Dorothy D. Gilmore Adaptive Recreation Center Playground
Fayetteville, NC
Adaptive recreation playground in Fayetteville with an inclusive redesign, sensory play goals, rubberized surfacing, nearby restrooms, and a seasonal splash pad at the same facility.
Editorial notes
What stands out
Among public options in the Sandhills, this is one of the clearest purpose-built adaptive play spaces, with better-than-average support for mobility access and sensory-friendly play goals.
Know Before You Go
- Weather
- Outdoor playground and splash area; plan around heat and seasonal weather.
- Bring
- Water and sun protection
- Bring
- A change of clothes or towel in splash-pad season
- Bring
- Mobility or sensory supports your child already uses comfortably
What to Expect
Play profile
- Toddlers
- Preschoolers
- Big kids
- Mixed ages
Visit amenities
- Restrooms nearby
- Parking
- Limited shade
- Visit type
- Purposeful local stop rather than a sprawling destination park.
Read more about this location
Dorothy D. Gilmore Adaptive Recreation Center is Fayetteville's adaptive recreation hub, and the playground was rebuilt with accessible, inclusive equipment intended to support sensory exploration, physical challenge, and social play for children of all abilities. Official city materials note a rubber-filled play surface and the city's first ground-flush accessible whirl feature sized to accommodate wheelchair users, plus an aero glider for cooperative movement. Families also benefit from on-site restrooms and a seasonal splash pad, making this one of the area's strongest public options for an accessibility-minded outing.
Hours & Admission
Posted hours
Check posted weekly hours
View full weekly hours
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Based on posted weekly hours. Holidays, private events, seasonal schedules, and special closures may differ.
Admission
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Admission | Playground access is free. |
Admission details can change. Confirm current fees before visiting.
Accessibility
Summary
Official city materials describe the playground as accessible and inclusive, designed for children of all abilities.
Restrooms
Restrooms are listed on the official facility snapshot.
Known Features
Ground-flush accessible whirl feature
Known Features
Rubber-filled play surface over stone base
Known Features
Sensory exploration elements
Known Features
Aero glider for cooperative movement
Known Features
Accessible routes through a recreation-center setting
Considerations
The city clearly states the redesign is accessible and inclusive, but not every individual play element is enumerated on the public page.
These details summarize published sources and dated reports. They are not an ADA inspection or an individualized accessibility assessment.
Location
1600 Purdue Drive
Fayetteville, NC, 28304
Other options nearby
Reid's Journey Inclusive Playground
Inclusive public playground inside Hope Mills Municipal Park with ADA-oriented access, a Liberty Swing, nearby restrooms, trails, courts, picnic shelters, and other park amenities.
Sources & Updates
2 public sources on record · Last checked Apr 11, 2026. Time-sensitive details may have changed.
View source and update details
- Last check on record
- Apr 11, 2026
- Sources reviewed
- 2 public sources
Public sources
- City of Fayetteville facility pagefayettevillenc.gov
Confirmed location, contact information, facility snapshot, and operating hours.
Checked: name, address, phone, hours, restrooms, splash pad
- City of Fayetteville media releasefayettevillenc.gov
Confirmed the inclusive playground reconstruction details published in 2025.
Checked: inclusive redesign, accessible whirl feature, aero glider, rubber-filled surface, sensory exploration focus, project renderings
What changed
April 11, 2026
Created listing from official City of Fayetteville facility and project pages.
Accessibility details reflect available public information and dated reports, not an ADA inspection.