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.

Nice park, as beautiful as the location dictates. Senior friendly. I'm a senior and require a…read morerollator to walk any distance and the paths were accommodating.

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.

It's a nice park in the area! You'll get to expose yourself to sunlight and nature! Great place to…read moredo picnic or outdooring like fishing and playing toys on the lake! Cool place

What a scenic experience! The wind and good weather blew me here and it was just the space I needed…read moreto clear my head.

Duke Gardens is definitely one of the most beautiful gardens in Durham, if not the Triangle. Open…read morefrom dawn to dusk, it's welcoming to all. The best time of year to go in my opinion is during the Spring and especially during the Cherry Blossom season, which only lasts less than a week if not that. During that time, it can be super duper crowded, with people everywhere trying to get the perfect profile pic and/or selfie in. Weddings are held here and they have a beautiful area for it, along with a pond with lily pads. I have friends who have gotten engaged here, although if you're a professional photographer, you need to have permission. During the summer, they have a summer concert series on the lawn and it's so much fun. My friends I would bring snacks, wine, coolers and picnic blankets. Partaking in those concerts was one of the most fun parts of my summers, so nostalgic. Parking is a bit much (as it's sometimes hard to snag) but there are a few overflow lots to accommodate. One of my favorite parts of Duke Gardens it that you can also access Duke Campus across the road, and see the lovely Duke Chapel, and its beautiful cathedral. Once done, you can re-enter the Gardens and continue your trail. Such a lovely stroll. Once you cross the red bridge, you can also find your way to the farm, where there are animals, vegetation and lots of vegetables and herbs in a sweet garden. You can't really get too lost at Duke Gardens which I appreciate. Just keep going and eventually you will find your way back to the main fountain. Enjoy!

What a wonderful experience walking through Duke Gardens, and the best part--it's completely free!…read moreThis serene oasis is a perfect stress reliever for visitors, students, and workers alike. The gardens are especially notable for their beautiful Japanese-themed areas, featuring an abundance of Japanese Maples and even Fuyu persimmons, which I would have loved to pick if they weren't so high up (maybe next time!). There are numerous pathways for strolling, and the gardens regularly host events such as weddings, educational programs, and seasonal festivals. Visitors can enjoy both formal, carefully curated landscapes like the Historic Gardens, as well as informal, naturalized areas that resemble a backyard wildlife garden, perfect for relaxing, taking photos, or simply enjoying a peaceful retreat from the busy world. Overall, Duke Gardens is a must-visit for anyone in the area, an accessible, beautiful, and educational space that offers a tranquil escape and a chance to connect with nature.

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!

First and only visit took a bit of a drive from where I lived but did not disappoint. The hiking…read morewas fairly level with a great meditative and uncrowded nature walk. Deserving of good hiking boots to navigate the trail's obstacles.

Nice park with many trails of varying difficulty. A couple trails were closed due to a past storm,…read morebut we still enjoyed our hike along the river

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.

Wonderful trails for biking, hiking, walking (and also some trails are sign-posted to allow…read morehorses). Not crowded. Miles & miles of trails. Picnic tables and pavilions. Creeks and streams. Lakes and ponds. Boating. BE AWARE of closed trails, bridges, etc...stop by the park office AND check the website for closures.

Umstead is a great park with plenty of parking locations and different trail options. I hope to try…read moreout all of their walking trails. I've done at least 2 of their trails with the last being the Pott's Branch Trail. Pott's Branch is one of their easy trails at 1.3 miles. I recommend you wear tight/well fitting sneakers or boots as there are a lot of roots on the trails and you don't want to slip. Umstead does a great job of marking the trails and there were even paper maps available.

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.