The Town of Cary boasts a wide variety of parks and natural areas, more than 30 in all, with a total of 2,688 acres. At the parks you’ll find playgrounds, a sprayground, playing fields, a boat launch, a community garden and much more.
The parks host children’s activities, live music, fitness classes, movies and more. Most activities and events are free.
Below, learn a little bit about just a few of the parks, and then scroll down for information on some of the upcoming activities in Cary parks this summer.
Make sure to visit Town of Cary’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Enjoyment website to see a complete listing of parks, and Town of Cary’s calendar to see a list of what’s coming up.
Some of Cary’s parks
Fred G. Bond Metro Park
Fred G. Bond Metro Park
801 High House Road
Bond Park is the largest park in Cary. It features a boathouse, where you can rent a pedal boat, sunfish, kayak, row boat or canoe to take out on Bond Lake. Another feature is the Sertoma Amphitheatre, a spot for enjoying live music. In addition there’s a challenge course, playgrounds, walking trails and lot more. The Bond Park Community Center and Cary Senior Center are within the park’s boundaries as well.
Downtown Park
319 S. Academy Street
The centerpiece of Downtown Park is the stunning fountain, which features a light show every night. The “Town Square” portion of the park, where the fountain can be found, is a gathering spot and offers space for musical performances, games and public art. Play foosball, bocce, table tennis, chess or checkers at Downtown Park. Downtown Park is across from the Cary Arts Center.
Jack Smith Park
Jack Smith Park
9725 Penny Road
The 50-acre Jack Smith Park is on the site of the former Bartley family farm. It features a playground, a sprayground, a dog park, and a 10-foot tall climbing boulder.
Carpenter Park
4420 Louis Stephens Drive
Carpenter Park, a 16-acre neighborhood park, has a playground, basketball courts, walking trails and a picnic shelter, but also features a couple of unique features: pickleball courts and a community garden.
Learn about all of Cary’s parks and natural areas.
Upcoming events at Cary’s parks
Here are just a few of the events coming up:
Cary’s Pop-Up in the Park
The Town of Cary’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department is bringing a free program, Pop-Up in the Park, to different parks each month this summer.
Friday, May 25th
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Sears Farm Road Park
5077 Sears Farm Rd, Cary
Family friendly activities, plus demos by the Cary Skate Park, Sk8-Cary
Friday, June 15th
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Marla Dorrel Park
111 Thurston Dr, Cary
Family friendly activities, including a Kidokinetics class and a craft
Saturday, July 21
10 a.m.-noon
Jack Smith Park
9725 Penny Rd, Raleigh
Family friendly activities, including the themes of recreation, nature, and drama
Monday, August 20
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Carpenter Park
4420 Louis Stephens Dr, Cary
Family friendly activities, plus demos by the Cary Skate Park, Sk8-Cary
Sertoma Concert Series
Sertoma Concert Series is a free concert series in Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park. There are some seats, so if you want one, come early. Or bring your own lawn chair. The concerts take place on the second Saturday of the month, from May to August, 2018. They start at 7 p.m.
Here’s the schedule for 2018. Learn about each of these artists.
May 12: The Monitors
June 9: Wood Robinson’s New Formal
July 14: All-Nite Public Radio
August 11: Shana Tucker
Bands, Boats and Bites at Bond Park
One Friday a month, From April to October, the Bond Park Boathouse plays host to musicians, food trucks and after-hours boat rentals. This is the second year for Bands, Bites and Boats, and this year they’ve added “brew” to the mix. Each month they’ll features beer from a local brewery.
Enjoy the music while floating on the lake, or bring a lawn chair and enjoy it on land.
The remaining 2018 schedule:
Friday, May 4 | 5-8 p.m. | Free
Music: Cody Daniel (6 p.m.)
Food: The Humble Pig
Brew: Fortnight
Friday, June 1 | 6-8 p.m. | Free
Music: Classic Rock/Variety Garland Mason (6 p.m.)
Food: Chirba Chirba Dumpling
Brew: Bond Brothers
Friday, July 6 | 6-8 p.m. | Free
Music: Chris Overstreet (6 p.m.)
Food: Moonrunners & Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Brew: Southern Peak
Friday, August 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Free
Music: Pop/Country Kaylin Roberson (6 p.m.)
Food: Cousins Maine Lobster
Brew: Bond Brothers
Friday, September 7 | 5-7 p.m. | Free
Music: Flamenco/Rock Ed Stephenson (5:30 p.m.)
Food: Napoli Pizza
Brew: Brueprint
Friday, October 5 | 4-7 p.m. | Free
Music: My Cousin Skinny (5 p.m.)
Food: Stuft
Brew: Fortnight
Bond Park Lakeside Movies
Come out to Bond Park and enjoy a free movie by the lake with your family. The boathouse will be open for you to take a boat out on the lake while you wait for the sun to set. The movie will play at dusk.
May 18: Jumanji (1995)
September 21: TBD
October 19: TBD
Park After Dark
This free concert series at Downtown Park will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select Wednesdays. In addition to the music there will be food trucks and local vendors.
June 27: Sidecar Social Club
July 11: TBD
August 8: TBD
September 12: TBD
Cary Live
This free music series, also at Downtown Park, takes place on select Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Food and drink will be available from vendors.
June 30: The Brevet
July 21: TBD
September 22: TBD
