Kelly Glen Park

Kelly Glen Park in Apex was absolutely empty, and I know at least one big reason why. It smelled horrible. It is situated adjacent to a brick building that was emitting some nasty smells. Not a soul joined us at the park, either. So I'm sure I'm not alone in this opinion.

It was pretty boring - just a little playground, a shelter and a little space for running around. It was clean enough, but not spectacular. I wasn't impressed at all, and I begged my girls to leave because the smell was starting to make me feel sick. Then, when we got in the car, my 3-year-old said she wasn't feeling well. It went away as quickly as we drove away from the smell.


I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this one. Kelly Road Park (Kidstowne) is a few blocks (if that) away from this park. Just go there. If you live in the Kelly Glen subdivision I could see the draw occasionally, but this park was not for me. I won't return.

1701 Kelly Glen Lane
Apex, NC


HIGHLIGHTS: We had the park to ourselves, there was a shelter, it seemed well maintained.

LOW LIGHTS: It smelled so bad, there wasn't much to do, the swings were baby swings only, the website said this was a 2-acre park (I don't think so) and there was no grill (website said there was a grill). And an empty park is nice every once in a while, but we were so bored and there was no one to distract the girls. 

COST: Free!

Kids Towne: Never heard of it

Due to construction of 540 through Apex, I came across a park off of Kelly Road - appropriately named Kelly Road Park. I was surprised, however, at this spectacular play area I discovered called Kids Towne. (Mommy triumph: my best mom friends new nothing about it).

You walk up and it looks like you're approaching a castle. There is a tire swing, regular swings, slides and all the other standard park accessories. It was the (I don't even know how to describe it) zip-line like thing that my 3-year old managed to work. There was a little boat with a hand-painted dolphin on the side, seats and a steering wheel - my kids screeched when they saw it. There were sandboxes (yes, more than 1), bridges, rope walks, monkey bars ... it was incredible! What's more, I met a woman with her granddaughter who said it was built by volunteers (adults and kids), and there are more like it throughout the area. It turns out, also, she was one of the many volunteers. What a great park!!

It's located behind Olive Chapel Elementary.

Kelly Road Park
1609 Kelly Road
Apex, NC

HIGHLIGHTS: Wow, there are so many - a 25-acre park with tennis courts, Kids Towne, softball field, shelter (with sumwhat clean bathrooms).

LOW LIGHTS: This was the only drawback I saw - it's right behind the school so when the school let out, the after school programs brought probably 100 kids there. My little ones got lost in all the bigger, school-age kids, so we had to leave. But before school lets out, this wouldn't be an issue.

COST: Free!