Doc Manget Memorial Aviation Park (Chamblee)

Commonly known as “The Airport Park” or “PDK Park”, Doc Manget Memorial Aviation Park is located at Dekalb Peachtree Airport with the exact address being 2000 Airport Rd, Atlanta GA 30341.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Overview: If you or your child are fascinated by planes, then look no further than the playground at PDK. We very much enjoyed riding on the swings and watching private planes take off and land on the nearby runway. The sound of the propellers and the radio chatter from the tower above make this place a real treat. There is a small playground here and there are two nearby restaurants that face the tarmac so you can have a bite to eat and watch the planes.

The playground itself is rather small – with one simple slide, three climbing walls, monkey bars, a couple of map activities and a microphone like toy. There are two infant swings and two belt swings that overlook the runway.  This is a popular park and people travel from all over the area to come see it.

There is a covered pavilion nearby in the shape of a hanger with several picnic tables as well as a uncovered seating area to watch the planes take off and land.  You can reserve the hanger pavilion for parties as well.  There is a magnolia tree nearby with picnic tables beneath that also offers adequate shade.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Airport, with parking lot nearby. Watch your runners!

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible:  Yes

Ground Cover: Rubber mulch

Seating: Park benches and picnic tables, a seating area to watch planes as well

Pavilion: Yes

Restroom: Unsure

Direct Sun or Shade : Direct Sun

Fenced in? :  No

Infant Swings: Yes, 2. Can be very popular

Quality of Playground Equipment:  Good. In some areas, the wood is coming away though

Ball Fields: No

Overall:  We’re a plane loving family so we visit a lot. This playground is really popular and for good reason. Kids love watching planes take off and land. My son waved good-bye to every one. We haven’t visited the nearby restaurants but plan to soon!

Dearborn Park (Decatur)

Dearborn Park is located at 1310 Deerwood Drive, Decatur GA 30030. It is located in the Midway Woods neighborhood.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Overview: A true shady escape – Dearborn Park is just this. It is a dark, shady, quiet park with a babbling creek running through it. Imagine pushing your child on a swing with a view of lush green foliage and a picturesque creek in your direct view…that is Dearborn Park. One of the main draws to us to this park is the quiet and of course, the water. There are a few boardwalk bridges that overlook it as well.

This simple park features a small but functional playground. It has 3 slides, one small set of monkey bars and a few ladders. It is pretty basic. There is a set of 2 infant swings and 2 belt swings closer to the creek. There are a few pieces of outdoor exercise equipment, a basketball court and the creek. The creek is a little slippery in places (especially the rocks) so please be careful!

Parking: Street

Surrounding Area: Residential

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible:  For the most part, no. Swings definitely not.

Ground Cover: Wood chips

Seating: Park benches and picnic tables which are scattered around the park

Pavilion: Yes with a small grill

Restroom: No

Direct Sun or Shade : Very shady

Fenced in? :  No

Infant Swings: Yes, 2

Quality of Playground Equipment:  Good but small

Ball Fields: Yes, a basketball court which is super shady.

Overall:  We like this park because of the shade, the closeness to nature and of course, the natural water. When we visited we saw other children fishing for small fish and listening to bull frogs. There are a few picnic tables tucked into lush forest areas so it’d be a perfect spot for a quiet, private meal. There are paved and unpaved areas – great for walking dogs or the adventurous toddler. It’s a beautiful area.

Brook Run Park (Dunwoody)

Brook Run Park is located at 4770 N Peachtree Road, Dunwoody GA 30338.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Overview:  When most people suggest a really wonderful park or playground that their kids loved LOVED LOVED, Brook Run Park comes to mind. With one of the largest and most diverse playgrounds in the area, Brook Run Park is a standout favorite of ours. There is something here for everyone – swings, climbing walls, huge slides, monkey bars, and our favorite…shade! Other park features include a dog park, a Little Free Library, a skate park, garden and a long and shady PATH trail.

