City Parks in Atlanta or suburbs (Decatur, Stone Mountain: houses, neighborhoods, construction)

[hajenkatt]

We are thinking about relocating from the metro-D.C. area back to Atlanta. The area we live in has lots of public parks with play equipment for children, bike paths, etc. Are there any neighborhoods in and around Atlanta that actually have public parks in the neighborhoods for families to walk to and use (as opposed to one rec center for the whole of the city)?

[BobKovacs]

There are lots of parks, both in the city of Atlanta and in the suburbs. If you wind up in the burbs, many of the newer subdivisions also have their own clubhouses, pools, tennis courts and playgrounds for use by their residents. There is also a fairly extensive bunch of bike trails around the metro area, though some often complain that there should be more trails and parks in an area the size of metro Atlanta.

[George Chong]

Here is a list of City of Atlanta parks City of Atlanta Online (http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/parks/burparks_parklocations.aspx - broken link)

If you scroll down on this list, you will see parks listed by facilities City of Atlanta Online (http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/parks/bureau_of_parks091703.aspx?section=Bureau%20of%20P arks - broken link)

[TakeAhike]

There are a number of parks in the Intown area which includes the Freedom Park/Path.

http://www.freedompark.org/

[gumboula]

If you are looking ITP, it really seems to me that the cities (City of Decatur and Atlanta proper) have the edge over unincorporated county neighborhoods when it comes to parks with play areas for kids. My slightly edgy little intown neighborhood has three parks, two with great playgrounds. I can think of six playgrounds within an easy walk or bike ride from my house. The ITP, 1960s era suburbs all have homes with yards big enough for play equipment, but few public playgrounds. Of course those neighborhoods have neighborhood pools, which would be nice.

[blondandfun]

I've never been but I think Chastain park is more kid-friendly than Piedmont park. check it out.

[IntownHomes247]

The Virginia-Highland/Morningside neighborhood and the City of Decatur both have particularly good parks.

George provided the link to Atlanta Parks. Here's a link to City of Decatur's parks:

Decatur's City Parks

I have also created a special parks section on my atlanta-midtown.com web site that has detail pages for many of the intown parks:

atlanta-midtown.com | Guide to Intown Atlanta Parks

It's a bit out of date and doesn't show nearly all the parks, but it should give you a sense of what some of the parks look like.

Also, Atlanta has The PATH - an urban trail used by runners, cyclists, etc. Find out more about it at:

http://www.pathfoundation.org

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by gumboula

If you are looking ITP, it really seems to me that the cities (City of Decatur and Atlanta proper) have the edge over unincorporated county neighborhoods when it comes to parks with play areas for kids. My slightly edgy little intown neighborhood has three parks, two with great playgrounds. I can think of six playgrounds within an easy walk or bike ride from my house. The ITP, 1960s era suburbs all have homes with yards big enough for play equipment, but few public playgrounds. Of course those neighborhoods have neighborhood pools, which would be nice.

I agree. That park on the corner of Northern Avenue and Nelson Ferry Rd. in downtown Decatur is always crazy busy and loaded with equipment. I've never seen busier playgrounds and parks as the ones here. And BTW, the newly refurbished Glenlake Park pool and poolhouse in Decatur is fabulous!

[cmtiger]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I agree. That park on the corner of Northern Avenue and Nelson Ferry Rd. in downtown Decatur is always crazy busy and loaded with equipment. I've never seen busier playgrounds and parks as the ones here. And BTW, the newly refurbished Glenlake Park pool and poolhouse in Decatur is fabulous!

There are three parks with playgrounds in Oakhurst (south part of City of Decatur) - Medlock Park (also includes a pool that is very young child friendly, a baseball field and a skateboard park), Oakhurst Park (includes baseball and tennis), and Mead Park (playground and field - adjacent Oakhurst Elementary uses it for their playground). We also have a very popular dog park near Oakhurst Park.

A bike path runs through the center of Decatur and heads east to Stone Mountain.

[masonbarge]

There's a very nice park right smack in the south end of Buckhead -- Atlanta Memorial Park -- that include a golf course, clay tennis courts, a long PATH segment under construction, a large field where dogs can be unleashed, some general park area, and a pretty nice playground. These are all called different names (Bobby Jones, Bitsy Grant, Tanyard Creek Park, Ardmore Park) but they are actually just place names for parts of Atlanta Memorial Park.