Pitt County Leisure Activities

Clubs and Organizations
Recreation
Golf and Country Clubs
Religion
College & Professional Athletics
Nightlife

KEY FACTOR SUMMARY

   Pitt County has more than 30 major parks facilities (including River Park North), the Greenville Aquatics and Fitness Center, nearly 200 clubs and organizations, numerous fitness centers, seven country clubs, over 300 churches and synagogues.
   River Park North includes 324 acres of land with 1.2 miles of river frontage and five ponds. Activities at River Park North include pedal boating, picnicking, fishing, camping, and hiking.
   The Greenville Aquatic and Fitness Center is a full-service, YMCA type facility. It includes an indoor Olympic size pool, supervised nursery, and a full range of exercise equipment and programs.
   Clubs and organizations for pre-schoolers, youth, adults, and the elderly are available to suit every interest.
   The Greenville Parks and Recreation Department maintains over 25 parks and recreational facilities including numerous gymnasiums, recreation and community centers, swimming pools, tennis courts, a soccer complex, softball and baseball fields, and playgrounds.
   In 2004, Greenville was recognized as having one of the 50 best recreation and parks departments in the US and was designated as North Carolina's winner of the title "Sportstown USA" by Sports Illustrated.
   Parks and Recreation Departments throughout the county offer residents of all ages, interests, and skill levels hundreds of classes and special programs in which to participate.
   Both private health clubs and country clubs are located in all parts of the county. Fees are reasonable and affordable, and the clubs are well-maintained.
   East Carolina University offers strong intercollegiate athletic programs, particularly in football and baseball.
   A wide variety of restaurants are available, including a number of foreign cuisines.
   Local clubs and lounges feature both live regional and national performers and local performers and D.J.'s.
   Churches and synagogues offer both regular services and a wide variety of special services and programs.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

There are over 300 active clubs in Pitt County representing approximately 150 different organizations. These clubs appeal to people of all ages and satisfy virtually any area of interest, personal or professional. Chess, pinochle, or train fanatics, even people with a fancy for clowning or collecting can find a group that fits their niche. There are also opportunities for those who want a more active involvement (horseback riding, singing or flying), or those who are business oriented (engineers, business women, etc.).

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RECREATION

Greenville Recreation and Parks Department:

Designated as North Carolina's winner in Sports Illustrated's "Sportstown USA" 50th anniversary celebration, the department operates programs that create a climate for developing leisure time activities that provide creative outlets and encourage skill development. Programs are available to Greenville residents and those of Pitt County who pay a non-resident fee. 

The department operates a golf course, gymnasiums, a municipal pool, tennis centers, a teen center, a baseball stadium, parks, and picnic shelters. There are also lighted softball fields, a greenway for bicycling or walking, a skateboard park, and a soccer complex. 

Major Parks and Recreation Facilities
Aquatics and Fitness Center
Jaycee Park/Center for Arts & Crafts
Peppermint Park
Elm Street Park/Center/Gym
Green Springs Park 
River Park North
Woodlawn Park 
Town Commons and Amphitheater
The Sports Connection 
Greenfield Terrace Park
Thomas N. Foreman Park 
Eppes Recreation Center/Gym
City Swimming Pool 
Guy Smith Park/Stadium
South Greenville Park/Center/Gym
Hillsdale Park
Evans Park 
Westhaven Park
West Meadowbrook Park/Disc Golf Course
Teen Center
Extreme Park 
Greenway Trail
River Birch Tennis Center 
Perkins Baseball Complex
Walter L. Stasavich Science & Nature Center
Bradford Creek Golf Course
H. Boyd Lee Park
Bradford Creek Soccer Complex
Beatrice Maye Garden Park
Andrew A. Best Freedom Park
Paramore Park
Off Leash Dog Area
Phil Carroll Nature Preserve

River Park North includes 324 acres of land with 1.2 miles of river frontage and five ponds. Pedal boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and hiking are available at the park, as well as jon-boat rentals, a boat launch, and extensive nature trails.