The playground at Brook Run Park is one of the largest in the area.  There is a dedicated area for children 2-5 which features two play structures with slides, blocks to turn, ladders and more. There are also 2 infant swings in this area – with a canopy overhead.  The playground area for children 5+ has many different areas that included an array of slides, climbing walls, monkey bars, and swings. Each area provides shade with a canopy. There are many different seating areas nearby as well.

Brook Run Park features has an area called TreeTop Quest which is an elevated course and zipline adventure. It features many ziplines, climbing obstacles and a net trampoline. This area is for children ages 4+.  You can find out more here

Brook Run Park also boasts a 27,000sqft fully lit skate park that is open from 7am to 9/10pm 7 days a week. Helmets are required. It has all kinds of areas so everyone from the amateur skater to the kid who knows a few tricks will have a blast. My husband ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the other skaters for a very long time. (He’s basically my second child)

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Residential with a few schools nearby

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes

Ground Cover: Padded

Seating: Park benches and picnic tables

Pavilion: Yes. Pavilions in the playground area are on a first come, first serve basis. Pavilions throughout the rest of the park can be rented.

Restroom: Yes. There are bathrooms in the playground area as  well as the skate park area.

Direct Sun or Shade : Shade. There is coverage from trees as well as canopies over the play equipment

Fenced in? :  No

Infant Swings: Yes, 2

Trails: PATH trail. It is a very long, shady, paved trail that’s great for long walks or stroller rides.

Quality of Playground Equipment:  Great

Overall: We have visited this park many times and it never ceases to amuse my 2 year old. I have yet to see the brook in the playground area with water but my son enjoys climbing on the rocks nonetheless. This is a great playground to test his new skills, relax in the swings in the shade or play hide and go seek in the area near the pavilion. This is a popular park and for good reason. We have been on weekdays, weekends and during festivals. This park never disappoints. There are many different festivals here including Food Truck Thursdays.

 

 

 

 

Zoo Atlanta Playground

The Zoo Atlanta playground is located within the zoo boundaries.  When entering the zoo, make a right and follow the path. The playground will be located on your right. It is located near the carousel, train ride and splash pad.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Overview: This playground is quite popular no matter what time of day you visit but especially so on weekends or when there is a field trip going on. The playground is fully fenced in and my runner of a son still found lots of interesting things to challenge himself with. We have a Zoo membership and find a trip to the playground is always fun for my son. When you combine the playground with a trip to the splashpad or carousel, he’s a happy camper.  Access to the splash pad is free once you enter the park. Access to the train and carousel, require additional payment.

This playground features slides, climbing walls, a school bus for imaginary play, signs with playtime animal activities on them, a tic tac toe game, and a teeter totter that can fit 4. There are no swings of any kind at this playground. There is a large climbing area in the rear of the playground that overlooks the train ride.

 

Parking:  Ample

Surrounding Area: Zoo, city

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes

Ground Cover: Wood chips

Seating: Benches

Pavilion: No

Pay to enter: Yes, playground is located within the zoo

Restroom: Yes, near entrance to zoo

Direct Sun or Shade : Somewhat shady

Fenced in? :  Yes

Infant Swings: No

Quality of Playground Equipment:  Good

Splashpad: Yes

Overall:  We thoroughly enjoy this park. My son can safely manage everything here including the spiral slide. Even on rainy days, this is still a popular area. Even it is full of older kids, it can feel a bit small. There is no grass at this playground either. While it is a bit small, we enjoy it but I think we visit mostly for the other zoo amenities.

Glenlake Park (Decatur)

Glenlake Park is located at 1121 Church Street, Decatur GA 30030. When you first enter, the pool and tennis courts will be on the left. If you follow the path on the left, it will lead to the playground and the rest of the park.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Overview:  Glenlake Park is located not far from the heart of Decatur. It is within close walking distance of the Decatur Cemetery, which is a beautiful and popular walking area. When you first enter Glenlake Park you notice the pool on your left which features a lot of covered areas from the sun. Next you’ll notice the tennis courts. You can find a restroom in the pool/tennis court area. If you follow the path and go over the bridge, it’ll lead into the playground and park area. Highlights of this park include – a little library, adult exercise equipment, basketball courts, a nice covered pavilion with grills, and a wonderful playground.

