Looking for a place to play outside today in Avalon?
Whether you need a tennis or basketball court, soccer field, a playground activity for the kids, or a nature retreat for yourself, there are lots of options for recreation, sports, and fun in Avalon.
In this guide, you can discover:
All information, including hours, dates or days, features, and services, may vary and are subject to change without notice. Please contact the Borough or Avalon Recreation directly to inquire. We will update this page as we receive more information.
Parks & Playgrounds in Avalon
The following list of parks and playgrounds is arranged by location, starting from the northernmost tip of Avalon moving south.
Recreation Field Complex
Location: 1000 Dune Drive (8th to 12th Streets & Dune Drive)
What’s Available:
• Baseball fields
• Basketball courts
• Soccer fields
• Softball fields
• Pickleball Courts
• Picnic area
• Public restrooms
• Tennis Courts
What Else You Should Know:
• A variety of recreation fields stretch from 8th to 12 Streets, along Dune Drive.
• Three new tennis courts will be added this year, after three existing tennis courts were converted into additional pickleball courts last year. New tennis courts should be ready for play by May 1, 2024. For more information, you can contact the 8th Street Tennis Building at 609-967-2621.
• Restrooms are located at 10th Street and Dune Drive.
Grace O’Brien Park (8th Street Playground)
Location: 8th Street & Ocean Drive
What’s Available:
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Public restroom
What Else You Should Know:
• Park offers some areas with shade, including a covered gazebo.
• Recreation fields nearby.
• Dogs allowed.
Surfside Park
Location: 29th Street & Avalon Avenue
What’s Available:
• Amphitheatre
• Beach wash-off (rinsing) stations
• Picnic pavilion with tables and chairs
• Playground
• Public restrooms – including changing rooms
What Else You Should Know:
• Surfside Park is an amphitheatre and popular venue in both the summer and off-season for concerts, speaker events, children’s activities, and more.
• You may also want to check out adjacent Community Hall and ask for a current list of upcoming recreation activities.
• Two large free parking lots, and lots of free street parking.
• Avalon Boardwalk is nearby, including an arcade, shops, and eateries.
• Dogs allowed.
30th Street Playground
Location: 30th Street & the beach
What’s Available:
• Playground
• Public restrooms
What Else You Should Know:
• You may also want to check out adjacent Community Hall and ask for a current list of upcoming recreation activities.
• Avalon Boardwalk is nearby, including an arcade, shops, and eateries.
39th Street Playground
Location: 39th Street & Dune Drive
What’s Available:
• Basketball courts
• Bocce courts
• Picnic tables
• Playground
• Tennis courts
What Else You Should Know:
• Benches are positioned at both ends of courts, and may be exposed to full sun (no shade) – so it’s a good idea to apply sunscreen and bring extra to re-apply later. Also consider bringing a hat, and make sure the kids are covered, too.
• Dogs allowed.
Marion P. Armacost Park (Armacost Park)
Where It’s Located: 74th Street & Ocean Drive
What’s Available:
• Playground
• Pollinator Garden (habitat)
What Else You Should Know:
• The Pollinator Garden hosts a unique meadow of native perennials that thrive on the barrier island, and serves to both attract and benefit essential pollinators including insects, butterflies, birds, and more. The Avalon Library and the Avalon Environmental Commission host lectures and events throughout the year inviting visitors and residents to learn more about the Pollinator Garden in Avalon – and explore how they can create a similar landscape design at home.
Recreation Programs in Avalon
Avalon Community Hall
Location: 3001 Avalon Avenue (30th Street & Avalon Avenue)
What’s Available: (subject to change, and without notice)
• Kids’ Summer Programs: children’s themed-activity days; soccer; tennis lessons; baseball; basketball
• Sports & Educational Camps: field hockey; lacrosse; soccer; basketball; surfing; drama; cooking; sewing; marine science; science
• Adult Activities: boot camps; Zumba; Sit & Be Fit; aerobics; line dancing; pickleball; cooking classes; men’s basketball; women’s basketball; volleyball
What Else You Should Know:
• Programming varies with each season. Contact Avalon Recreation for the most updated list of activities and events at Community Hall.
Avalon Environmental Commission
Location: 3100 Dune Drive
What’s Available: (subject to change, and without notice)
• Beachside Science: lectures geared at teaching kids about turtles, horseshoe crabs, migrations of local birds and butterflies, and more
• Speakers at Surfside: adult lectures on environmental-related topics, with guest speakers ranging from meteorologists and entomologists to naturalists and educators
• Local Explorations & Activities: beach walks; dune grass plantings; beach cleanups; Avalon Dune and Beach Trail; Pollinator Garden lectures and tours
What Else You Should Know:
• The Commission serves to advise the Borough on a variety of environmental issues relating to protection, sustainability, and beautification within the Borough, and also advises the Planning and Zone Board about environmental impacts regarding development.
• A variety of local programs and speaker events are offered, in partnership with the Avalon Library and Wetlands Institute – and these events often take place at the Library, Surfside Park, Armacost Park, or on the beach.
• The Avalon Environmental Commission also provides the community with additional resources and links on their website, including but not limited to: a list of approved plants within the Borough; invasive and nuisance plant species list; a list of trees, shrubs, and vines used for living fences; environmental hot topics; and more.
Find more information:
> Avalon Environmental Commission
Enjoy playing outside and staying active this season in Avalon!
Is there something missing, or spot anything that needs an update or correction? Contact us.
