FunKidsActivities

Walltown Park

1700 Guess Rd, Durham, NC 27701, USA

Overview

Category:Best Outdoor Playgrounds
Location:Durham, NC

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Walltown Park is a vibrant, well-maintained outdoor playground offering a diverse array of unique and creative play elements, including multiple climbing structures, slides, musical features, and classic games like hopscotch and a tire swing. It caters to a broad age range with both a main structure and a secondary 'baby' playground, all within a safe, fenced environment. The park also boasts extensive sports facilities like two basketball courts, a large field, and horseshoe pits, making it a comprehensive family destination.

Key Highlights

  • Features a highly creative main playground structure with numerous ways to climb, multiple walkways, and five slides.
  • Includes unique play elements not commonly found at other parks, such as a musical section, hopscotch, and a throwback tire swing.
  • The entire playground area is fenced in, making it easier for parents to keep an eye on children.
  • Offers a dedicated, secondary smaller playground specifically for babies and very young children.
  • Boasts two separate, seemingly new basketball courts, a huge open field, and pits for horseshoes.
  • Praised for its cleanliness and overall safety, with features designed to be secure even for toddlers.
  • Wheelchair accessible for broader inclusivity.

Standout Features

  • Creative and diverse climbing activities, including a rock wall and multiple unique pathways to upper levels.
  • Five different slides, including a 'spinning thing' (implied as a spinning slide or ride).
  • Dedicated musical play section.
  • Fenced-in main playground area for enhanced child supervision.
  • Separate, smaller playground designed for babies/toddlers.
  • Two basketball courts (full-court outdoor), a large open field, and horseshoe pits.
  • Throwback tire swing and hopscotch.
  • Swinging bridge on the main play structure.
  • Immaculately clean environment.
  • Wheelchair accessible park entrance and possibly some features.

Perfect For

Babies/Toddlers (0-3 years): Has a secondary, smaller playground area specifically for 'babies' (Review 1). Features are described as 'very safe, even great for toddlers' (Review 2).
Young Children (3-6 years): A 4-year-old was able to climb the rock wall with ease. The main structure's creative climbing and musical features are highly engaging.
Older Children (6-12 years): The main playground, with its five slides, swinging bridge, rock climb, and 'spinning thing' is considered enjoyable for kids up to 12 years old (Review 5).
All Ages: The park generally offers 'elements to play on for all ages' (Review 1) and is described as 'Great park for all ages!' (Review 2), encompassing the main playground, secondary playground, and sports facilities.

Ideal For

Families with children across a wide age range (from babies to pre-teens) due to diverse play options.
Parents seeking a safe, fenced playground where they can more easily supervise multiple children.
Kids who enjoy active, imaginative climbing and varied play elements beyond standard swings and slides.
Families looking for a clean outdoor space with additional sports facilities (basketball, field sports).
A free playdate venue where safety and diverse activities are a priority.
Families needing a wheelchair-accessible outdoor play area.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • **Plan for no restrooms:** Visitors should use facilities beforehand or be prepared for no public restrooms on site. Consider portable options for younger children.
  • **Arrive early for parking:** The parking lot is small, so arriving during off-peak times might ensure a spot.
  • **Bring your own seating/shelter:** The park lacks benches or a rain/picnic shelter, so parents might want to bring portable chairs or plan accordingly for sun/rain.
  • **Avoid night visits:** It's explicitly advised not to visit after dark due to lack of lighting and nearby businesses.
  • **Supervise children under 3:** While there's a baby playground, the main structure might be too challenging for children under 3, as one review suggested.
  • **Beware the 'spinning thing':** One parent warned of a 'spinning thing that's guaranteed to make you puke,' so children prone to motion sickness should be cautious.