The playground equipment for children 2-5 features slides, climbing areas, music instruments and tubes to climb through. There are infant swings as well as belt swings. There is also a school bus for pretend play with seats, bells, and wheels.

The play equipment for children 5 and up features slides, a climbing wall, monkey bars and other climbing areas, and spinning cups and stands. We visited this park on a weekend morning and it was very crowded. Lots of younger children on the older children’s equipment.

The Glenlake Pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Residential, city

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes

Ground Cover: Wood chips

Seating: Park benches and picnic tables

Pavilion: Yes

Restroom: Yes, near tennis courts

Direct Sun or Shade : Somewhat shady

Fenced in? :  No

Infant Swings: Yes, 2

Quality of Playground Equipment:  Good

Ball Fields: Yes – soccer, tennis, basketball, etc.

Overall:  First impressions of this park were great. There were lots of nice families, grass looked very green and plush, and there seemed to be something for everyone. The playground equipment was in good condition and the park was bustling with people. My son had fun at first but got distracted when he saw a family playing with a basketball on the court. A tantrum ensued and we left but for the most part, we liked this park a lot and will be returning.

Stone Mountain Playground

Stone Mountain Playground is located inside of the Stone Mountain Park. To access this park, you will need to pay $15 to visit for the day or $40 to visit for the whole year.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Overview:  When you first see the playground at Stone Mountain, you notice all of the green and silver climbing structures and ropes. It’s like a giant spider web in one area and a tightrope in another. This park is a haven for every child climbing enthusiast. We visited on a Saturday morning – it was reasonably crowded and even parents were getting in on the climbing here. The park features a large playground with equipment for children aged 2-5 and equipment for children 5 and up. There are a few covered pavilions in the area, a restroom and water fountains.

The playground equipment for children 2-5 features slides, many climbing areas, and a few areas for imagination play. Please note, there are no swings here.

The play equipment for children 5 and up features a playground of ropes, ladders, climbing walls and slides. It seemed like every part of the playground area was climbable. This structure was fully shaded by trees. There were also these green teacup spinners in the area that were a favorite of children and parents alike.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Stone Mountain Park

Pay to Enter: Yes, $15 for daily pass to Stone Mountain Park, $40 for annual parking pass

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes somewhat

Ground Cover: Wood chips

Seating: Park benches and picnic tables

Pavilion: Yes

Restroom: Yes

Direct Sun or Shade : Very shady

Fenced in? :  YES. Perfectly enclosed.

Infant Swings: No

Quality of Playground Equipment: Very good

Ball Fields: No

Overall:  I wish our son was a little older to fully enjoy the beauty and complexity of this park. The other children we noticed who were 5 and up were enjoying themselves tremendously. There wasn’t a lot for my active 2 year old – especially with no swings – but we did enjoy ourselves a lot. If you get a yearly pass, it really pays for itself to visit more than a few times. This park was very shady and fenced in so it alleviated a lot of my worries.

Free Activities

We’re always looking for something budget friendly to do – especially during the day. Here’s some solutions we’ve come up with so far to keep us entertained! I will continue to add to this article as more ideas come to mind! Check back

