Playground Review: Lazy Daze Playground at Bond Park

I've reviewed and written about dozens of parks across the Triangle over the last five years, but, for some reason, hadn't made it here even though I'd heard plenty about it.

Don't get me wrong: This is a beautiful park with a lot of amenities, including a lake, boathouse, challenge ropes course, amphitheater, athletic fields, 4.2 miles of trails and even a screened porch you can rent for events. It's also hosts many of the town's big annual events, including the annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in Cary each August.

But the playground, unlike many of Cary's other parks, is aging. My 10-year-old rated it a 2.5 out of 5, in part, because it didn't have the pieces that she prefers and we're seeing in newer parks. Those are the things that spin kids around and offer new ways to climb with wobbling stepping stones and ropes, for instance.

My five-year-old, however, gave it a 5 out of 5. And maybe this all has to do with age. My younger daughter still loves slides and monkey bars, while my older one wants something a bit more challenging.

At Lazy Daze Playground, you'll find the standard slides, monkey bars and ladders. There's a collection of bouncy rides for younger kids and two sand play areas. One includes a small clubhouse where a group of girls were having a little meeting when we got there this week.

Picnic tables and benches ring the perimeter. The playground also is surrounded by lots of trees, which provide some nice shade. In fact, you'll need to take a quick walk along a paved path through the woodsy area to get to the playground from the parking areas. Bathrooms are on site though they are not right next to the playground.

Bond Park is at 801 High House Rd. in Cary. Watch the video for a closer look.