Sassafras: All Children's Playground

Laurel Hills Park was once commonly referred to generically as “the wooden park” by many in the Triangle. It was a fun and popular destination for parents and nannies alike, but sadly outdated, and inaccessible to many children in our community. After much planning involving a wonderful mom and an active community group, years of construction and hours of volunteer work, the Sassafras All Children's Playground is fully open and a new favorite destination of the next generation of little ones.[caption id="attachment_1076" align="aligncenter" width="492"]

The colorful sign welcomes all with its mantra: "Swing and slide and giggle and glide."[/caption]The base of the play area is a super squishy rubber mat that is soft enough to gently break a fall, but firm enough that strollers, wheelchairs and walkers can move across it with more ease than a sandy or mulch base. This colorful base also provides a wonderful, easy-to-see boundary for kids as they are running around and exploring, which as a nanny I love, since the park is not currently bordered by a fence.

The two, super fun, 50-foot zip-lines are a huge hit, and on busy days kiddos will be standing in line (fairly) patiently, waiting to take their turn. One of the zip lines features a chair with a harness for youngsters who might need more support.

There are a variety of challenging activities that encourage kids to work upper and lower-body strength, stamina, and balance. Adults also have ease-of-access to their kiddos just in case a helping hand is needed.[caption id="attachment_1094" align="aligncenter" width="273"]

There are endless ways to climb at Sassafras![/caption][caption id="attachment_1096" align="aligncenter" width="386"]

Lots of challenging equipment for both balance and eye/hand coordination.[/caption][caption id="attachment_1104" align="aligncenter" width="386"]

Kids use this roller walkway in the most creative ways![/caption][caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="492"]

Best. Slide. Ever.[/caption]Another great addition to this playground are several (covered--hallelujah!) benches in both high and low spots for snacking or eagle-eye monitoring.

Ramp accessibility is part of the beauty of Sassafras, including the Sway Fun, a wheelchair accessible teeter-totter experience.

But of course, that is not the only beauty at this wonderful park. It is simply an aesthetically pleasing design. The paved walkway leads down to the small pond where visitors can sometimes see turtles, small fish, and tadpoles. There is a boardwalk as well, but keep in mind there aren’t any side rails for little ones.In addition to the outdoor and indoor facilities, there is a changing station downstairs in the community center.

Upcoming adventures:

Family Nature Night! While these happen monthly on every first Thursday, on March 2nd they will be celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss with an evening focusing on: The Lorax Speaks for the Trees! They will be creating their very own Truffula trees. Adults need to preregister for this event that takes place from 7:00-8:00 p.m.Eggcellent Adventures! On Thursday, March 14^th preschoolers aged 2-6 can find out what’s in an egg. Stories, songs, games and crafts await your little learner. Call (919) 996-6856 to preregister.To view a complete list of events and programs, check out parks.raleighnc.gov.Leanne Powell, 2017