Harold D. Ritter Park

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301 Lochmere Drive West

Sign for Harold D. Ritter Park in Cary, set against a backdrop of trees and foliage. The sign is blue and green, creating a welcoming park entrance.

A favorite for families, Harold D. Ritter Park features multiple slides, a sky wheel climber, a climbing wall, a sand area with a small playhouse, and sand diggers. Other highlights include two spring rider toys and a scrambler whirl, as well as sports fields and courts, and a picnic shelter.

Both younger and older kids enjoy the complex play area, and visitors can appreciate the hiking trails of Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and greenway trails located within easy walking distance.

Please see the table below for the current status of park facilities.

Basketball Court	Open - First Come, First Served.
Baseball/Softball Field	Open - First Come, First Served, Unless Reserved.
Picnic Shelter	Rotary Shelter is available by reservation.
Playground	Open
Climbing Wall	Open
Sand Area	Open
Restrooms	Open

Features

Two baseball/softball fields
One basketball slab
Playground
Picnic shelter
Picnic tables
Restrooms
Climbing wall
Sand area

Directions

Google Maps directions to Harold D. Ritter Park

Park Hours of Operation

Sunrise to Sunset. In lighted areas where visitors are participating in an approved extended-use activity, hours are extended until 30 minutes after the activity ends or 11 p.m., whichever comes first.

History and Naming

Elderly man with white hair, glasses, wearing a black suit, red tie, and white shirt on a blue background, exuding a warm, dignified presence. Harold Dean Ritter (b. 1933 – d. 2022) was a former Cary Mayor and Councilmember and veteran. This park is named after a former Mayor and Councilmember, Harold D. Ritter. During the 1970’s, Ritter became interested in Cary’s development and appearance. He served as the first Chairman of Cary’s Appearance Commission and was awarded Citizen of the Year in 1971.

He was elected to the City Council in 1973 as an at-large candidate. He worked with Council members and Mayor Fred Bond as Mayor Pro Tem to develop a comprehensive growth plan for Cary. The Council developed progressive policies to guide the Town's development, including establishing a greenway system, preserving the tree canopy, expanding recreation facilities, and designing a more responsive public engagement process.

Ritter was elected Mayor of Cary in 1983 and served for four years. Under his leadership, Cary helped preserve the Page-Walker Hotel, which is now an Arts and History Center; brokered a public-private partnership to conserve Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve; built the Herbert C. Young Community Center; and started several traditions such as the Cary Christmas tree. Ritter also served the State of North Carolina and was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by all three of the governors under whom he served.