Harper Park in Knightdale, NC: A Great Place for Seniors to Stay Active

Not one, not two, but four acres: According to the municipal government of the Town of Knightdale, NC, that's how big Harper Park is. Over two of those four acres comprise shady woods and green, grassy lawns.

Named in honor of and after Eugene Harper, the town's longest-serving mayor, Harper Park is one of the beautiful, well-maintained parks in Knightdale that offers people of all ages, including older adults, easy access to the benefits of staying physically active and spending time in nature. Its many amenities, from tennis and pickleball courts to picnic areas, encourage senior recreation and staying active in retirement.

To that end, the team at TerraBella Knightdale, our senior living community in Knightdale, NC, put together this guide exploring Harper Park and the many features it offers to area seniors and their loved ones.

Tennis Courts

For those looking to engage in healthy outdoor activities for seniors or would like to practice their serves or overhead smashes, Harper Park has you covered with its four tennis courts. The asphalt-surfaced courts have permanent lines and nets, so no pre- or post-setup is necessary.

For older adults who haven't tried tennis yet but wonder if they should, the answer is definitely yes! A good enough reason is that this sport brings numerous physical and mental health benefits.

As the United States Tennis Association (USTA) explains, playing tennis three hours per week can reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 56%! Moreover, the USTA points out that a long-term study found that tennis players live about 9.7 years longer than sedentary individuals. Adults and seniors also enjoy other extra health perks, such as:

Stronger bones
Less stress
Better cardiovascular health
Weight loss and management
New connections and relationships within the community

Speaking of community, TerraBella Knightdale, our memory care and assisted living community, is just slightly over 4 miles away from Harper Park.

So, why not try tennis as your next activity for senior recreation in Knightdale, NC, the next time the park opens? Its courts are open to public use from sunrise to 10 PM and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. As for court restrooms, they're accessible from 8 AM to 10 PM, as are the vending machines, which are also seasonal.

Pickleball Courts

Pickleball is a fun, easy-to-learn, low-impact paddle sport that combines elements of:

Tennis
Ping-pong
Badminton

People of all skill levels and ages, including older adults, can enjoy this activity at Knightdale's Harper Park, which boasts four pickleball courts. Like the tennis courts, the pickleball courts are open from sunrise to 10 PM and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For seniors wondering why they should pick up this paddle sport, the Mayo Clinic says pickleball provides physical and mental health benefits, including:

Encouraging older adults to engage in physical activity
Improving hand-eye coordination
Boosting strength and agility
Providing a source of social connectedness that can help improve mental health

If you or an older loved one has some qualms about the sport's safety, know that as long as you can:

Move around comfortably (including your legs and arms)
Have no severe pain or mobility limitation
Have no balance-related problems

You should be able to enjoy pickleball safely.

Trails With Nature Views

Spending time in nature and senior wellness can go hand in hand, and science backs this up.

For example, a narrative review published in the National Library of Medicine explored the many mind and body benefits of nature interactions. Many of the studies it reviewed involved older adults from all over the world as subjects.

At the end of their comprehensive analysis, the authors presented evidence that nature-based interactions, particularly intentional and incidental, have positive health associations, such as:

Increased physical activity
Lower stress
Decreased anxiety and depression markers
More sleep

The good news is that Harper Park in Knightdale, NC, provides numerous opportunities for area seniors to interact with nature, thanks to its over two acres of beautiful woody areas and well-maintained green spaces. Older adults can enjoy physical activities, such as walking or jogging, along the park's trails for "intentional" nature-based interactions.

At TerraBella Knightdale, we also understand nature's vital role in older adults' well-being. As such, we've taken steps to ensure the residents of our assisted living and memory care community have easy access to beautiful outdoor spaces. If you look us up using Google Satellite Maps, you'll see that trees and lush greenery surround our community.

Picnic Areas and Inclusive Playgrounds

Exercising isn't the only vital form of activity older adults need to stay "active"; it is just as crucial for them to remain socially engaged. Being socially active is critical to older adults' overall health and wellness because, as the U.S. CDC explains, people with close and supportive relationships:

Live longer
Experience less stress
Enjoy better physical and emotional health
Have decreased feelings of loneliness
Lead a higher quality of life

Harper Park offers an excellent environment for socialization and connections. For instance, seniors can get their regular social engagement here by having picnics with their loved ones and friends. The park boasts five picnic areas with grills, two providing coverage.

The park also has inclusive playgrounds where seniors can take their grandkids and spend quality time with them. There are benches nearby for older adults to plop themselves onto if they need a break and to catch their breath.

Stay Active at Harper Park

Harper Park is a beautiful green space where seniors enjoy many physical and social activities. From tennis to pickleball, nature walks, and picnics, these are just some of what the well-maintained park offers older adults, their loved ones, and friends.

TerraBella Knightdale, our senior living community in Knightdale, NC, is so conveniently located that we're just minutes away from the town's many beautiful parks and nature spots, including Harper Park, Poole Road Park, and Panther Road Park. We're also proud of our on-site amenities and exclusive senior programs, including chef-prepared dining, educational courses, fitness classes, outdoor fun, and exciting games.

Reach out today to book a tour or learn more about our lovely assisted living and memory enclave!