Phenix City, Alabama may be a small town, but it offers plenty of green spaces and parks for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors. From large community parks with sports fields and playgrounds to small neighbourhood parks ideal for relaxing, Phenix City’s parks have something for everyone.
| Park Name | Size (Acres) | Main Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Riverfront Park | 14 | Walking trails, river overlook, fitness equipment, picnic area |
| Ida Bell Wells Community Park | 7 | Playground, basketball and tennis courts, walking trail |
| Lakeview Activity Center & Splash Pad | 3 | Splash pad, fitness equipment, playground, picnic area |
| American Legion Park | 1 | Baseball field, bleachers, batting cage |
| L.G. Van Landingham Recreation Complex | 45 | Soccer, baseball fields, tennis courts, playground, picnic area |
| Rotary Park | 0.5 | Gazebo, walking paths, flower garden |
| Lakewood Comer Park | 1 | Walking trails, fitness equipment, picnic tables |
| Cherokee Acres Park | Undeveloped | Future park space, currently open green space |
| Pat Duggan Memorial Park | 5 | Baseball fields, concession stand, picnic tables |
| Ridgewood Park | 0.5 | Open green space, picnic bench |
| Martin Luther King Jr Park | 0.5 | Playground, picnic area, walking trail |
| Sportsplex Recreational Preserve | 60 | Multipurpose fields, concessions, playground, picnic area |
This article will highlight 12 of the best parks found in Phenix City. For each park, you’ll find details on its size, amenities, location, and what makes it worth a visit. Whether you want to play sports, go for a walk, enjoy nature, or just relax in the fresh air, you’re sure to find a perfect park in Phenix City.
Riverfront Park
Name and Location: Riverfront Park is located along the Chattahoochee River at 1 Riverfront Dr in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Established in 2002, this 7-acre riverfront green space provides walking trails, historical markers, public art, open lawns and access to the Phenix City Riverwalk in the heart of downtown along the Chattahoochee shoreline.
What to Expect: Visitors can take leisurely strolls, read educational panels about local history and ecology, play in interactive fountain areas, attend festivals and city events, or launch kayaks from boat ramps onsite.
Visitor Information: Riverfront Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset with free admission. Find details at phenixcityalabama.org.
As its name suggests, Riverfront Park runs along the Chattahoochee River in the heart of downtown Phenix City. It offers scenic views of the river from its pedestrian walkway and tiered seating area. Visitors can take in views of the river or the downtown area while strolling along the park’s walking trails.
For those looking for some exercise, Riverfront Park features multiple pieces of outdoor fitness equipment. The park also has an open picnic area with tables and grills perfect for gatherings or lunch breaks.
Ida Bell Wells Community Park
Name and Location: Ida Bell Wells Community Park is located at 1001 11th Avenue in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Named for the pioneering African American journalist born in Phenix City, this new park development opened in 2019 to memorialize Wells’ legacy with educational features about her life and historical impact.
What to Expect: Visitors will find walking paths, interpretive panels and statues honoring Wells, along with a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, open greenspace and pavilions available to rent for small events.
Visitor Information: The park is open daily from 5am-11pm. Admission is free.
Ida Bell Wells Community Park is a hub for athletic activities in Phenix City. The main draw of the park is its collection of sports facilities, including a playground, full-sized basketball court, two tennis courts, and a Loop Fit walking trail that circles the perimeter of the park.
Visitors come to shoot hoops, play tennis, walk their dogs on the trail, or bring their children to enjoy the colorful, modern playground. With both shade trees and open green space, Ida Bell Wells has room for everyone to get moving and enjoy fresh air in central Phenix City.
Lakeview Activity Center & Splash Pad
Name and Location: The Lakeview Activity Center & Splash Pad is located at 400 Lakeview Activity Center Drive in Phenix City, Alabama, overlooking Lake Harding.
History and Significance: Opening in 2013, this multi-use facility provides indoor recreation and event rooms as well as outdoor amenities like the splash pad, Lakeview Adventure playground, Discovery Trail and Veterans Memorial.
What to Expect: Families can cool off running through pop jet fountains in summer or head inside for sports, classes and programming year-round. Rentals available for weddings and private events with lake views.
Visitor Information: Splash pad open daily, 10am-7:30pm in peak season. Center hours vary. Details phenixcityalabama.us or (334) 291-5325.
Families with young children flock to Lakeview Activity Center & Splash Pad in Phenix City. As its name suggests, the main attraction here is the zero-depth splash pad that lets kids frolic among popping water jets. When they’re not dashing through the water, children can burn off energy climbing the playground or monkey bars.
Parents can work out on the outdoor exercise equipment or supervise playtime from the picnic area. The vibrant colors and water fun make Lakeview a perfect place for families to gather on hot Alabama days.
American Legion Park
Name and Location: American Legion Park is located at 1900 20th Street in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Created in 1945 by the Russell County American Legion, this 22-acre park provides baseball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and recreation areas catering to area youth athletics and outdoor leisure activities for residents.
