Dixon Drive Park

(45 reviews)

3.6 mi

This park is a great place to take a walk and kill some time. From the parking lot you can walk…read morethrough down the path. You will see basketball courts. baseball fields, sitting areas, and several fields for various activities. There were paths if you wanted to venture into the woods which i started to do but once i saw the giant spider webs, i turned around lol. There is a body of water. There is a huge playground if you have kids. There is also a building, im thinking it was a community center but i had no reason to go inside. Other than the kids in the playground this place was pretty quiet. Its a good place to enjoy your day outside.

I visited Laurel Hills today while attending the city's Wake County Genealogical Society Find Your…read moreFamily History Event & Holistic Wellness Expo. I've visited years ago while bringing my daughter to the playground. The playground is very modern here. A lovely place for young children. They also have several basketball courts and a nice gazebo picnic area. The Genealogy event was very informative. Staff were very engaged and helpful. Very well organized. It was intriguing to learn about my loved ones and where we come from.

Poppies will make them sleep !

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Holding Park

4.3

(9 reviews)

11.0 mi

This fabulous park is "inclusive" which means that it's available for children who are abled and…read morechallenged! Lots of ramps throughout for those who are playing in the park in wheelchairs or who have trouble walking. Awesome. Lots of climbing frames and slides and fun things to do, all of it in bright primary colors. The park is in excellent condition with lots of shade. The park is in a small depression area which means that it's really easy for parents to keep an eye on their kids and harder for the kids to wander off. [Review 2423 of 2024 - 3879 in North Carolina - 23436 overall]

Public pool with nice play area large deck with chairs covered tables and concessions. Registration…read moreis online and allows nonresidents of Wake Forest. Sessions are for 3 hrs and limited to a total of 200 people. At least 2 lifeguards always on duty. A nice way to spend a lazy hot day.

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Chavis Park

(8 reviews)

6.4 mi

Love this park and the water splash area for kids when it's hot! Sometimes they have marketing…read moreevents there with information and free handouts samples promoting community services. The play equipment isn't as exciting as other places but the open space and freedom to burn off some energy is fabulous

Chavis Park is named after John Chavis, a free Black educator, Presbyterian minister, and American…read moreRevolutionary War veteran. In 1808, he opened his first school, the site of which was located near the grounds of modern-day Chavis Park. There is rich black history here at this park. If you visit the community center on its grounds you can see the black and white photos adorning the walls of the center dating back to the 60's featuring the people of this African American community. This is a beautiful park that is home to the main attraction its early 20th-century carousel. Allan Herschell Carousel, showcases a Wurlitzer 146A band organ, oil paintings of waterfalls and other natural scenes, and thirty-six jumping, hand-carved, hand-painted horses. There are several indoor and outdoor spaces available to the public and for rent. In addition a playground, tennis courts, and a pool, the park offers a community center, picnic shelters, a gymnasium, a lit, outdoor track, a fitness center, and a game room. A half-mile of Raleigh's Capital Area Greenway traverses the park via Little Rock Trail. During the week my daughter attends basketball practice here and we love the view of the city skyline from the community center This is my favorite park in the Raleigh area.

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Pullen Park

4.7

(190 reviews)

5.7 mi

No doubt the best park in the Raleigh area with lots of things to do for the rug rats. Carousel,…read moreboats, playgrounds, Choo Choo train, and wonderful picnic pavilions. Food stand has a few things which are actually pretty good plus ice cream and soft drinks, which are refreshing in the summer months. New bocce courts are nice addition and the tennis courts are never busy. Check out their live music schedule, too!

Every year around Christmas season, Pullen Park sets up the park in Winter Wonderland mode. This…read moreyear was fantastic and it's easy to see why tickets sell out so fast. There is a train ride through the park with all sorts of lights and Christmas displays. There are numerous free activities and crafts for kids of all ages. There is even a gorgeous carousel ride that seats many. It doesn't hurt that it is inside so you can warm up from the chilly outside. There is even remote parking with comfy buses that will take you to and from the parking lot and the park. It is a great experience and our grandkids ( and grandparents) have such a great time.

Their train ride is accessible and accompanied my service dog

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Williams Park

3.8

(6 reviews)

1.2 mi

Cool park! We came here for a playdate on a Sunday afternoon and it was poppin. Lots of kids and…read moreplenty of playground for everyone. There were kids of all ages from toddler to preteen. My husband said the bathrooms were heated which was pretty cool. The park is right next to Lynn elementary and there is a ton of grass and walking areas around, including a soccer field. I think there was a basketball court as well but don't quote me on that. It's a great place to take your dog for a long stroll without feeling as crowded as some trails like Shelley lake can be.

