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    Downtown Cary Park

    4.8 (41 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Downtown Cary Park Photos

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    Xenia M.

    Lots of sights to see at DT Cary Park. The day I went there was a lovely jazz ensemble performing. There's also plenty of spaces to sit and walk around. The bathrooms here are also really clean!

    Howard L.

    What can I say about this place! This was an outstanding public place that is just made from such creative enginuity. This park is beautiful and truly brings people together from families connecting with their children, dogs connecting with other dogs at the dog park and people connecting with other people. From the incredible fountain, trails, playground, visual designs, stages, structures and so much more. This place is by far the coolest place in Cary that's the heart and soul of this growing city. Plenty of activities are hosted here if you look online. Parking can be iffy but it's really worth checking out!

    Dana O.

    This is a beautiful park! The garden and sky walk is relatively small, but great for a little stroll, even at night since everything lights up. There are some cool structures/statues that make this park unique. They have table tennis, Foosball, and many sitting areas too. There are many families with dogs here. There is a small dog park that has a "bark bar" where you can order drinks and let you dog play in a fenced area. There's a day pass fee for $5 and annual memberships available. Lots of free parking and there are several restaurants in the area. Most of the restaurants closed at 9pm for a weekday though, in case you're coming by later in the day.

    Map
    Jennifer E.

    A lovely place to visit. Plenty of free parking at the library parking garage. I went on a Wednesday in October and they had music playing by the shop. Great dog park area. On the weekend, there is a bar! Fun outdoor art and a fantastic playground area. I had a wonderful time exploring the park. They were setting up for a festival on the weekend. This park alone would make me want to move to the area--great use of space and tax dollar funds. I wish we had things like this in my hometown. I am glad I found it while I explored North Carolina. I am very jealous of the Cary residents.

    Barkitecture
    Kori M.

    DCP is basically my second home! I live nearby and enjoy taking frequent walks around the park and attending all the events. I LOVE how dog friendly everyone is! It's so much fun to meet all the pups and see them playing in the dog park. I wish the parking situation was easier, but I've learned to deal with it.

    Kelly C.

    This place is really something else. The vibe is immaculate. They have a Dog park for small dogs and one for larger dogs and "bark bar" w cocktails can't beat it!!!! fun night tonight

    Kayla W.

    Their events here are always just so much fun and friendly for all ages. We visit at-least once or twice a month and it's always such a nice time. We've come for valentines, Halloween, their annual birthday party where they had a drone show, etc. I would recommend registering for events ahead of time to make sure you get a spot!

    Holidays 2023.
    Chip R.

    Bottom line: The newly reimagined and very spacious Downtown Cary Park is pretty impressive. Full stop. Great resources provided for people in Cary to use...nice, modern, clean, with plenty to do/see/enjoy. Check out the pics to find out. All the stars for a public town park. The Deets: I really think that Downtown Cary Park is wonderful. For a town like Cary, it's a pretty good sized park with plenty to enjoy and see. In the center near the Academy St. side, there is a main building with what appears to be a meeting space/plaza/pavilion as well as a market and cafe area. There are great areas to explore such as the Botanical Garden, the Barkyard dog park, the Skywalk, Great Lawn, amphitheater for shows or gatherings, and great art work and structures to take in throughout the park...just to name a few. The large fountain at the corner of Academy St and Dry Ave/Kildaire Farm Rd is pretty impressive and even more so at night when all lit up, again with lighting made definitely to impress. Speaking of impressive lighting, the lights throughout the area around the park are wonderful during the holiday season. I took pics of the park map as well as some of the sights there for you to enjoy (more than Yelp will allow attached to a review so look at the Yelp page pics to see them all). People are always enjoying this resource about any time of day or night I've gone and always seem to respectful of the space. I think that this park is an amazing resource for those in Cary to use and it's great to see the town invest in something so beneficial for all to enjoy.

    Map near the center of the park.
    Daniel B.

