Climb, jump, play: Parks with the best playgrounds for big kids
Looking for the best playgrounds for big kids? Our favorite playgrounds for older kids have tall climbing structures, exciting play features and plenty of space to run around!
Parks with the best playgrounds for big kids
Pleasant Park
3400 Pleasant Plains Road, Apex
The 92-acre park features a jaw-dropping playground with impressive climbing structures and a giant, 35-foot-tall slide older kids will adore.
It also features six multi-purpose fields, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts and an "Enchanted Forest" with nine inclusive play villages for kids of multiple ages and abilities.
Sassafras All Children's Playground at Laurel Hills Park
3808 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh
On a busy day you might have to wait your turn to use it, but a zipline is a one of many features older kids will love at this playground. The giant playground has plenty of nooks and crannies for exploring and pretend, and there is a large assortment of swings.
This might be one of the biggest play structures in Raleigh with slides of various heights -- from very tall to toddler-size -- and a special metal slide that goes very, very fast.
John Chavis Memorial Park
505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Raleigh
John Chavis Memorial Park is home to the Allan Herschell Carousel (closed for repairs), a splash pad, a skywalk climbing feature, play structures for multiple age groups and a community center. There's also a super cool tunnel slide. The park includes a half-mile section of the Capital Area Greenway Trail.
Pullen Park
520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh
Your big kid has probably outgrown the kiddie boats, but a carousel, real train and boat rentals make this park an exciting destination for kids of all ages. Tickets are $2 per ride and can be purchased online. Even big kids will love exploring the bright red caboose in the playground area, which is also a fantastic photo opportunity.
If your child loves to explore, the Pullen Park playground features a large ropes climbing structure, and there are plenty of picnic areas for teenage hangouts and places to read on the grassy lawn that overlooks the park.
Barwell Road Park
5857 Barwell Park Drive, Raleigh
The highlight of this park big kids and adults will love is the Panthers Play 60 challenge course, which opened in 2021 and has been described as a Ninja Warrior-meets NFL experience. The course takes kids (and adults if you want!) through a series of 11 different obstacles — from ninja steps to a traverse wall and u-turn ramp.
There is also a 40-yard dash with timer and synthetic turf surface. Looking for classic play? There is a play structure for ages 2-5 years and another for 5-12 years with tall slides older kids will love.
Downtown Cary Park
327 S. Academy St., Cary
Older kids and teenagers will love exploring the 7-acre Downtown Cary Park, which is more like a city center! The tall cardinal slides are a hit, but kids can walk and explore the bridge over the botanical gardens, grab a coffee or snack at the Market 317 (alcoholic beverages are available for adults), sit around the fountain, relax on the great lawn and more.
Crowder County Park
4709 Ten-Ten Road, Apex
As a teenager I loved walking the short trail around the pond at this scenic park while my younger sister played on the playground. The playground itself has a tall climbing structure with a large slide older kids will enjoy. This park is a great one for spotting wildlife -- a chipmunk or the turtles that sunbathe around the pond.
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