A beautiful park filled with tons of play equipment as well as two tennis courts and a sand filled…read morevolleyball court with a fielded in grass area. Perfect for dogs and kids.

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Marla Dorrel Park

4.7

(33 reviews)

10.3 mi

Incredible park with something for everyone. Love love loved this park. It is in a nice shady area,…read morethere's playhouses, multiple picnic/patio table areas for parties and people to eat meals and/or snacks. It also has a big range of play equipment for different age ranges. Did I mention that I love this park? There are cool statues inspired from fantasy themes like a lion with a squirrel body or a tortoise with a hare's head as well as a giant sea monster on a hill, complete with a nest of eggs. There's also an area with water spray thingies. That's my best attempt at describing them. They had been off for the winter but they're back on since a couple weeks ago! The kids love it especially with the weather heating up!

"Can we go to the dinosaur park, mommy?" I don't think he fully gets the difference right now…read more There is a large dragon sculpture that kids can climb on but there's no dinosaurs. The park is in heavy usage and it seems like due to this, likely, there are often things broken here. A bench, a fence, etc. There are multiple different play areas and a water play area. It's a delightful park to visit. We have played here for two hours straight. There is a covered picnic area that you can rent and people often do so for kids birthdays. The variety of play experience make this play so popular - sandbox with play excavators, climbing areas, platform rocks, a tree house area, dragon area, water play, slides and Roller slides, instruments, young kids play areas. This park is recommended (by me).

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Jack Smith Park

(27 reviews)

12.5 mi

This park is probably one of the nicest parks I've been to in a while. There is something for…read moreeveryone!! Dog park splash pad playground climbing wall/rocks CLEAN bathrooms There are areas with shade and a filtered water fountain onsite. Great way to spend a morning or afternoon with your little one. And parking onsite!!! Check it out!!!

Be aware you have to pay $40 for a dog membership to even get inside . Insane . Nice people let me…read morecome in anyways and it's a nice dog park but not that nice where I should be paying for my dog to run in dirt ..

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Sassafras All Children's Playground

4.2

(5 reviews)

3.6 mi

This playground is perfect for kids of all ages and abilities! My 1 year old always wants to be…read morewith big kids and this was the perfect spot for her. There are ramped ways up certain spots and a nice sand area. My daughter loved the swings as well and the playground is huge with lots of features.

Best playground I have ever visited!! So many great things. Clean and a lot of running…read moreopportunities. Climbing areas. Zip swings. Sun spots and shade spots. Absolutely loved it here for my little guy.

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Shelley Lake Sertoma Park

(66 reviews)

1.1 mi

It's a lake, amazing views, used to have paddle boats but it's still a nice peaceful walk, if your…read morelucky you see the bald eagles nest and the parents and babies, you will also see plenty of deer! Make sure to bring binoculars, it is a bike and e-bike friendly path, there is a playground for kids as well as a building that lets you know programs you can sign up for! If you love nature make sure you come here! Lots of paths to check out :) try with out maps it's even better just nature!

There is something here for everyone! A playground, walking trails, basketball courts and more! The…read moreviews here are beautiful and there is plenty of free parking! This lake is so peaceful and gives you time to connect with nature!

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Abbotts Creek Community Center

5.0

(3 reviews)

4.7 mi

Beautiful, light, bright, clean and well run community center. We play pickleball there 3 times a…read moreweek and it is so fun. They have three courts and supply the balls. Will keep returning.

Today we enjoyed Abbott's Creek Community Center + the park. I was so impressed with the property…read more When we first arrived we couldn't help but notice how clean the parking lot was. There was plenty of parking, I am not sure how it would be earlier during the day but it was great parking around the time that we went. As we were walking up there was a staff member there letting down the flag and she asked us how she could help us she was really nice. We noticed that they had an outdoor basketball court so we used them restroom and went straight there. The bathrooms were clean too. Which was great for small children who love to touch things. The park was really nice but we were only there for basketball court which was cool. One of the goals had a glass missing which was okay but for someone who likes to make all of their shots it was an inconvenience. But the park overall was clean and really nice. Overall it's one of the nice parks in Raleigh and we would love to go back.