What to Expect: Visitors will find amenities like lighted tennis courts, multiple baseball and softball diamonds, concessions stands, restrooms, a batting cage, and a large playground onsite to enjoy recreational sports.
Visitor Information: The park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset with free admission. Game and court schedules online.
Baseball fans will want to catch a game at American Legion Park in Phenix City. While small in size at one acre, American Legion Park packs a lot of baseball action with its baseball diamond, metal bleachers, and batting cage. It’s the home field for local youth baseball leagues so games are frequently played during spring and summer.
Stop by to cheer on Phenix City’s future baseball stars or watch friends and family take their turns at bat or in the field. With its focus on America’s favorite pastime and prime downtown location, Legion Park is a sports fan favorite.
L.G. Van Landingham Recreation Complex
Name and Location: L.G. Van Landingham Recreation Complex is located at 1025 Broadway St in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Named after a late city council member instrumental in local athletics, this complex opened in 1976 spanning 44 acres and offers 8 baseball fields attracting over 175,000 players and spectators into the city annually.
What to Expect: The complex hosts regional and state youth recreation leagues on its fields year-round. Concessions, playgrounds, batting cages and restrooms make the space comfortable for families to enjoy games and practices.
Visitor Information: The complex is open 7 days a week from dawn until 11pm with free admission. Schedules online.
Families and athletes alike appreciate the wide variety of active offerings at L.G. Van Landingham Recreation Complex. With 45 acres in South Phenix City, “the Van” plays host to soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a playground, and picnic space.
On any given day you may see a youth soccer league match, a dad pitching baseball with his son, a mom’s tennis clinic, kids climbing jungle gyms, or a family picnic spread under the pavilion. Well-maintained fields and peaceful surroundings make the Van a scenic spot for both recreation and relaxation.
Rotary Park
Name and Location: Rotary Park is located at 1700 17th Ave. in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Situated on a former city landfill site closed in 1974, Rotary Park opened as a BMX track and green recreation space created through efforts of local Rotary club chapters and community volunteers in 1994.
What to Expect: Families can let kids race bicycles on dirt BMX trails while parents relax under pavilions. Grassy hills offer views of the park and Lake Harding while walking trails loop the 25 acre grounds.
Visitor Information: Rotary Park is open daily without entry fees from sunrise to sunset. Find city park details at phenixcityalabama.us.
Rotarians in Phenix City created this petite downtown park as a community gift in 2015. Located across from city hall, the half-acre Rotary Park packs a lot of charm into a small footprint. Visitors stroll brick-lined walking paths past a colorful garden and under a picturesque white gazebo.
Pavers in the pathways honor local donors and patrons. Rotary Park also plays host to a seasonal farmer’s market with local vendors. For a breath of fresh air or dash of nature without leaving downtown, take a relaxing turn about tiny but lovely Rotary Park.
Lakewood Comer Park
Name and Location: Lakewood Comer Park is located at 302 Lakewood Drive in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Sitting on a peninsula reaching into Lake Harding since 1962, this scenic 18 acre park offers fishing opportunities and hosts community events like Outdoor Adventure Days for kids to learn archery, canoeing and other recreation skills.
What to Expect: Anglers can cast lines from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Pier in quiet park surroundings while families utilize onsite playground equipment, walking trails and shaded picnic sites.
Visitor Information: The park grounds are open daily without entry fees from sunrise to sunset. Details phenixcityparks.com.
The small but mighty Lakewood Comer Park packs helpful amenities into its one acre frame. Located close to Lakewood housing, it offers nearby residents an easy escape into nature. Visitors come to Lakewood Comer Park to hike the wood-chipped walking trails that wind through oak, hickory, and pine trees native to the area. Along the trails you’ll find access to outdoor exercise equipment, picnic tables, and manicured open lawn areas. Peaceful scenery and solitude surround this natural escape inside Phenix City’s limits.
Cherokee Acres Park
Name and Location: Cherokee Acres Park is located at 1000 Vera Ave in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Donated by the Cherokee Lumber Company in 1955, this small neighborhood park provides outdoor recreation amenities and greenspace within a residential area along Vera Avenue overlooking a creek.
What to Expect: Guests will find park features like basketball courts, baseball backstop, playground equipment, picnic tables and walking paths to enjoy mild exercise outdoors or relaxed picnics in the fresh air.
Visitor Information: Free admission and accessibility daily 8am-10pm. Details at phenixcityalabama.us or (334) 298-5325.
Unlike most parks on our list, Cherokee Acres Park remains largely undeveloped at present. Phenix City designates eight acres of land along 13th Place South as a future park space for the currently rural area. As the city expands southward, plans call for adding standard park amenities to Cherokee Acres Park like walking trails, playground equipment, and picnic facilities.
For now the park offers open community green space surrounded by charming neighborhoods with historical names like Apache Hills and Seminole Terrace. Locals enjoy the peaceful setting along a bend of Pemberton Creek for walks, dog outings, and exploring nature.
