Union County is lucky to have so many great parks and playgrounds for kids. My kids have swung, spun, and raced through many of them ... and definitely have their favorites! Now that the weather is getting cooler and we can be outside without getting heat stroke, it's time to explore and play.
Here’s a list of our family’s top five favorite parks and playgrounds and the reasons we love them:
Cane Creek Park
Location: 5213 Harkey Rd, Waxhaw
Features: fishing, boating, hiking, picnic areas, canoe and rowboat rentals, ball fields, playgrounds, disc golf, and mountain bike and horse trails. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-site.
What my kids love: So much to do and see with the lake, trails and playgrounds. In the summer, there's a beach you can play at, too!
What I love: It reminds me of home - growing up on the water and having access to the lake just makes me feel calm.
Crooked Creek Park
Location: 5900 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail
Features: playgrounds, splash pad (closed for the season), disc golf, walking trials, ball fields, ADA Playground, shelters with restrooms and vending machines.
What my kids love: The zip-line and splash pad are their favorite things at this amazing park.
What I love: The younger children's area is mostly fenced in, so they cannot easily escape; there's tons of shade and plenty to keep active kids playing.
Stallings Municipal Park
Location: 340 Stallings Road, Stallings
Features: 3 playground areas (one of which is fenced in for the wee ones), 2 tennis courts, picnic areas, Shelters with restrooms, large band shell, and a walking trail with a boardwalk overlooking the wetland area.
What my kids love: The boys love the sandbox (what kids don't?) and the merry-go-round like apparatus best.
What I love: The younger children's area is fenced in; the large shelter is away from the chaos of the playgrounds and there are so many play areas from which my kids can choose.
Dogwood Park
Location: 121 Lester Davis Road, Waxhaw
Features: paved and unpaved trails, picnic/grill sites, handicapped accessible fishing pier, dog park (separate sections for small and large dogs), little free library, geo-caching, amphitheater, and portable restroom facilities
What my kids love: Walking the trails with our dogs
What I love: It's serene and great for family photos. Our dogs love the dog park(s); but children under 12 are not allowed inside those areas.
Marvin Efird Park
Location: 121 Lester Davis Road, Waxhaw
Features: "The Barn", community gardening, one-of-a-kind redwood playground, restroom facilities, picnic areas, meadow and natural groomed walking trails
What my kids love: the redwood playground is pretty awesome and they are huge fans of the tire swings.
What I love: listening to my kids make up games in the playground "treehouse" structure - it is perfect to put their imaginations to work!
That’s our family’s top 5 list for favorite parks and playgrounds in Union County, but I bet your kids have their own favorites! Let me know what’s on your family’s list for Union County’s best parks and playgrounds by leaving me a note on Facebook or emailing me at rachaelw@macaronikid.com. I’ll be doing more Union County playground and park reviews in the future, so I would love to have your input!