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Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center

3.5

(22 reviews)

6.4 mi

Love love love it here. I have attended a birthday party here with my child and for the past couple…read moreof months have had my child in the swim classes. I really like this facility and it's always clean. Staff is super friendly. Only thing i will say is it's kind of chilly in there and i wish the swim classes had even more offerings.

Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center is a public mini indoor water park with waterslides, a lazy river and…read morelap lanes located within Raleigh Park's Buffaloe Rd Athletic Park. It is open year round. You can also rent it out for birthday parties. This is an affordable option for families who cannot afford the large theme parks. I paid $4 per child for admission. The staff was professional and worked hard to keep track of abiding by capacity rules by using a system similar to restaurant reservations where you receive a text message when it's your swim time. There was a Hour and 15 min wait for the Memorial Day holiday. We remained in the waiting area which has a television for kids to enjoy a movie while waiting. My daughter loved the large yellow slide and whirl pool. We intend to visit again. Loved how professional the front desk staff and life guards were. A must do when in Raleigh.

Off to the changing areas

Happy campers

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Waiting area can get a bit overwhelming but hang in there.

Lake Johnson Park

4.6

(150 reviews)

7.8 mi

Lake Johnson Park is one of Raleigh's best spots when you want a workout that actually comes with a…read moreview. The 3-mile loop gave me the perfect mix of cardio, scenery, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting. The trail is mostly paved and very well maintained, but there are also a few off-road paths if you want to switch things up. The lake views are gorgeous throughout the walk, and the heavily wooded sections make it feel peaceful and shaded even on warmer days. I also appreciated that the trail has a few solid uphill stretches. I'd say it's ideal for intermediate walkers, runners, or cyclists looking for a scenic challenge without venturing into hardcore hiking territory. The only downside is the parking situation, which can get pretty tight during busy hours. Still, once you're on the trail, it's absolutely worth it. Raleigh really lucked out with this gem of a park.

Natures finest!…read more Local park with free (but limited) parking. Walking trails. Kayak and paddleboard rentals. Birdwatching. Clean picnic and public bathrooms. Great place to go and enjoy nature.

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Kayak or paddleboard

Sandling Beach at Falls Lake

4.8

(6 reviews)

12.9 mi

The beach is spotless, with no trash anywhere. You'll see a few hair ties and bottle caps, but…read morenothing major. The sand is coarse because of scattered pebbles and bits of wood, so bring floppers for comfort. The water is clean and safe. Two large buildings are available for changing and showering. Picnic tables sit under the trees, and grills are open for cooking. The park has multiple trails, a children's playground, and it's dog‑friendly for walking. Entrance fees: $10 per vehicle, $5 for seniors.

Sandling is a man made beach within Falls Lake State Park. They charged $10 for the holiday…read moreweekend entrance fee. Sandling is accessible to the fire pits for barbecuing and is very small. Perfect for families and small children. You can access the beach on Creedmoor Rd. This was the perfect place for a convenient beach day 4th of July weekend. It saved me the 4 hour trip to Bear Island. I arrived early around 10:30 a.m. and there were no crowds. We camped out near the showers and bathrooms. This park is perfectly lined with trees in abundance. Perfect for barbecuing. We enjoyed our morning picnic and the water was very relaxing. I appreciate how clean the sand area was and the garbage was well organized as well. I brought my mother who is 72 and I had concerns about the proximity of the restrooms and showers and overall access. I was relieved to discover how convenient the beach access was for those with mobility impairment and disabilities. There are no pets allowed and no alcohol permitted. I watched the park rangers escort someone with a pit bull to the parking lot to return home and a woman was asked to dump out several beer cans. You have been warned. They run a tight ship here. I plan to return throughout the remainder of the summer months.

View of the beach from the sand. (Cloudy at this time)

Lake Beach

Beachfront

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Dixon Drive Park - playgrounds - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Dixon Drive Park also viewed

Leesville Park

3.0

(2 reviews)

