Park Review: Raleigh's Lions Park features BMX track, new playground

The east Raleigh park not too far from downtown features a brand new playground. There's also a recently renovated community center, ball fields, tennis courts and the Capital City BMX Track, which celebrates its 30th year this year.

The reader told me that I needed to check out the new playground specifically. It received a major overhaul last May when the old playground, built nearly 20 years ago, was torn down and replaced with new structures. One is designed for kids ages 2 to 5. The other is geared toward 5- to 12-year-olds.

"Basically, what's out there came out of the recommendations from the work of this committee," he said. "It's been absolutely well received and greatly appreciated by the greater community over there."

The play set got high marks from my five-year-old, who loved the structure for larger kids. There's a large sand pit that sits between the two play sets (just remember to bring some sand toys). And the tall trees will provide some nice shade this summer and a place for kids to explore beyond the play equipment.

The track is typically open from 4 p.m. to dark on Thursdays for practices and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays for practices and races. It's also open some Saturdays for clinics and other events, Gay tells me.

The two-hour clinics are free for first timers and provide a good introduction for those new to the sport, Gay said. People of all ages attend the clinics. Kids as young as three (and adults as old as 67) ride the track.The next clinics are April 16, May 21 and June 18. The BMX season around here runs from March to December.

But Gay said people are welcome to come out for practices and other events too to see what it's all about. Bikes and helmets are available to rent.