Before preschool started, we headed to Powell Drive Park to check out the playground renovations finished earlier this year. I first visited Powell Drive Park about 4 years ago and remembered this park for being an easy one for parking and playing, which was exactly what my dear friend and new mama (third time around), Katie, needed on this hot August morning.
Powell Drive Park is located at 740 Powell Drive in a southwest Raleigh neighborhood. The same old community building exists, but the layout of the playground and sidewalks around the park are new. The new partially fenced-in playground area features a rubberized base with tot swings, regular swings, oval swing, ages 2-5 playground and ages 5-12 playground.
The ages 2-5 playground features bright neon colors with two small ladders, musical drums, slide, tunnel, water/sand table and stepping stones. The playground’s height is short, making it the perfect size for early explorers. Nearby is the ages 5-12 playground with a large spider web rope climbing ladder, curved metal ladder, and tall slide. The big girls loved climbing to the top of the spider web rope and everyone squealed in delight while being pushed on the large, oval swing. The old tennis courts and basketball courts are adjacent to the playground area. There are some large shade trees near the tot swings, but little shade around the ages 2-5 playground. A few benches surround the perimeter of the play area and several moms with small babes had the right idea by bringing a breakfast picnic to the park!
After exploring the playground we took a short walk by the pond to the small pavilion with picnic tables. Everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch and then the bigger girls headed off to the large open field for running and hide and seek.
Overall, it was a simple morning for entertaining little ones while the mamas got some chatting done. The big downside to the morning was having to make do with “natural” bathroom areas when nature calls for little ones. The neighborhood center isn’t open on a regular basis, so I had to schlep both girls to hidden areas when they needed to use the bathroom. I love the City of Raleigh parks and we frequent them a ton, but they have to make some improvements with the access to public restrooms. I’m not asking for anything fancy, even a pay-by-use porta-potty or these nice public Portland loos (suggested by friend, Carter) will do.
Thumbs up: bright playground colors and design, unique oval swing, easy access to park, pond/picnic/playground features all nearby
Thumbs down: access to bathrooms
Cute playground! I agree with you that parks that cater to young children should have some sort of potty facilities!
Fun to see playground equipment that is innovative… especially the protected hand-over-hand and the round multi-kid swing. Also, now the girls are prepped for an experience in the boundary waters in MN… where a large wooden square toilet overlooking nature is the luxury and the hidden corner is better.
Love, G. Bev