Things to Consider

  • No public restrooms are readily available nearby; visitors report uncertainty if a close building is for public use.
  • The playground equipment shows signs of wear, with faded colors in high-traffic areas and some scratches on play structures, though it's noted not to be in bad condition.
  • The parking lot is described as small, which could be an issue during busy periods.
  • Lacks additional benches, rain shelter, or a dedicated picnic area.
  • Not recommended for visits at night due to a lack of nearby businesses or sufficient lighting.

Price & Value

This is a free public park, offering exceptional value given the extensive and unique range of play structures and sports facilities available. The quality of features and cleanliness, despite some wear, makes it a highly worthwhile destination.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • Wheelchair accessible (entrance and possibly some park areas).

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Not explicitly mentioned in reviews, but as a public park, outside food and drinks are generally permitted. No concessions are indicated, so planning to bring your own snacks/water is advisable.

🚗Parking Info

  • Small parking lot available. Could be challenging during busy periods.

👥Crowd Levels

  • The park seems to attract 'everyone of all Creeds, colors and economic background,' suggesting it's a popular and well-used community spot. No specific times for heavy crowding are mentioned, but the small parking lot hints at potential busyness.

🛡️Safety Features

  • Main playground area is fully fenced in.
  • Secondary, smaller playground dedicated to babies implies age-appropriate safety measures.
  • All features are described as 'very safe' even for toddlers, with creative climbing activities noted as 'still super safe'.
  • Equipment, though 'a little old,' is stated to be 'not in bad condition.'
  • Park is described as 'immaculately clean,' contributing to a safe environment.

When to Avoid

  • If immediate access to public restrooms is essential for your family.
  • Visiting after sunset or at night, due to safety concerns regarding lighting and nearby activity.
  • If your children are exclusively under 3 years old and you only intend to use the main, more challenging play structure (though the baby playground is available).
  • During peak times if finding parking quickly is a priority, given the small lot size.

What People Say

What's Great

  • Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Dan Thompson

Dan Thompson

2 years ago

Cool little playground area! Love the orange/green color scheme. SO many creative ways to climb up to the second level, and then once ya get up there, it has multiple walkways for the kiddos to run around on and multiple slides to go down. The playground has gotten SO much use that it’s colors are faded in the highest traffic areas but, it’s still a fun playground for kids. Has so many different elements to play on for all ages. It’s fenced in and has a secondary smaller playground for the babies. Loved all the musical features as well!

Adriana Del Valle

Adriana Del Valle

7 years ago

Great park for all ages! playground has many features most parks don't usually have, like a musical section, hopscotch, and throwback tire swing. My 4 yr old climbed the rock wall with ease, all features very safe, even great for toddlers. Basketball courts, 2 seperate ones looked new to me, just posted recent pictures. Has a huge field and great pits for horseshoes. Only thing I didnt see nearby were restrooms, there's a building close by, but not sure if it was for public use. The parking lot is also kind of small, but worth coming here!

Quinton Turner

Quinton Turner

6 years ago

Small but kids always enjoy it. A fence around the playground to easily keep an eye on the kids. Slides & equipment is a little old but not in bad condition. Full court outdoor Basketball Court. Could add more benches & or rain shelter/Picnic area.

Ken Ray (mrkenray)

Ken Ray (mrkenray)

5 years ago

The play structures are getting a bit scratched, but they are as fun as ever. It's amazing how much and how varied the activities contained in this one structure are. Five slides, a swinging bridge, a rock climb, and this spinning thing that's guaranteed to make you puke. It's immaculately clean. Everyone of all Creed's, colors and economic background is here playing together in peace and happiness.

Krissi Faith

Krissi Faith

3 years ago

Wheelchair accessible. This park is a hidden gem. If you are in the area, def stop by. Just note that there are no public restrooms nearby. I also should mention not to go here at night because there is just not anything or any business nearby. Whoever designed this playground added the most creative climbing activities that are still super safe. I would not recommend this park for kids under 3 years old. But I could see even kids up to 12 loving this place.

Contact Information

1700 Guess Rd, Durham, NC 27701, USA

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Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.4
Total Reviews120
Recent Reviews5