Two accessible playgrounds, a free sprayground, story times, a TRACK Trail at Joyner Park and rainy-day picks for kids in Wake Forest, NC.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Town of Wake Forest’s parks department, the Wake County Public Libraries and each business’s own site. Town parks are free and open daily from dawn to dusk.

For young kids in Wake Forest, start with the town’s two fully accessible playgrounds, at Holding Park and Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, and the free sprayground at Wiggins Park in summer. On wet days, the Wake Forest Community Library is open until 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Seasonal events are on our Halloween, Easter and holiday lights pages.

Who to call

  • Parks, camps and classes: Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, 919-435-9560
  • Wake Forest Community Library: 919-554-8498, 400 E. Holding Ave.
  • Flaherty Park Community Center: 919-554-6726

Playgrounds

Playground Where Good for
Holding Park Inclusive Playground Holding Park, home of the town pool Fully ramped, sensory play, group swings, fenced
Joey McCrea Wiggins Park 416 N. Taylor St. Police-themed accessible playground, sprayground, fenced
Kiwanis Park 400 E. Holding Ave., next to the library Playground with pieces for children with special needs, picnic shelter
Tyler Run Park 830 Pineview Drive Playground for ages 2 to 5
E. Carroll Joyner Park 701 Harris Road 3 miles of paved trails, TRACK Trail, open lawns

Holding Park Inclusive Playground opened March 2, 2024, with fully ramped structures, a rubber surface, a perimeter fence, outdoor musical instruments, a “Serenity Spot” for quiet play and a disc swing a whole group can ride together, according to the town’s Holding Park page.

Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, formerly Taylor Street Park, reopened June 13, 2026, with a new accessible playground. The Wake Forest Police Department paid $200,000 toward it, so the equipment includes a custom police car, a police station playhouse, a sign language panel and a panel in Braille, the town’s park page says.

Splash pad and pool

  • Sprayground at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park: free, zero-depth water play with jets, a water arch, a tot mister and a bucket trio. Press the button on the orange pole for four-minute cycles. In season, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; closed for 2026 on Sept. 20.
  • Holding Park Aquatic Center: the town pool, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with a children’s pool and two slides (riders 44 inches and up). Prices and booking on our summer camps and pools page.

Outdoors and nature

  • Kids in Parks TRACK Trail at Joyner Park: self-guided, brochure-led adventures. Kids who register their hikes on the Kids in Parks site earn prizes, the town’s TRACK Trails page says.
  • StoryWalk in the Park, every April at Joyner Park: pages of a picture book are posted along the trails. In 2026 it was “A Celebration of You” by Josh Funk, with Page 158 Books as sponsor.
  • Fishing: two ponds at Flaherty Park, 1100 N. White St. Swimming in ponds is not allowed.
  • Children under 16 must wear a helmet to bike, skate or scoot on town trails, the park rules say.

Story time and books

  • Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E. Holding Ave., part of Wake County Public Libraries. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Story times are on the county’s events calendar.
  • Page 158 Books, 415B S. Brooks St., typically holds story time at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, according to the town’s family fun itinerary; check the store’s events page.

Rainy-day picks

  • Strike & Barrel, 413 Brooks St.: bowling, duckpin bowling and arcade games, open from 11 a.m. daily.
  • The Makery, 317 E. Roosevelt Ave.: craft classes, including kid-friendly ones.
  • Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.: family shows and art classes. Firebox Theatre’s “Little Women” runs Dec. 11-13.
  • Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St.
  • Magpie and Crow, 145 Wait Ave., for vintage toys and comic books, and the NC General Store downtown for old-fashioned candy, the town’s family itinerary suggests.

Treats

Plant Cakes Bake Shop, 410 S. White St., for vegan doughnuts, and Lumpy’s Ice Cream, 216 E. Roosevelt Ave., for homemade ice cream, both on the town’s downtown dining map.

Related: free things to do, parks and trails, spring break and dog-friendly Wake Forest.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best playground in Wake Forest?

The town has two fully accessible playgrounds: the Holding Park Inclusive Playground, opened in 2024, and the police-themed playground at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, 416 N. Taylor St., opened in 2026. Both are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Is there a splash pad in Wake Forest?

Yes. The free sprayground at Joey McCrea Wiggins Park, 416 N. Taylor St., runs in season from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. It closed for 2026 on Sept. 20.

Where is story time in Wake Forest?

The Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E. Holding Ave., holds story times listed on Wake County’s events calendar, and Page 158 Books downtown typically holds story time at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

What can kids do in Wake Forest on a rainy day?

Try the Wake Forest Community Library, open until 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, bowling and arcade games at Strike & Barrel, a family show at the Renaissance Centre or a craft class at The Makery.