I have a little kid, and we love the library and having free story time. Yesterday, however, we…read morewere able to experience the walking trail a brand-new playground for the first time, and were really disappointed. The walking trail was fine, clean, and a little hilly. There were a lot of people and well-behaved pups on leashes enjoying the beautiful weather. However, the actual paths were covered in a thick carpet of pine needles, so people were slipping and sliding everywhere (in dry conditions). I would think there's a way for trees to be pruned so as to provide for a safer walking trail (see Lake Lynn's trail for an example). My primary issue was with the new playground. Whoever designed and selected it does not have children. And has never been around children. I think the only kids who would enjoy it are 8 year olds without their parents nearby to stop them from climbing to the top of the structures and jumping off. The floor is that rubberized mat, which is nice. There's a large swing for multiple kids to use, which is fine but often not super popular. No regular or baby swings, which is a bummer. The structure for little kids is barely adequate - basically just a couple of platforms and a spinning toy that seemed to contain trash and a couple of balls. No slides, covers, puzzles.... really anything interesting. I'm not sure if the play structure is more an abomination or an art piece not meant to be played with, but it's certainly bizarre. The only slide has NO sides to prevent one from falling - it's just a steep piece of metal designed to cause harm. The other thing that looks like a slide from behind is for climbing, and has a railing straight down the middle. Why not on the side? I cannot explain. There are lots of rope webs for climbing, which will prove fun for some kids. But the platforms are not practical for standing or climbing, and it's mostly simply an unusable hazard.

This 57 acre park shares parking with the Leesville Community Library but is a separate business…read more The park has a paved smooth asphalt trail that runs for about a quarter mile from the library side to the residential neighborhood on the other side. There are two playgrounds in the park, one for 2-5 and the other for 5-12. Slides, nets, climbing structures and both have a sand surface. There are also benches and the playground area is partially fenced. [Review 12863 overall, 179 of 2020.]

Longstreet Park

4.0

This neighborhood park is about the playground which has a sand base under the play equipment…read more There are two climbing frames with some slides. This is next to the picnic table for the adults to hang out at while the little ones are burning off some energy. The far side of the park is bordered by a low fence which will keep the kids from wandering off into the woods. There are no public restrooms here but there is street parking. [Review 2438 of 2024 - 3894 in North Carolina - 23451 overall]

Knightdale Station Park

4.7

(26 reviews)

Since I've been here it's been renovated and it looks awesome! This is such a great playground with…read moreso much to do and see. There is something for everyone. Playground for the smaller kids maybe ranging from 1-10, swings, a green space for older kiddos that may want to bring their balls or fly kites, a trail if you want to get in some steps and even a splash pad for when it's warmer out. There are toilets and even a shelter if you wanted to host a party. My kids really enjoyed their time there and they are 7 and 3.

The new park is great! It looks wonderful. The water park is great for kids after playing at the…read moreplayground. It's got a beautiful lake to look out on and a walking path. There is normally a food truck or two always there. The playground has everything kids would need, swings, lots to climb on, a structure built in the shape of a train. The kids have a fantastic time. I do agree with another poster that the shape of the playground makes it difficult to keep an eye on your child. Otherwise, it is great.

Sassafras All Children's Playground

4.2

(5 reviews)

Millbrook Exchange Park

3.6

(16 reviews)

Great center to play pickleball. Three courts for open play. Staff is very kind, restrooms and…read moreparking pleasant. I will definitely continue going to play there.

Millbrook Exchange Park Tennis is hands down one of the best places to play in Raleigh! I went the…read moreother night after 8pm and had the best time. They have plenty of courts, which makes it easy to find a spot to play without feeling crowded. The courts are always super clean and very well maintained. The lighting at night is excellent it feels bright and safe, which makes evening matches really enjoyable. Parking is convenient and stress-free, and I also appreciate that there's staff on-site until closing, which adds an extra sense of security. Whether you're playing casually with friends or getting in some serious practice, this park is such a gem. I'll definitely be backnight tennis here is unmatched!

Brentwood Park

4.0

This large park has several features making it extra special. There's the neighborhood center…read more(though it's only open during rentals and when there are other events such as classes), It's available to rent and seats up to 99 people, which could be useful. Two concrete basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, a lighted youth baseball field and two playgrounds, both of which are sand-surfaced. A big open space for whatever is also available for running around and general play. There is plenty of parking here. [Review 11654 overall, 1436 of 2019.]

Kingwood Forest Park

3.0

This park is definitely designed for people who are walking or biking to it, as there is very…read morelimited street parking available. Which is fine, as there weren't many other people when I stopped in. They have a concrete surface basketball court, the only horseshoe pit that I've seen in Raleigh, and a large sand-surface playground for ages 2-12. A big picnic shelter has tables and charcoal grills. [Review 11925 overall, 1707 of 2019.]

Edna Metz Wells Park

3.0