    Downtown Cary Park is fantastic. This is a great park for the town of Cary and it's certainly worth visiting if you're in the area. This is a relatively new, clean, and modern park. It opened on November 17, 2023 after about three years of construction and 20 years of conceptualization and planning. It spans seven acres and features ponds, streams, fountains, bridges, greenspaces, community event spaces, a playground, splash pad, and more. What makes Downtown Cary Park stand out is its overall contemporary design, which is also sustainable and energy-efficient. Aesthetically, it's unique and absolutely beautiful. You can tell a lot of money has been put into this place. $68 million is the number according to a quick Google search. We visited two times on the same Saturday. First, around 11:45am and again around 1:45pm. When we first arrived, the park and downtown area were very busy and packed. There was at least one event going on. Close to 2pm, the park was still bustling with activity. One of the little kids in our group pointed at one of the park's "Art Carts" and told me he created art in the park during a previous visit. Activities like the Art Cart are free. Check the park's calendar for upcoming events and programs: https://downtowncarypark.com/calendar For adults, there's the open-air Bark Bar that serves beer and wine. You can get snacks there as well as at Market 317, the on-site store. I think it's called "317" because that's the street address for the market: 317 S Academy St. There are several neat spaces to explore. Frantz Square, at the southwest end of the park (corner of S Academy St and Dry Ave), has a fountain that resembles fountains in big cities like Chicago and Philadelphia. This is Cary's version. I recommend going on the Skywalk, which not only gives you nice views of the park, but also takes you through one of the park's public art installations: "Light Passage." Light Passage is one of the most photographed places in the park due to its cool symmetrical design and look. Everything said, my favorite spot in the park is probably on the bridge above The Nest playground. There, you can see two giant cardinals, one male and one female. The cardinal is the state bird of North Carolina, so it's symbolic and couldn't be more perfect of a feature, in my opinion. On top of that, the birds are actually climbable and part of the things on the playground that kids can interact with. Music plays throughout the park via in-ground speakers. Parking is free and easy. We parked in the library parking deck at 113 Walnut St. The deck has a pedestrian exit/entrance on the south end of the park, adjacent to the aforementioned Nest playground.

    Jillian S.

    Beautiful public park in Cary that opened Nov 2023! I especially like the bark bar and dog park. Located right in downtown Cary, this park is close to numerous restaurants, businesses, and the Cary public library. Parking can be tricky, usually we park along the street or in a public church lot. The library and town hall also have parking decks. The park has a skywalk, play structures, splash pad, gardens, fountain, restrooms, and pavilion. We look forward to our next visit!

    View from the Skywalk
    Jennifer L.

    Haiku: Downtown Cary Park Breathe in the fresh air Place of wonder and pure joy Arts, nature, beauty. --- It was a joy to finally experience this impressive, beautiful outdoor space filled with art and nature. There is something for everyone, whether it's playing foosball and put put golf, watching a youth Shakespeare play at the amphitheater, kids playing at the cardinal play structure, having a doggy playdate at the Barkyard, enjoying a beer at the Bark Bar, or strolling by the pond. My kid enjoys arts and crafts at the Art Cart Tuesday and Thursday mornings. There's also a Saturday Farmer's Market along Park Street. The Cary Regional Library is also next door. Tip: Check their Events Calendar for all the happenings, like concerts in the park, Art Cart, movie nights, and food trucks. Parking is plentiful and they share with the Cary Regional Library parking structure.

    Katharine B.

    This is a beautiful space with a playground, outdoor venue for concerts, a library and just a well-planned and aesthetically pleasing park. You can take a walk, dine in a nearby restaurant, take exercise classes and enjoy the surroundings.

    Live evening performances; bring your crew!
    Vince T.

    My favorite spot in the Triangle! Carefully crafted landscaping, Amphitheatre, Slide City, holiday festivities, dog park, Bark Bar, market, 2 splash pads, clean bathrooms with changing tables. This park is unbeatable and recently nominated one of the best metro parks in the US! Parking in town is tough, so come early, bring your strollers, umbrellas and walking shoes. Cary is definitely a top contender in the Southeast for family friendliness!

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    10 months ago

    Gorgeous park, carefully planned for the community and the people were extraordinarily kind and respectful.

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    2 years ago

    Love spaciousness of the new park can't wait till tbd water features Like the cardinal birdhouse! It's very

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Downtown Cary Park

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    There is a cafe and also an outdoor bar next to a fireplace and dog park.

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    Review Highlights - Downtown Cary Park

    They have a Dog park for small dogs and one for larger dogs and "bark bar" w cocktails can't beat it!!!!

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Marla Dorrel Park

    4.7(33 reviews)
    2.7 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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    North Cary Park

    North Cary Park

    4.5(22 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Every time my grandson comes to stay at my house we go to the park. The park has a playground,…read more lots of slides, swings and even a place to play in the sand. My grandson loves it. When they have soccer its a chore to find parking but eventually you do. He loves the park. Write a great review and make it sound like me. Every time my grandson comes to stay with me, one thing is guaranteed we're going to this park. It's become our spot, and honestly, it never disappoints. The playground is perfect for kids. There are plenty of slides, swings, and even a sand area, which my grandson absolutely loves. He could spend hours there and still not be ready to leave. It's one of those places where you can just let them play, explore, and be kids without overthinking it. Now, I will say when there are soccer games going on, parking can be a bit of a challenge. You might have to circle around a little and be patient, but you'll find a spot eventually. And once you do, it's completely worth it. Overall, this park is a win for us every time. My grandson loves it, and seeing how excited he gets to go back? That alone makes it a 5-star place in my book.

    Another great park in North Cary! Clean restrooms; abundant parking with handicapped parking; lots…read moreof activity possibilities for grown ups and children alike. The kiddie play area is nearly fully shaded to boot, so there's not a bad time to enjoy all this park has to offer.

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    Downtown Cary Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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