The Greenville Aquatics and Fitness Center features the type of services and facilities offered at a YMCA or private health club. Services include:

Olympic size indoor pool 
Gymnasium/Basketball/Volleyball
Free weights/Weight machines 
Supervised Kids Play Area
Locker room facilities 
Swimming lessons 
Aerobic/Exercise/Toning classes 
Children's programs 
Exercise bikes/Treadmills 
Wellness program
Arthritis classes
Indoor climbing wall

Programs: The following programs are available through the Greenville Recreation & Parks Department:

For further information contact: Recreation & Parks Department (252) 329-4567 or www.greenvillenc.gov

Other Recreation and Parks Departments:

The Towns of Ayden, Farmville, and Winterville also operate programs for their citizens. For further information, please contact:

Ayden: (252) 746-7002
Farmville: (252) 753-7020
Winterville: (252) 756-2221 

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GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUBS:

Ayden Golf and Country Club - 4343 Ayden Golf Club Road, Ayden. (252) 746-3389. Semi-private. Initiation fee and monthly dues; golf cart storage for personal carts is also available. 18-hole, par 72 golf course, pro shop. Clubhouse with grill, swimming pool, tennis courts.  www.aydengolf.com

Bradford Creek Golf Club - 4950 Old Pactolus Road, Greenville. (252) 329-GOLF. City-owned public course. 18-hole, par 72 golf course, driving range.   Clubhouse with snack bar and grill.  www.greenvillenc.gov

Brook Valley Country Club - 311 Oxford Road, Greenville. (252) 756-4400. Private. Limited, full membership (includes golf privileges), and corporate memberships available. Initiation fee and monthly dues.  18-hole, par 72 golf course, driving range, pro shop. Clubhouse with restaurant, grill, swimming pool, tennis courts.

Farmville Golf and Country Club - 3427 Bynum Drive, Farmville. (252) 753-3660. Semi-private. Initiation fee and stock purchase; monthly dues. 18-hole, par 71 golf course, pro shop. Clubhouse with grill, swimming pool.

Greenville Country Club - 216 Country Club Drive, Greenville. (252) 756-1237. Private. Initiation fees for non-golf and for full memberships; corporate memberships also available. Monthly dues, monthly capital fee, and quarterly food minimums apply.  18-hole, par 72 golf course, pro shop. Clubhouse with formal dining and snack bars, swimming pool, eight tennis courts (four clay).  www.greenvillecountryclub.com

Indian Trails Golf Club - Church Street and Country Club Drive, Grifton. (252) 524-5485. Semi-private. No initiation fee, monthly dues are charged. 18-hole, par 71 golf course, pro shop, driving range. Clubhouse with snack bar, swimming pool, tennis courts.

Ironwood Golf and Country Club - 200 Golf Club Wynd, Greenville. (252) 752-0385. Private. Social, full and corporate memberships available. Initiation fee and monthly dues.  18-hole, par 72 Lee Trevino signature golf course, pro shop, driving range. Clubhouse with full dining, lounges, meeting space, swimming pool, tennis courts.  www.ironwoodgolf.com

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RELIGION:

As in many communities, the church is the focal point in the lives of many people in the Greenville/Pitt County area. There are nearly 300 churches/synagogues/temples in the county, representing nearly all principal denominations.

Many also operate day care centers, kindergartens, and church-related schools (through high school in some instances).

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COLLEGE ATHLETICS

East Carolina University maintains an extensive intercollegiate athletic program. Sanctioned by the NCAA, the university fields athletic teams in football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, volleyball, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's and women's track and cross country. ECU's athletic complex includes Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (football, 43,000 seats), Minges Coliseum (basketball, 7500 seats) and Natatorium, Clark-LeClair Stadium (baseball, 3000 seats) and facilities for track, softball, tennis, and soccer. The Ward Sports Medicine Building houses locker rooms, a weight room, sports medicine facilities, and offices for athletic coaches and administration.  The athletic complex also boasts the two-story, 53,000 sf Murphy Center located between Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and Minges Coliseum.  The building houses a 22,000 sf strength and conditioning center for Pirate athletes as well as meeting rooms that double as tutoring facilities during the week and gathering areas to entertain prospective student athletes on game days.  A second floor banquet area is also utilized for university and athletic events.

East Carolina competes as a full member of division I-A Conference USA .  With headquarters in Irving, Texas, the Conference includes East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane, Marshall, Rice, Southern Methodist (SMU), Tulsa, Central Florida (UCF), Texas-El Paso (UTEP), and Alabama-Birmingham (UAB).  Conference USA sponsors 19 sports and has automatic NCAA bids in volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, and baseball.  Since joining C-USA as a full member in 2001, ECU has won conference regular season or tournament titles in women's golf, women's basketball, football, women's soccer, and baseball.

Football is the mainstay of ECU's athletic program, and Conference USA is a member of the Bowl Championship Series.  Affiliated with seven bowls, the Conference sends its champion to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis and teams to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, the R+L Carriers Bowl in New Orleans, the St. Petersburg Bowl, the Texas Bowl in Houston, the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, and the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.

CUSA's football-playing members are split into two divisions with ECU in the East along with Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, UAB, and UCF.  A football championship game takes place each year between the champions from each division.  The team with the highest conference winning percentage serves as the host site for the title game.  ECU defeated Tulsa in the 2008 game to claim its first CUSA football championship.

