skatepark
Name and Location: Bowden Parks & Skatepark
History and Significance: Situated across over nine acres downtown, Bowden Parks provides manicured lawns, a tree-encircled duck pond, performance space and Auburn’s iconic skate park catering to skaters across the region since opening in 2000.
What to Expect: Visitors relax by the duck pond, let kids play on equipment, catch shows at the amphitheater, or watch skilled skaters/BMX riders catch air and grind rails at the LEG design skatepark considered among Alabama’s premier free concrete course.
Visitor Information: Located at 225 E Drake Ave in Auburn. Open daily 6am-10pm. Free admission. Limited parking available around park otherwise public lots/garages nearby.
As Auburn’s designated public skatepark, Bowden Parks offers thrills for visitors of all ages across its 7-acres off Richland Road. Skateboarders, scooter riders, in-line skaters, and BMX bikers all find perfect features for catching air or learning new tricks.
Three separate areas by skill level allow amateurs, novices and advanced enthusiasts plenty of room to stick technical street lines. Graffiti art by local artists covers surfaces while speakers pipe in upbeat soundtracks. Covered areas with benches are ideal for spectating or taking a quick break. Athletes wear helmets for safety at their own risk. Those under 14 should have adult supervision.
In addition to the stellar skate features, Bowden Parks contains a multipurpose court for pickup basketball, four square and hopscotch, plus a small playground for younger kids. Mature shade trees surround several picnic tables and grilling areas—perfect for snacks or celebrations.
The Downtown Auburn Optimist Club takes great pride in keeping the Skatepark neat, clean and safe for the community to enjoy since its creation in 2003. What began as an unused city lot is now one of the top parks for Auburn’s thrillseekers and action sports community.
Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
Name and Location: Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
History and Significance: Highlighting 192 acres of protected forests, wetlands and streams, the Kreher Nature Preserve offers immersive hiking trails passing indigenous flora and fauna along the Alexander Creek valley near Auburn University’s campus since opening publicly in 2003.
What to Expect: Visitors traverse wooded ridges and creekside paths observing labeled native plants plus seasonal wildlife like migratory birds, wild turkeys, deer and wood frogs while learning about local ecologies through interpretive signage and naturalist-led programs based out of the onsite Nature Center building.
Visitor Information: Located at 2222 N College St, Auburn. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. Nature Center open weekdays 8am–4:30pm providing exhibits, resources and staff guidance on understanding natural sciences.
Surrounded by commercial growth, one patch of nature remains untouched thanks to the late Bob Kreher’s conservation efforts resulting in the 111-acre Kreher Preserve and Nature Center.
Visitors walking the preserve’s self-guided woodland trails and elevated boardwalks through wetlands and along creek beds can view native plants amid tranquil forests and listen to birds calling overhead—transporting them away from the bustle of daily life to a sense of serenity and stillness.
Interpretive signs identify tree species like towering beech, water oak, sweet gum and hickory, while numbered markers correspond with an online wildflower tour pointing out rare species visitors might overlook.
The Lou Kreher Education Center located near the preserve entrance features classroom space, exhibit halls with taxidermy displays of native species, meeting space for affiliated nature clubs, and a gift shop with field guides and logo merchandise supporting conservation efforts.
Well-lit walking trails allow the park to remain open 7 days a week from dawn till dusk for guests to enjoy self-guided tours. Special events like summer camp sessions for kids and seasonal bird hikes keep the calendar full year-round, while picnic areas create space for school field trips or other outdoor groups looking to immerse in nature near town. For a relaxing walk spotting birds, plants, butterflies and more native wildlife near Auburn, you can’t beat the beauty of the Kreher nature trails.
Felton Little Park
Felton Little Park packs plenty of fun into its compact 2.8 acres. Located on Overbrook Road, directly adjacent to Auburn Junior High School, the park offers a variety of amenities including a playground, walking trail, picnic tables, and basketball courts. Vintage playground equipment with slides and climbers brings a nostalgic element.
The loop trail makes an excellent spot for a family stroll, jog, or dog walk. Several picnic shelters provide space for enjoying snacks and small gatherings. Two well-maintained basketball courts allow for friendly pickup games.
The proximity to Auburn Junior High makes this neighborhood park ideal for school day meetings or functions when not occupied by area families. Visitors will feel at home amongst towering hardwoods draped in Spanish moss that add beauty and an element of nature right in the city. BBQ grills, trash cans, and lighting allow for use from sunup past sundown.
While one of Auburn’s smaller parks, Felton Little checks plenty of boxes for enjoying the outdoors while spending a nice day with family or meeting friends for an afternoon of recreation.
Teague Park
Name and Location: Teague Park
History and Significance: Named for former Auburn University president Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s nickname “Shorty,” quaint neighborhood Shug Jordan Teague Park opened downtown in the early 2000s on a former empty lot to memorialize Jordan while serving community recreation needs.
What to Expect: Neighbors play pickup basketball on the full court or tennis on two lighted courts. Families use the playground equipment and picnic tables to let kids release energy in this compact yet quality green space convenient for area residents.
Visitor Information: Located downtown at 191 Reese Ave. Open daily dawn to dusk for free walk-in use. On-street parking available otherwise decks/lots nearby. Portable toilet onsite. Fenced for children/pet safety.
Glide down twisting water slides into a cool pool or spread out a picnic near playgrounds at Teague Park off Bent Creek Road.
For warm weather fun with family and friends, this fourteen-acre park connects visitors with amenities galore. The impressive two-pool aquatic center shares a landscaped lawn with two pavilions, a picnic shelter, and 18-hole disc golf course.
Playground equipment like slides, monkey bars, and independent swings get plenty of use once kids tire of splashing. Shaded bleachers surround the competition pool, tennis courts, and a sand volleyball pit for spectating. Grills, restrooms, trash services, and Wi-Fi make Teague Park ideal for parties or large gatherings.
