Village Park in Kannapolis NC Has Playground, Splash Pad, Train, and More

Village Park Playground in Kannapolis NC © Katrena

Village Park, located in Kannapolis, NC at 700 West C Street, has a fun assortment of activities for the kids all year. My family can easily spend hours at this park simply playing in the playground. Admission into the park is free with very reasonable fees for the extra activities.

Village Park Playground

I've been impressed with this playground every time we have visited this park. With three kids ranging in age from 10 to 4, it can be a bit challenging to find one area where everyone is having fun, but this place definitely fits the bill. Several sets of swings connect two large play areas with a variety of slides and climbing opportunities. I have two climbers. I had to put the chairs on top of the kitchen table when they were smaller. Now they have learned how to shimmy up the door facings and I tend to have footprints on my kitchen counters. Parents of climbers, I feel for ya!

Great Inexpensive Places to Play in North Carolina © Katrena

This playground also offers challenges for quite a variety of abilities. The kids can sit and rock back and forth in the play vehicles and animals or they can attack the three twisting handles that are much more difficult than your average monkey bars. Parents who wish to sit and watch will be glad to know that there are several benches in the shade. One of my favorite parts of the playground is that the train track comes nearby, so you can enjoy watching groups riding by on the Rotary Express.

Fun Climbing Wall at Village Park © Katrena

The Rotary Express - Kannapolis Train at Village Park

The Kannapolis train, named the Rotary Express, is modeled after an authentic CP Huntington and is number 262 out of 320 hand-crafted g-24 scale replicas. The train was transferred to Kannapolis from the New Orleans, LA area two weeks before Hurricane Katrina devastated that area. We have ridden the train several times, and I have been particularly impressed with the friendliness and dedication of the gentlemen who have braved some pretty cold nights with a smile and fun personality!

Train Ride at Village Park in Kannapolis © Katrena

Riding the train costs $1.00 ($2.00 for the Christmas train ride) per person, and discount punch cards, group rates, and season passes are also available. The train runs on weekends only during Spring and Fall and daily during the summer months. The train can accommodate a wheelchair near the front.

Kannapolis Village Splash Pad

If the kids want to get wet on a hot summer day, a splash pad can be loads of fun. This splash pad offers two play areas, one for kids aged 5 and under and one for those aged 6-12. There are many opportunities to get sprayed, splashed, and have water poured on you in this play area.

Kannapolis Village Park Splash Pad © Katrena

Splash pad admission is $1.00 and adults who are simply chaperoning can get in for free. Hours for the splash pad are similar to those of the train. Bathroom facilities are located here as well as on the far side of the train station.

Shelters and Concessions

The Village Park building, near the front parking lot, sells concessions. The park has several different sized shelters with lights, electricity, and grills available for rent. The walkways are paved and tend to have gentle slopes.

Swings, Slides, and Splashes at Village Park © Katrena

Nearby Indoor Family-friendly Opportunities

The park is beside Cannon Memorial YMCA. Some folks park at the Y parking lot in order to get into Village Park. Many Ys offer an A.W.A.Y. program in which members of one Y may be granted free or reduced admission at another Y, so this can be a great opportunity to try another facility and add to the fun. The Gem Theater, one of the oldest single-movie theaters still in operation, has a huge balcony that my kids love and is only a few blocks away. This theater was originally built in 1936 and then re-built in 1948 after a fire destroyed the first building.

Train Ride in Kannapolis North Carolina © Katrena

Village Park in Kannapolis Ranks High on My Kids' Fun List

Looking for a fun way to spend the day with the kids without spending a lot of money? Village Park in Kannapolis has a large playground, splash pad, and train ride. Check out the Village Park official web site for hours, prices, and additional details. My family enjoys combining this trip with a visit to the Gem Theatre, which is rich in history and located very near this park. Here is the 2015 schedule of $1.00 summer movies at Gem Theatre.

Two other great kid-friendly places fairly nearby are the Carolina Raptor Center and Lazy 5 Ranch. Find more fun places in North Carolina at the Travel NC With Kids site map.