The 2009 football schedule features home games against Appalachian State, UCF, Rice, Virginia Tech, UAB, and Southern Miss.  Away games will be played at West Virginia, UNC, Marshall, SMU, Memphis, and Tulsa.

More information on upcoming schedules can be obtained by calling (252) 328-4522 or visiting www.ecupirates.com 

Professional Baseball

Less than thirty minutes away, in nearby Kinston, is the Class A baseball team Kinston Indians. Since 1977, the franchise has played in the Carolina League and has won numerous championships. The team is currently affiliated with the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians play in historic 4,100 seat Grainger Stadium, the Carolina League's second oldest stadium.  The stadium, opened in 1949, has been renovated many times over the years, most recently before the start of the 2003 season. Even though Kinston plays in the smallest market in professional baseball, the Indians continually draw over 100,000 fans each year.

Ticket prices for 2009 are reserved seats - $6.00; general admission - $5.00; senior, student, and military reserved - $4.00; and children 4 and under - Free.  Season tickets and group rates are also available.

For schedules and more information, call the Kinston Indians at 1-800-334-5467 (NC) or (252) 527-0111 or visit www.kinstonindians.com

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY

The Carolina Hurricanes are members of the Southeast Division of the National Hockey League's Eastern Conference.  Formerly the Hartford Whalers, the team moved to North Carolina in 1997 and now plays in the RBC Center in Raleigh, a 90-minute drive from Pitt County.  In 2002, the team won the first conference championship in franchise history and earned its first trip to the Stanley Cup finals.  In 2006, the team once again won the Eastern Division Championship and went on to win its first Stanley Cup in an exciting seven game series against the Edmonton Oilers.

For schedules and ticket information, call the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club at (919) 861-2323 or visit www.carolinahurricanes.com

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NIGHTLIFE

For those who enjoy the nightlife, Greenville has a wide variety of clubs and lounges for people of all ages and music tastes. Most of the nightclubs are centered around a two block area in downtown Greenville and, because of their close proximity to the ECU campus, tend to cater to the college students. The majority of the establishments have a DJ providing music but some nightclubs such as the Attic usually have live national or regional talent on the weekends.

NIGHTCLUBS:

Brickyard Tavern
3613 Brick Kiln Road

Cabana's
417 Cotanche Street

Club 519
519 Cotanche Street

Copper Kettle
600 NC 903 N

Deja Vue
1412 Whichard-Cherry Lane

The Element
420 Cotanche Street

Fuzion
1311 W. Fifth St.

Great American Mining Co.
1008 Dickinson Ave.

Hideaway
511 Cotanche Street

Levels
111 E. 5th Street

Lucky's
209 E. 5th Street

Pantana Bob's
513 Cotanche Street

The Corner
122 East 5th Street

RESTAURANT AND MOTEL LOUNGES:

A.J. McMurphy's
1914 Turnbury Drive

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
202 SW Greenville Blvd.

Beef Barn
400 St. Andrews Drive

Boli's 5th Street Pizzeria
123 E. 5th Street

Buffalo Wild Wings
426-B E. Arlington Blvd.

Chef's 505
505 Red Banks Rd.

Chico's
521 Cotanche Street; 4054 S. Memorial Drive

Chili's Bar & Grill
University Commons]

Christy's Euro Pub
301 S. Jarvis St.

City Bistro
203 SW Greenville Blvd.

CPW's
2422 Stantonsburg Rd.

Dr. Unk's Oasis
201 S. Jarvis St.

Glennon's
Greenville Hilton

Ham's
701 Evans St.

Hooters
316 SW Greenville Blvd.

Logan's Roadhouse
603 SE Greenville Blvd.

Longhorn Steakhouse
La Promenade Shopping Center

O'Charley's
610 SE Greenville Blvd.

Olive Garden
SE Greenville Blvd.

Outback Steakhouse
606 SW Greenville Blvd.

Outcasts
2601 E. 10th St.

Pirate's Pub
1914 Turnbury Drive

Professor O'Cools
605 SE Greenville Blvd.

Red Lobster
3501 S. Memorial Drive

Ruby Tuesday
3510 S. Memorial Drive

Rucker Johns
4001 S. Memorial Dr.

Starlight Cafe
104 W. Fifth St.

Texas Steakhouse
400 SW Greenville Blvd.

Tripps
420 Red Banks Rd.

University Chophouse
3130-A Evans St.

Vinnie's
Arlington Village

Wasabi 88
420 Arlington Blvd.

Wimpie's Steam Bar
Main St, Winterville

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