Let’s face it: we’ve all had to modify our lives since COVID’s arrival in early 2020. We’ve successfully moved many indoor activities outdoors, and chess is no exception. Here in North Carolina, the winters are mild enough for folks to play outdoor chess year-round, making it a safe and fun option for everyone.
If you’re looking to get a game going on an outdoor board, here are some safe spaces from west to east in NC that you can “check” out:
Pritchard Park, Asheville – stone tables, bring your own pieces
Winston Square Park, Winston-Salem – metal table, bring your own pieces
NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill – giant chess set
Church Street Park, Morrisville – concrete chess tables, bring your own pieces
Playtime in the Park, Downtown Park, Cary – chess table, bring your own pieces
Fayetteville Street, Raleigh – stone chess tables, bring your own pieces
Moore Square Park, Raleigh – view the Moore Square Programs and Events Calendar and look for the regularly scheduled 10am – 5pm “Game On!” events which include giant and regular chess
Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh – giant chess inside museum, admission required
Artsplosure, Raleigh – giant chess set provided by Moncure Chessworks
Sheppard Memorial Library, Greenville – keys to the giant chess set are available at the library front desk
There is also a chess park proposed for Mebane.
Please let us know about any other outdoor chess spaces in NC, and we’ll update this article.
Indermaur Chess Foundation 
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