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📍111 Thurston Dr, Cary, NC 27518 – Located in Marla Dorrel Park
🐦We’re currently on a mission to visit every playground in the Triangle region! If you don’t see something posted on our site yet, it is definitely in the works!
The Kids Together Playground in Cary, NC, is simply awesome! I took my son (22 months) on a warm winter afternoon and right away I could tell this would become one of our favorite playgrounds in the Triangle, as well as one of the most toddler-friendly.
A Review of Kids Together Playground Cary NC
This large, shady playground is a beautiful environment for play and fun. Right away, I appreciated that the playground was set a ways back from the parking lot, and even further from the road. That makes it feel secluded and safe from traffic.
In general, this park is just lovely. We were there on a warm February day with the sun shining and buds just beginning to appear on the trees. This drew my attention to all the shade surrounding this playground, not only from the natural elements like trees but also from shades attached to the play structures.
There are 3 main play areas in the playground, one which I would consider the largest, central playground.
Squishy ground, low set structures, and ample shade: this section gets an A+ from me as a toddler parent. There’s also a large sand area nearby, which Malcolm loved exploring.
The Kids Together Playground has been designed to be an inclusive playground for all children. This section showcases some of the most stellar inclusive elements. Not only is there a ramp leading up the play structure, there is a a variety of swings, including the chair style with clickable harness.
I love seeing these inclusive aspects at the park. In a different section of the playground, there is also a group of 4 baby swings.
I mentioned earlier that there were essentially 3 primary sections to the park. The 2nd one is in the center and is a smaller, but taller play structure.
Again, you can see there’s plenty of shade here! This playground area seems a bit more standard, and is probably geared towards slightly older kids. It was a little too tough for my son to navigate the upper parts, and I don’t love mulch for the ground surface, but definitely a great little spot.
Directly adjacent to this is a very pretty tree covered trellis area, pictured below. This provides even more shade and is also a nice spot for a rest or a snack.
The third park section is the toddler/younger children’s area. This was ideal for Malcolm and we spent a lot of time here. I also deeply appreciate that this play space—and really, the entire playground—is partially enclosed by fencing. This offers such peace of mind for me, since Malcolm loves nothing more than running off into the most wooded, rocky areas he can find! Fences keep him safely confined to the playground!
The toddler play structure has a large ramp leading up to it, adding valuable accessibility. Even the stairs leading up to the slides seem built with little ones in mind: they are narrow with sturdy handrails; perfect for those for whom walking (and not falling) is not yet an instinct!
Other Things to Note About Kids Together Playground
We didn’t check out the restrooms while we were here, but according to their website, these are extra spacious to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers, and an adult-sized changing table is also available. The bathrooms are conveniently located next to the main parking area.
A covered picnic area is next to this–great for birthday parties.
A large green dragon structure spreads over one area of the park, seemingly dipping below the surface of the ground. This dragon, named Katal, is definitely a fun attraction of the park.
I noted plenty of seating throughout the playground, some designed in a whimsical style that matches the park vibes!
I saw lots of trash bins, water fountains, and picnic benches as well. All in all, this is a well-equipped park built to handle a large number of visitors and it’s set up to be pleasant even on the hottest of North Carolina summer days.
Here’s a quick overview of the park’s amenities, all in one list:
Finally, if you want to explore even more, you can hop onto the Hinshaw Greenway, which connects Marla Dorrel park to Maynard Drive at the end of 1.7 mile asphalt pathway. Just over the pedestrian bridge is MacDonald Woods Park, with another playground for kids to enjoy.
Other area playgrounds you’ll love:
🐦 Pleasant Park in Apex
🐦Shade Playgrounds in the Triangle