505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC

I remember a few years ago I mentioned to an older Raleigh native that I was thinking about visiting Chavis Park to ride the carousel. I figured it was an alternative to the popular, but busy, Pullen Park carousel. She immediately told me not to go because it was run-down and the crime rate around Chavis Park was very high.

Boy, how times have changed! John Chavis Memorial Park has now been transformed into a top spot to visit in Raleigh! Ride the historic carousel, play on the amazing playground, and enjoy the refreshing splash pad while you take in a great view of the Raleigh city skyline!

Playground

We previously reviewed Chavis Park back in 2017, but the new playground is nothing like the vintage metal structure that stood there before. The new Chavis Park has a unique rope bridge skywalk for the older kids and a whimsical playhouse for the younger kids.

Scattered in between the two structures you’ll find a nature obstacle course, merry go round, and even parent workout equipment! Whoever thought of adding in something for the parents was a genius! You can pedal on a bike, run on the elliptical, or get some rows in while watching your kids play!

• 

• 

• 

The older kids playground is definitely designed for ages 5-12. The only way to get up to the playground is a difficult rope climbing structure and I don’t think kids under 5 could make it up there even if they tried! My 3 year old definitely couldn’t do it on his own and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to help him up. Pushing him up in front of me on a high rope ladder wasn’t on my list of things to do that day, but we made it. The transition from the rope ladder to the ledge above was a little tricky so watch your kids here!

On the bright side, the difficult entrance to the playground could be a blessing in disguise for parents of younger kids. They can’t get stuck at the top of the playground if they can’t even make it up the ladder!

• 

• 

Once you get up to the top of the playground there is a tricky rope skywalk that I don’t recommend walking across if you have a fear of heights. The kids didn’t seem to mind, but I was a little nervous walking across that thing! Anyone else suddenly more fearful of heights after having kids?! 🙋 It didn’t help that the skywalk was so narrow that only one person could cross at a time. We tried to wait our turn so we didn’t interfere with anyone coming from the opposite direction, but the other kids not-surprisingly didn’t get that memo. There’s no social distancing happening in that tight space!

Keep in mind that the playground is in direct sun, so pack some sunscreen! However, there are many picnic tables scattered throughout with sun shades, so you can get a break from the heat when eating a snack!

Restrooms and Party Room

The restroom facilities are located in the historic carousel building adjacent to the playground. The building houses a large room that can be rented for parties as well.

• 

• 

Splash Pad

I absolutely love free splash pads, so adding another one to our list makes me so happy! This one isn’t as extensive as some of the others, but there are various sprays and jets to keep the kids entertained. I always bring buckets so the kids can practice their scooping and pouring, which extends the fun exponentially!

The splash pad is located directly in front of the community center, which has nice café-style seating in the shade. After a couple hours of play, a staff member came out and conducted a snack time story time for all of the kids, which was a nice touch!

Carousel

The carousel was closed for repairs during our visit, but should be opening next month (August 2021). According to the schedule below it appears the Chavis Park Carousel hours are much more limited than the Pullen Park carousel hours, but I’m hoping that will change eventually! The website states that the hours are seasonal and may change, so once the park gets popular maybe they will run the carousel every day.

Tickets are $1.50 for all riders 1 year of age and older. Riders 12 months and younger are free with a paying adult. Ticket sales close 10 minutes prior to closing.

Community Center

The community center was closed at the time of our visit, but it also contains the following amenities:

• Sports gymnasium
• fitness room
• locker rooms
• rooms for rent
• Lounge with conversational seating featuring David Wilson’s “Chavis Reclaimed” artwork glass collage
• Outdoor Balcony with spectacular views for the downtown Raleigh skyline and plaza
• Youth Lounge with comfortable seating and gaming stations
• Bathrooms including a family restroom with a baby changing table and handicap accessible shower

Check Raleigh Reclink for available classes and programs at the center.