Brought my kids here for my son's first birthday on a whim. Although there was a small section for…read moresuch little guys, it's really not suited for the tiny ones. My older two loved it! The play equipment was fun and in great shape. The walking paths were very pretty. The building has bathrooms inside which is great, although more than half of the stalls were lacking toilet paper. There was a truck in the parking lot selling water ice which was super yummy! Overall great park trip.

I stopped at this large park to walk off a little of my dinner and digest a little more of my beers…read morebefore I got back onto the highway. It's a top notch park with a lot of features. Baseball, basketball, picnic shelter with tables, playground and tennis courts. Add some seating around the basketball courts and perhaps a few more benches around the super awesome playground and you'd have five stars. There is a large parking lot here and the building has restrooms (currently closed). [Review 15530 overall, 1034 of 2021, number 3069 in North Carolina.]

We enjoyed visiting this playground. The Toddler playground has three slides and is the perfect…read moresize for the little ones. It's partially shaded by the nearby trees. There's no benches but parents can sit on the concrete brick wall. The bigger playground is a short walk away. It has two big slides and a few little ones. It's perfect for all ages. There is open green space pretty close by. There are a few benches and even picnic tables around the playground area. However, there is almost no shade in the immediate area. There is an indoor bathroom facility near the big playground. They also have conveniently located trash cans. Parking is mostly along the road and a few spaces near the toddler playground.

We stayed at a dog-friendly AirBnB over Thanksgiving and found this nearby dog park. The parking…read morelot was a little difficult to find as the ground was covered in leaves, but we figured it out. This was one of the most fun and nostalgic dog parks I've ever been to - the entire dog park has obstacles and materials made from old McDonald's playgrounds, like from the 80s and early 90s. It was a blast from the past and very fun to identify which items I remembered. The pups both loved the park - there were tennis balls everywhere and it was surprisingly clean.

We call this Rock Park because the boulders are irresistible and so fun. Lots of slides - big…read moreenough for adults to go down too. Nice small nature area for kids who like to explore.

Mount Merrill Play-MOUND, part of Durham Central Park, is a true picture of what Durham is and how…read morethe community comes together to create and better our wonderful city. What began as a kickstarter project to make Durham Central Park an even better destination spot and give kids an activity, quickly took off. The community came together and raised $200,000 to fund the park. In addition to the food truck rodeos, skate park, farmers market and summer concert series that Durham Central Park offers, they now offer Mount Merrill, The play-mound offers two slides, a climbing net, great amphitheater seating, a ramp up to a "look-out!" area (you have to stretch your imagination here a bit), a boulder climb (mostly just piles of rocks) and lots of sculptural art (that was previously in the park and now is claimed by Mount Merrill). While Mount Merrill can't compare to many other play structures in the area, the tiny small mound is a lot of fun for kids of all ages (I too enjoy the big slide!) and I hope to see some improvements made to it in the summer months. Durham Central Park, with the addition of Mount Merrill, has quickly become a place for the whole family and a destination that I can see my nieces and nephews taking their children someday, just like I've taken them. Good job Durham, keep up the community building! I love the idea, it's just the size of the park that gives it a three-star, hopefully they'll add on to it in the summer!

Great spot to take the dog for a nice walk. Friendly neighborhood in between paths…read more It was a bit busy with people running and biking so you just have to stay alert. Maddy loved the new smells and the cooler weather!

Indian Trail park is a teeny little park in Old West Durham. However, despite its small size, it…read morepacks a decent amount of charm. The main reason I've passed through this park (don't blink because you may miss it) is that the West Ellerbee Creek trail runs into it, and I've run on that trail a time or two. In fact, it seems as though the trail brings a lot of runners, walkers, and dog walkers into this park. Aside from the running, I've also had a couple early evening picnics here as there's a sizable field that lends itself to picnicking (as well as football, soccer, frisbee, kite flying...you get the idea). Indian Trail also features a small playground, a handful of benches, and some outdoor exercise stations. So if you're looking to compete in an international monkey bars competition, Indian Trail park may serve as solid training grounds. Yup, it's not the biggest park in the world, but it's clean, well-maintained, and does what it does well!

Simple neighborhood park, came from FL with my 3.5 y.o. daughter and was looking for something easy…read moreand accessible. Not much parking but didn't matter in our case as there were a few open spots the afternoon we went. Not a whole lot of shade and a couple benches/tables throughout.

This park is a hidden jewel. It is expansive, with a children's play area, a large shelter (good…read morefor outdoor, socially distanced gatherings) and walking trails. It is well maintained and seemingly lightly trafficked because it is tucked away in a Durham neighborhood. We visited over a holiday weekend and saw only a handful of other families, most of whom were in the children's play area. The majority of people were wearing masks and so it felt very safe to visit during the pandemic. The parking lot is small but due to the light traffic, it didn't pose a problem when we visited. This is a great park to visit with children, dogs and/or adult friends and family members especially as other outdoor attractions in the area are seeing heavier traffic due to the pandemic. We brought a badminton set and had plenty of room to set up and play in the large field near the shelter. This would be a good place to throw around a football or play fetch with a pup.

As my family and I were visiting my sister, we had heard that Durham Central Park was hosting a…read moreReggae Event. We decided to go to get a taste of the Caribbean in the South. We arrived and there was a live DJ playing Dancehall and Reggae, which had a great selection of music. There were tents and food trucks around the perimeter which had long lines and for good reason. There was good food and great merchants which my sister bought a shirt and I got a bucket hat with the Panamanian flag on it. My sister told me that there were a couple events being hosted in the coming weeks. I would definitely return when I go visit my sister.

