Anderson Community Park

Great for fishing. There are lots of places to stand and cast around the lake, and many are in the shade. The lake itself is stocked with catfish and others so you’re sure to catch something.
I also saw many people jogging or walking around the trail that circles the lake, which seems quite nice because it is a wide and clear trail with lots of shade.

Lots of fields and parking, a pretty duck pond and a large leash free area for doggies, where I take my dog for play time with other dogs. Beware, some owners don’t always clean up after their poochies. Please don’t be one of those careless slobs. There’s a sign that says «no kids under 12 inside the leash-​free area» but nobody pays attention to it.

Probably one of the least prettiest parks in the area but it serves its purpose well. Plenty of fields and places for team sports. Some paths for running, play ground equipment and a nice size dog park are all here. Getting in and out is kind of a hassle. Only one way in and out and can be slow moving after a sporting event.

Good things: Has lots of available fields, does not shut down fields due to rain as readily as other area fields like Homestead.
Bad things: Prickly things in the grass.
Overall: A-​OK

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, where can you go to find an open baseball field to maybe bring a cooler of beverages and start a kickball game? Anderson Park is where.
This park has all kinds of facilities and space for whatever you want to get into, and is very rarely completely taken up. Basketball? Kickball? Tennis? No problem. The spots where you find the kids are far enough removed that most of your adult antics will go unnoticed and therefore you’ll scar no young lives.
The only downside is that, unless you’re a Carrboro resident, you’re looking at a spot that isn’t necessarily close to anyone. That is pretty much the only drawback to a magnificent park, though.

I visit Anderson Park mostly for the dog run, which is larger than the area at Homestead Park and usually less crowded. Weekdays are best, of course, and as Christina mentioned there aren’t separate spaces for large and small dogs. Aside from the dog park, there’s also a fishing pond with a few trails nearby. It’s not nearly as long as the Bolin Creek trail, but a nice jog nonetheless. As far as sports go, Anderson Park has baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, and several multi-​use fields that are primarily used for soccer (as far as I can tell).

I normally make use of this place for jogging, which it’s great for on most afternoons (weekdays are best since it can get crowded on weekends). I’m often surprised at how big the whole park complex is, especially with its network of sports fields. Occasionally there can be some unpleasantness over those fields (since space is finite), but you’ll usually be ok.

Ample parking at this park which features a dog run, lake with trails, and some sports fields. I mostly come for the dog park. The fenced-​in field is huge and well-​kept, but doesn’t offer much shade or any seating. Also, there are no water fountains, so be sure to bring some water along for your pup. Small dog owners might prefer the dog park in Durham, because this one does not offer separate runs for small dogs and large dogs.
Families: they host an annual Easter Egg hunt here that is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Kids are broken down into age groups and then sent to various sections of the park to compete within their peer sect. It’s a: huge: event, and me being one of those kids who never found the eggs because the older, faster kids would all but mow you down to get to them, so I got stuck with nothing but those cellophane-​wrapped marshmallow egg candies (that are über-​disgusting), well, I fully appreciated that the kids playing-​ground was leveled giving everyone a fair shot at the Easter egg legacy.