I get a lot of park tips in my DMs. Most of them are places I already know, or places that sound great until you show up and realize the parking situation is a disaster and the playground equipment is from 1987. Every once in a while someone sends me something actually useful.
Sprout reader Katelyn sent me this one on a Monday morning with photos and a three-step itinerary and I immediately put it on the list. The route: brown sugar latte from Waterbean Coffee, then walk to Jack D. Hughes Memorial Park. That's it. That's the whole plan. And sometimes the whole plan is exactly the right amount of plan.
Waterbean Coffee sits at 333 Main Street in Pineville, right in the middle of the walkable stretch of downtown. Hours are Monday through Friday 7am-7pm and Saturday through Sunday 8am-7pm. The Pineville location has outdoor tables, which is relevant if you're about to walk to a park and don't want to rush a hot drink inside first.
The inside is worth knowing about too. Katelyn flagged that the Pineville location has couches and lower tables that are genuinely kid-friendly, as in, a toddler can stand at them and play with toys or look at a book while you finish your coffee like a human. That is not a given at coffee shops and it matters.
Katelyn's order is the brown sugar latte and I trust this recommendation completely. Order it, grab a pastry if you're hungry, and head toward the park.
Jack D. Hughes Memorial Park is at 513 Main St, Pineville, and is open daily 6am-10pm. From Waterbean it is about a three-minute walk, which is short enough that you won't finish your coffee before you get there. There is also parking at the park itself if you'd rather drive straight there.
The park has one multipurpose field for soccer, lacrosse, and football, two softball fields, three picnic shelters, a playground, and a 1.5 mile walking trail. The trail runs around the baseball fields and is paved, which means it works with a stroller and doesn't require you to wear actual hiking shoes on a Tuesday morning.
One detail Katelyn flagged that she admits she didn't fully investigate: the trail has plaques along the way sponsored by the library with different activities on them, almost like a scavenger hunt. She didn't catch all the details but noted it could be a good engagement tool for older kids who need a reason to keep walking. Worth paying attention to on your own visit.
The showcase feature is a collegiate-size baseball field with grandstand seating for 250, a press box, and concessions. The concession stand is also where you'll find the restrooms. Katelyn noted she didn't go inside them but that they "seemed good because of the baseball fields," which is the kind of honest assessment I appreciate. Real facilities exist. That's what matters.
The park is about 26 acres total, which is big enough to feel like you're actually outside without being so big that you spend half your morning just getting from one thing to the next.
Katelyn's recommended route is trail first, playground last. This is the correct order. If you go to the playground first your toddler will not want to leave and the trail walk will not happen. Do the walk, let them decompress, arrive at the playground like it's the destination it always was. They will feel rewarded. You will have gotten your steps in. Everyone wins.
The park sits right behind the Pineville Library, which is currently closed due to storm damage but worth noting for when it reopens. A coffee, a walk, a playground, and a library stop is genuinely a complete morning.
A note on crowds: Katelyn was there at 10am on a Sunday with baseball games actively happening elsewhere in the park, and they saw exactly one other kid on the playground the entire time. That is either a pro or a con depending on what you're looking for. If you want your toddler to have the slide basically to themselves, this is your park. If you're hoping to meet other parents or let your kid run with a group, you may want to manage expectations.
Also, a completely honest account of what they actually did on the playground: the slide, approximately 200 times, and the cement stoop next to the equipment. The stoop was apparently a highlight. Some days that's just what it is.
If there happens to be a baseball game happening while you're there, stay for a few minutes. The grandstand is a nice place to sit, the kids can watch something that looks exciting without fully understanding it, and concessions are right there. It's accidental entertainment and I'm always a fan of accidental entertainment.
Location: 513 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134
Hours: Daily, 6am-10pm
Cost: Free
Stroller-friendly: Yes (paved trail)
Restrooms: Yes (concession stand building)
Parking: On-site
Nearby: Waterbean Coffee (333 Main St), Pineville Library (when it reopens)
Thanks to Sprout reader Katelyn for this one. Keep the tips coming.