• A trip to your local bookstore – we’re big fans of the Barnes and Noble at the Edgewood Retail Center in Atlanta.  The exact address is 1250 Caroline Street, Atlanta GA 30307. We love this particular store because it has a dedicated children’s area, a train table and it’s within walking distance of Petco. Some bookstores even have their own story times.
• A trip to your local pet store – Trips to pet stores with animals are always fun for children – especially if you can interact with the animals. Although children over a certain age may think this is a trip to get a new pet. Uh-oh.
• Going for Hikes or nature walks – Going for a hike or a nature walk with a new walker sounds like a daunting challenge but it’s actually really a ton of fun. If you go for walks with a group called Hike It Baby, it’s even more fun. There are chapters in different areas of the city with hikes in many of the different parks. Some hikes are short, some are day-trips and some are toddler-led. Many of the hikes can be taken with a baby in a carrier which makes it a great escape for the parents too. You can learn more about Hike It Baby here.
• Splashpads – A great way to cool off in the summer are splashpads. There are many splashpads located throughout the Atlanta area with new ones being constructed as well. Access to Splashpads are usually free (the splashpad at the zoo, for instance, requires a fee) and usually located within a park. That’s a two for one!
• Children’s Museum of Atlanta – On the second Tuesday of every month, the Children’s Museum admission is free from 1pm – 6pm.  Please note that parking is not free for this museum.
• Plane Watching – Watching the planes take off at Doc Magnet Memorial Aviation Park at the Dekalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) is very fun. Small planes take off within excellent viewing range of the small playground. If you’re hungry there is even a restaurant nearby overlooking the runway.
• Library Story Time – Story times happen at all different hours at all different locations throughout the city. Some story times are fit for younger (just crawling, for instance) all the way up to preschoolers. Story time is a great way to interact with other children and for parents to meet other parents.  The best way to find times and dates for storytime is to check with your local library.
• Mall Events – Some malls have special children only events that happen on set days and times of the week. Atlantic Station has something called Tot Spot that happens every Tuesday throughout the summer from 10-12pm. With the events, come specials for children at neighboring restaurants. Avalon in Alpharetta has a similar event from March-October.
• Indoor Playgrounds – While most indoor playgrounds have a fee to enter, Superior Play Systems offers free access to their play equipment two days a week – Wednesday and Friday between 10am – 1pm. You can find Superior Play Systems in Norcross and Alpharetta. More information is located here
• Farmers Markets – A great way to get your shopping done and let your children experience new things is to show them the farmers markets. Our favorite is the Your Dekalb Farmers Market (YDFM) which has every piece of produce you can imagine. There are many different sights, smells and lots of action. Plus it’s also very budget friendly! Lots of farmers markets happen on the weekend mornings with times and locations varying by town.
• Walking around the Mall:  The usual standby idea for new moms, many malls in the area are much less crowded during the week during the day. Many malls also have play areas for little ones  like the Mall of Georgia for instance.
• Church playgroups – check with your local church regarding free playgroups. Our local playgroup, for instance, meets every Wednesday at 9:30am.
• Playdates – Looking for playdates can sometimes be difficult. Meetup.com is great website that can connect you with other parents in your area looking to set up playdates. You can also search by common interests, religion, lifestyle or location.

South Peachtree Creek Trail – PATH

The South Peachtree Creek Trail is a PATH trail. It runs between Mason Mill Park and Medlock Park. From Mason Mill Park, it can be accessed at the opposite end of the park of the playgrounds near the tennis courts. From Medlock Park, it can be accessed from the parking lot near the playground and baseball fields.

The South Peachtree Creek Trail features a paved walkway in certain areas and a boardwalk in others. It has a series of hills. There are a few bridges with the creek flowing below.  There are many access points where you can walk off trail. There are many areas to sit down and rest or enjoy nature including alcoves in the boardwalk with views over the creek. It is very well maintained.

There is a bridge where you can watch trains travel below you:

There is some interesting graffiti in the “Ruins” area.

Things to Note:  This trail can be very busy with people walking, pushing strollers, riding bikes, etc.  There is a part of this trail that intersects with a street. Please use caution when crossing with small children.  For the most part, the trail is shady but there are some areas that are in direct sunlight.

Overall: This is my son’s favorite place to go for a run. The boardwalk is a safe place for him to run free and enjoy nature but you need to be mindful of bikes.