Pat Duggan Memorial Park
Name and Location: Pat Duggan Memorial Park is located at 1001 15th Ave in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Named after the late Recreation Director who served the city for over 30 years, this park opened in 2002 on formerly industrial land along the Chattahoochee River transformed into a vibrant community park.
What to Expect: Features include the E.L. Johnston Aquatics Center with lap pool, water slide and concessions; tennis complex, Veteran’s memorial, playground, walking trail along the river, and open event space.
Visitor Information: Park grounds open 8am-10pm daily. Pool hours seasonally. More details at phenixcityalabama.us.
Baseball and softball players flock to Pat Duggan Memorial Park south of Phenix City’s downtown. Named for a dedicated league director, Duggan Park spans five acres that contain youth baseball fields, one full-sized softball field, concessions stand, restrooms, and picnic areas.
Crowds cheer little league teams as they host rival clubs from across the Chattahoochee Valley. Well-organized and meticulously maintained by volunteers, Pat Duggan Memorial Park serves as a gathering place and source of community pride on the edge of Phenix City.
Ridgewood Park
Name and Location: Ridgewood Park is located at Ridgewood Drive & Ridgewood Court in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Developed in 1952 by the Phenix City Housing Authority, this neighborhood park provides outdoor recreation space and leisure amenities conveniently accessible within walking distance for nearby public housing residents and families.
What to Expect: Guests will find standard park features like baseball backstops, basketball goals, playground equipment, shaded picnic tables and open grass areas to enjoy mild exercise outdoors.
Visitor Information: Free admission and public access daily 8am-10pm. Details at phenixcityalabama.us/97/Parks-Recreation.
This small triangular park offers a convenient pocket of nature in Phenix City’s Ridgewood neighborhood. Owned by the state but maintained by the city, the half-acre Ridgewood Park sits on the corner of two residential streets. Neighbors treat the open grassy space like an extension of their own yards.
You’ll see locals walking dogs, families enjoying a picnic at the lone table, and children running freely in the open area that gives a taste of country living in the middle of town. Ridgewood Park’s size perfectly suits its friendly surrounding neighborhood.
Martin Luther King Jr Park
Name and Location: Martin Luther King Jr Park is located between 8th Ct and 9th Ct off 20th Avenue in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Dedicated in honor of the iconic civil rights leader in 1990, this small neighborhood park offers convenient outdoor recreation space with playgrounds, ball courts, and picnic facilities named after MLK Jr to inspire community values.
What to Expect: Families can utilize standard park amenities like playgrounds, backstops and picnic tables while appreciating green surroundings commemorating equality and justice for all people.
Visitor Information: Free daily access from 8am-10pm. Details at phenixcityalabama.us/97/Parks-Recreation.
Children climbing and families picnicking fill Martin Luther King Jr Park on nice days. The half-acre park includes playground equipment set on soft woodchips for safe landings. Visitors can bring a lunch to eat at the park’s concrete picnic tables after working up an appetite on the playground.
A small loop trail surrounds the play area to provide a flat walking surface. Phenix City offers this park on 13th Avenue to give northside neighborhoods an easily accessible outdoor space all their own for community gatherings and fresh air.
Sportsplex Recreational Preserve
Name and Location: The Sportsplex Recreational Preserve is located off Highway 165 at 100 Sportsplex Drive in Phenix City, Alabama.
History and Significance: Encompassing over 50 acres since 2005, this sports complex features 13 multipurpose fields attracting over 500,000 visitors annually for regional tournaments along with an RV park, playgrounds and concessions area.
What to Expect: Guests can catch competitive baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer matches on meticulously maintained fields or access batting cages and enjoy picnic facilities while teams compete in weekend tournaments.
Visitor Information: The complex opens daily at 8am with evening field lights. Schedule and field availability at phenixcityalabama.us or call (334) 291-5779.
As Phenix City’s newest park, the 60-acre Sportsplex Recreational Preserve caters to a range of athletes with its multipurpose fields and other amenities. Baseball and softball players first broke in the complex’s stadium field in 2021 shortly after completion. Soccer aficionados now utilize Sportsplex’s regulation fields for matches and practices.
The park also includes a fenced playground, walking trail, picnic pavilion, and concessions stand to keep both kids and adults fueled for fun. Continued expansion to the grounds will provide even more offerings for recreation and relaxation to this up-and-coming park.
Conclusion
Whether you want to join a ball game, splash in the water, climb a jungle gym, or simply take a walk in natural scenery, Phenix City offers an excellent park for your outdoor enjoyment. These 12 parks span over 175 acres across the city, giving all neighborhoods walkable access to green space.
Well-designed and meticulously maintained, Phenix City’s parks offer fun, action, community, and serenity through their diverse sizes, amenities, and locations. Experience them yourself to enhance your physical and mental health while exploring all corners of Phenix City, Alabama.