Newly installed LED swimming pool lighting lengthens operating hours for those hot summer nights while security cameras and fences maximize safety for younger guests. Annual pool passes provide frequent visitors a deal while daily rates draw visitors across the region.
An asphalt greenway looping 1.2 miles around the entire park allows for scenic walking and jogging. For active recreation close to town, Teague Park delivers year-round through indoor winter tennis, competitive aquatics by the Tigers swim team, or just beating the heat pummeling down wild water slides!
Kiesel Park
Nestled among historic homes along Glenn Avenue lies William A. Kiesel Memorial Park, a nearly 4-acre city park named for a former Auburn mayor. Only a short walk from downtown Auburn, Kiesel Park is convenient for area residents and visitors alike.
The focal point of the park is the recently renovated Kiesel Park Pool, featuring zero-depth entry, water features, and an epic 30-foot water slide—the only public pool for 35+ miles. For cooling relief on hot summer days, this state-of-the-art aquatic center can’t be beaten.
In addition to the stellar pool complex, Kiesel Park contains two lighted tennis courts available on a first-come basis, four picnic tables, a small playground with vintage equipment, and a multi-use field. Mature oaks provide intermittent shade.
Recently added security cameras and fences ensure safety. Guests can access available parking along Glenn Avenue when visiting.
Annual pool passes are affordable for families who want to make it their go-to summer hangout. Definitely one of Auburn’s most popular community spots from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, be sure to add Kiesel Park Pool to your must-do list.
Martin Luther King Park
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when you visit Martin Luther King Jr. Park completed in 1993. Auburn’s only park directly named for an African American Civil Rights icon, the community built this 6-acre space off Richland Road to empower and unite.
An iconic metal sculpture bearing the likeness of MLK installed at the park entrance reminds guests of the fight for justice and equality still ongoing worldwide.
Sprawling play equipment at neutral colors ensures all visitors feel welcome across picnic areas, shaded bleachers, the basketball court and multi-use field for impromptu games. Cement walking paths loop near playgrounds and mature hardwoods offering a quiet spot for reflection or exercise.
One special attraction to commemorate Dr. King is the Peace Pole—a monument recognizing the universal wish for peace in multiple world languages.
Annual ceremonies on MLK Day unite the community while celebrating diversity. The park provides an ideal backdrop for solemn gatherings or even live music, dynamic speakers, and talented performance art representing many cultures.
Visitors bonding over team sports, enjoying lively festivals, or meditating silently on the inspiration one man brought the world all show Auburn’s commitment to civil rights. For a kid’s birthday, family reunion or peaceful stroll enjoying beautiful surroundings, make a point to spend quality time at MLK Park.
Martin Aquatics Center
Name and Location: Martin Aquatics Center
History and Significance: As the premiere public pool and recreational swim facility in Auburn, the Martin Aquatics Center has provided swimmers top-quality lap lanes, diving wells, water slides and child areas alongside swim lessons and events since opening in 1994.
What to Expect: Families enjoy splashing down slides into the leisure pool, swimming laps across the Olympic-sized pool, and practicing strokes in beginner areas. Concessions, showers, deck space and grassy lawns allow full-service aquatic fun for all ages.
Visitor Information: Located at 465 Walden Park off S College St. Outdoor center open seasonally Memorial Day weekend through mid-August. Daily passes must be purchased during open swim hours.
Splashing down waterslides into the spacious pool at Martin Aquatics Center offers the quintessential summer experience on hot Alabama afternoons.
Updated across the last decade thanks to community enhancement funds, this popular 8.8-acre city waterpark adjacent to Duck Samford Park sees heavy use all season long.
Zero-depth entry makes the complex splash pad and main pool accessible for youngest guests, while the fast Freefall, spiraling Space Bowl, and tandem Twin Twisters slides thrill older visitors plunging in from dizzying heights. Shaded bleachers let families kick back during swim breaks while grills stand at the ready to fire up tasty treats.
Advanced filtration systems keep water in the 750,000-gallon capacity pool sparkling clean. Retractable covers allow for use during cooler spring and fall months.
Lifeguards remain vigilant watching the entire swim zone. New LED lighting stretches fun into twilight hours for special events like midnight swims. Guests find comfort across ample nearby grassy picnic areas to apply sunscreen or relax after water play while restroom and concession areas offer convenience.
Annual passes or discounted multi-day packages provide savings for frequent visitors. Close to campus and surrounding neighborhoods, Martin Aquatics Center brings wet and wild summer vibes to the whole community.
Conclusion
Auburn, Alabama overflows with fantastic parklands for making memories from sunup to beyond sundown. Across extensive green spaces located conveniently near neighborhoods to expansive wooded facilities encompassing acres of preserves, the top 12 parks detailed all enhance local living.
Offering playgrounds and sports amenities, walking trails and gathering spaces, the natural splendor of creeks and ponds, Auburn’s parks system elevates quality of life for residents while welcoming visitors to enjoy quality time together.
From cooling off beating the heat sliding down epic waterslides or spotting native wetland birds and blooming flowers along lush wooded walking trails, there is ample opportunity to bond with nature and neighbors alike when you take time to explore Auburn’s parks.
No matter if you want to host spirited birthday bashes for your small children, organize family reunions for all generations, let young athletes develop skills, or simply claim a shaded picnic spot to quietly read a novel while listening to songbirds in the trees, the parks profiled deliver.
Use this guide highlighting the top 12 parks and recreation spaces across the city to plot future outdoor adventures. Getting outside breathing fresh air surrounded by beauty is vital for health, leisure, and community—ideals that Auburn’s fantastic parks provide in abundance.