Mason Mill Park (Decatur)

The approximate location of Mason Mill Park is 1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur GA 30033. It is located within close walking proximity to the library.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Overview:  Yup, the playground has a pirate ship here and 3 story slides. It could be why this is one of the more popular playgrounds in the area. We have been to this park on numerous occasions at different times of the day and it is always bustling with people. This park really has everything a child is looking for – with the exception of shade.

Mason Mill Park is a highly popular park in the Druid Hills area of Decatur. It is located within walking distance to a library. The park features a large playground with equipment for children aged 2-5 and equipment for children 5 and up. There are two separate swing areas – one featuring infant swings. There are a few covered pavilions in the area (the largest pavilions have grills), a restroom, water fountains, many tennis courts, a garden area, and a large open grassy area.

The playground equipment for children 2-5 features slides, climbing areas, spinning blocks and spiral ladder. It resembles a rain forest in it’s design.

The play equipment for children 5 and up features a playground that resembles a pirate ship with windows, a wheel and masts. There are two 3-story spiral slides, many smaller slides, many spinning blocks featuring X & O’s, dinosaurs and ABCs. There is a rock climbing wall and other climbing structures. This is a favorite playground for my son.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Library, offices, and residential

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes, with many ramps

Ground Cover:  Packed Mulch

Seating: Park benches, picnic tables and a small wall that many parents sit on

Pavilion: Yes

Restroom: Yes, in playground area

Direct Sun or Shade : Direct Sun

Fenced in? :  No, and close to the parking lot. Watch your toddlers who like to run!

Infant Swings: Yes, 2. There is very high baby traffic in this area usually.

Quality of Playground Equipment: Very good

Ball Fields: No, but there are many tennis courts

Overall:  This park is a very popular park in the area and it is usually bustling with children and their caregivers. It is easy to strike up a conversation with other parents here. The play equipment is new and in the older children’s area, very exciting. The access to restrooms is great for children but the proximity to the high traffic parking lot is a danger. This park is connected via a PATH trail to Medlock Park. You can read more about that park here. The park is very lacking in shade. Bring sunscreen for little ones.

 

Medlock Park (Decatur)

The approximate location of Medlock Park is 874 Galemont Circle, Decatur GA 30033. This entrance is best for some of the ball fields and the pool. We use the entrance on Scott Circle for the larger parking lot near the playground and access to the PATH trail.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Overview:  Medlock Park is a definitely a park for baseball and softball – it features many well lit, fenced in fields that take up a vast majority of this park. The fields are well taken care of and the grounds are quite shady.  There are picnic tables scattered around the park, two large parking areas, a pool and a PATH trail connection to the Mason Mill Park. You can find more information on the PATH South Peachtree Creek trail here.

The playground is a little on the older side with a large focus on slides.  There is play equipment for younger children (basically just slides) and play equipment for older children with more slides, a bouncy bridge and some fireman style poles. There is a tire swing, a set of traditional belt swings and 2 infant swings.

Please note that when it rains a lot here, this area floods. After a rainstorm, this area remains muddy for a few days also.

The Medlock Pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. More information and photos will be available after the pool opens.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Residential

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes, with many ramps

Ground Cover: Wood Chips (newly added a few months ago)

Seating: Park benches, picnic tables and a small wall that many parents sit on

Pavilion: Yes

Restroom: Yes, near the baseball fields

Direct Sun or Shade : In the playground area, it is direct sun.

Fenced in? :  No, and close to the parking lot.

Infant Swings: Yes, 2

Quality of Playground Equipment: Older but safe.

Ball Fields: Yes, many.

Overall: This park is great for those playing baseball or those looking for a slower style playground as it isn’t very crowded. My son is a runner and he loves to run along the many ramps that form a large triangle. We often walk the PATH trail to this park, play and then walk the PATH trail back to our car. The playground is pretty basic without many bells and whistles. The picnic areas are shaded and in very lush grass.