Best Playgrounds For Kids in Atlanta? (Smyrna, Dunwoody: neighborhood, middle school, design)

[globalnomad]

Our son is studying design technology. He needs to go around Atlanta, photograph at least four well designed playgrounds, and then design his own playground (first on computer and then build a model to scale).

As we're relative newcomers, do you have there any suggestions on where we might go to find some well designed, fun playgrounds (inside the perimeter, hopefully).

They can be indoor or outdoor facilities.

Thanks for your suggestions (or those recommended by your kids!).

[netdragon]

Too bad for the ITP restriction. You could fulfill the requirement for playgrounds in Smyrna alone (such as right by Campbell High). I think I've seen some pretty good playgrounds along Northside Drive and W. Paces Ferry ITP and I believe Grant Park also has some playgrounds. You may want to choose time no kids are playing or parents may get nervous :-)

[VirtualM]

Personally, I love the John Howell park playground in the Virginia-Highlands area. It's on Virginia Ave across the street from Inman Middle School. It's always packed and kids seem to love it. Another good one is the newly-installed playground at Piedmont Park by the swimming pool. It's an accessible playground, which means that it's really user-friendly and designed for kids of all ages and ability levels.

[sweettea1]

1. John Howell Park (Virginia Highland) has very unique playscape
2. Brook Run Park (North Peachtree Street in Dunwoody)
3. Newly designed playground at Piedmont Park

[lastminutemom]

I third John Howell Park.

If you hit Brook Run in Dunwoody, you can first stop at Chesnut Charter School (also on N. Peachtree in Dunwoody) which has a new playground built with help from KABOOM. If your son wants lots of information about playgrounds and playground design, be sure and check out http://www.kaboom.org -- a great website about building playgrounds. Chesnut's playground is tucked away in a corner of the campus, but a friend helped build it and said it is awesome.

Coralwood School (which is on Coralwood Dr. near Lakeside High School) has an accessible playground also built with help from KABOOM. Coralwood serves a special needs population so that could be interesting.

[globalnomad]

Thanks for your suggestions!

We'll head out to these recommended playgrounds so our son can snap some photos of the playground equipment for his school project.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Check out the playground at Candler Park (the actual park, not the neighborhood!) and also the one behind Mary Lin Elementary, which is across the street from Candler Park.

Both are nice. Both always have lots and lots of kids when the weather is nice. Mary Lin's is pretty much open to the public during daylight hours. Nice playground provided by the school wonderful PTA (yes, that was a boast )

[MiriL]

Definitely John Howell park. Also, there are some good (and unusual) playgrounds in Inman Park.

[davesm]

Since your son is a design student he would definitly be interested in Piedmont Park's playground. The playground was designed by famed midcentury designer/scuptor Isamu Nocuchi and is called "Playscapes". It is an unusual playground that is as much art as it is meant to be played on.

[chasjr]

Some Atlanta playgrounds with pictures:

http://searchingatlanta.com/blog/200...s-for-children