Downtown Durham is cool and Durham Central Park is a big reason why. When I think of Durham Central…read morePark, I mainly think of The Pavilion and Foster Street, which hosts the Durham Farmers' Market (https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-farmers-market-durham), and the adjacent public greenspace, playground, and skate park located between Foster Street and Rigsbee Avenue. However, Durham Central Park extends well beyond that. It's really a neighborhood, encompassing some of the coolest spots in the city. Aside from the aforementioned farmers' market, highlights at Central Park for me have included: * Boxcar Bar & Arcade: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boxcar-bar-arcade-durham * Durham Food Hall: https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-food-hall-durham * Foster Street Coffee: https://www.yelp.com/biz/foster-street-coffee-durham Additionally, my wife and her co-residents are big fans of: * The Glass Jug (bar): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-glass-jug-durham-3 There's also a lot of great stuff around Central Park like: * M Sushi: https://www.yelp.com/biz/m-sushi-durham * Pizzeria Toro: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pizzeria-toro-durham * The Blue Note Grill (barbecue and live music): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blue-note-grill-durham-2 * The Parlour (ice cream): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-parlour-durham-2 * Viceroy (Indian restaurant): https://www.yelp.com/biz/viceroy-durham My wife likes to get her hair cut and styled at: * Rock Paper Scissors Salon: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rock-paper-scissors-salon-and-gallery-durham-2 The neighborhood also includes the DAP (Durham Athletic Park), former home of the Minor League Durham Bulls baseball team. According to artwork on the south side of the Liberty Warehouse Apartments, Durham Central Park was established in 2001. The Pavilion opened in 2007. There's lots of amazing public art in the neighborhood too. The municipal space is ideal for events like the farmers' market, festivals, live entertainment, food trucks, etc. It's perfect for the community.

This updated review is for the turf soccer fields. The youth Rainbow soccer league uses these for…read moreweekly practices. These are nice fields that don't really end up needing to be closed from rain since they are turf. The parking lot can get very crowded. I recommend backing into a parking spot so you can exit a little easier.

Went on a Saturday- I will say a fair number of dogs were unleashed which is never good in my…read moreopinion. We had to turn around a couple of times to avoid other dogs off leashes. The parking at the soccer field area wasn't bad but I do know it gets packed at that soccer field but there was also a playground and a couple of trails (the longest was about 1.1 miles so we did a couple). The trails were relatively easy to follow and had posts with color coordination. Overall a really close spot to me so will be visiting again. I do think the trails could be longer but overall are nice. Next time will visit the water with the overlook.

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.

The playground equipment is well-maintained and suited for all ages, with plenty of swings, slides,…read moreand climbing structures that kept my kids entertained for hours. The area was clean, with lots of shaded spots and benches for parents to relax while keeping an eye on the little ones. There were also picnic tables and ample green space, which made it easy to enjoy a snack or quick lunch. Plus, the park had restrooms and drinking fountains nearby , which were a much-needed convenience on our long drive. Overall, Laurel Hills park was a great place to refresh, relax, and let the kids have some fun. Highly recommend it for anyone traveling through the area with young children!

Found this park when we tried to go to the library after it closed. Pretty new, play structures are…read morein great condition and have a lot of interesting designs and obstacles. Both structures are pretty low to the ground so are pretty good for young children. What sets this apart is the small amphitheater and seating options. Looks like it would be great for a small party, school class or just an informal play date with lots of kids. There is a large gazebo or pavilion right in the middle and lots of trees for shade. A few downsides: it may not be as adventurous for older kids, grassy area is small but useable and there is only one swing, which is a tire swing. Small things, but overall this was a great find right next to the library downtown!

What a SAD excuse for a city park. Durham should be ashamed of this. The splash pad didn't work,…read moreand the old and gross playground wasn't very appealing either. Yuck yuck yuck.

Forest Hills is an average park overall but it's my experience there that makes me hesitant to…read morereturn. They've got trails for running, a public pool, playground (with a gazebo and picnic benches close by), four square court, tennis courts, splash pad and plenty of field room for kickball games, dodgeball or ultimate frisbee. They even have some traveling events that use the park: the annual frisbee golf tournament--they bring all their own baskets, pickup soccer games and the random social sports teams that uses the grassy areas. You also have the opportunity to rent out the covered picnic space and fields (although it's not required). Parking is a problem for a lot of people, the main lot is very small. However you can park across the street and walk over or if you turn left on East Forest Hills Blvd. there is additional parking. The down sides are the playground isn't shaded, kids should wear shoes even when venturing into the slap pad so as not to burn their feet. Also please watch out for the slides on hot days! The street the park is off of is also a busy road, while it's away from the play ground it's parallel to the parking lot--so keep an eye on your kids. And while the surrounding neighborhoods seem good, this park can definitely bring in an interesting crowd. Unfortunately I visited the park on the wrong evening last year, a high school gathering of two of the local rival Durham schools were meeting. We went to play in the field so it didn't seem like a big deal even though the young crowd looked a little worse for wear. However about an hour after arrival a fight broke out and multiple gun shots were fired. By some miracle no one was hurt but a few friends I was with as well as other park patrons had car windows broken and I wouldn't be surprised if people needed therapy after the scary incident! Overall I'd say the park is safe during the day, just be on the lookout and leave if something/someone seems suspicious.