Brook Run Park (Dunwoody)

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

McKoy Park (Decatur)

McKoy Park is located at 534 McKoy Street, Decatur, GA 30030.  There is an entrance on McKoy Street with a parking lot that has direct access to the pool and the baseball field. There is also an entrance on Adams Street on the dead end with closer access to the playground and pavilion.

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Overview:

There is playground equipment for younger children (2-5) as well as older children (5+) featuring small and large slides, music instruments like drums, monkey bars and many climbing/balance beams and activities. There are two infant swings, two belt swings and two accessible swings.  This park also features water fountains, restrooms and tall trees which provide ample shade.

The baseball field is fenced in, lighted and features a concession stand. This park also features an outdoor seating area for classes or impromptu meetings. This area is located near the skate park and basketball court.

McKoy Pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is open as early as 9am. There are season passes available for non-Decatur residents. There are picnic tables surrounding the pool area and a very nice shallow end for younger or less experienced swimmers. More information and photos available after the pool season starts.

There is a skate park at McKoy Park which features many ramps, rails and drop-in areas. There is usually a few people skating during the day and it’s much more full on weekends. There is a pergola area near the playground where spectators can watch the skateboarders.

 

According to the City of Decatur website, the park will be undergoing renovations during the second half of 2016. An update after the renovation will follow.

Parking: Dedicated lot

Surrounding Area: Residential, with a school nearby

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes, with a ramp into playground

Ground Cover: Wood Chips

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

Pavilion: Yes, with 2 grills.

Restroom: Yes

Direct Sun or Shade : Reasonably shady depending on time of day. Lots of tall, old trees nearby. Infant swings can be in sun.

Fenced in? :  No

Infant Swings: Yes, 2

Quality of Playground Equipment: Ok

Ball Fields: Yes. There is a baseball field with concession stand and a basketball court (that needs a little TLC)

Overall: We visited on a spring morning and there were a few nannies with their charges which were younger than 5. The skatepark had a few visitors and it was generally quiet. My son had a lot of fun exploring all this park had to offer – especially watching the skateboarders. I am happy that the City of Decatur chose this park for a renovation as the playground equipment looked in need of a refresh. We will definitely be returning.

Milam Park (Clarkston)

Milam Park is located at 3867 Norman Road, Clarkston, GA 30021.

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Overview: This park was established in 2012 and it shows. Upon first entry to the park area, you’ll notice the pool to your left, followed by the tennis courts, dog park, soccer field area and finally the playground. There is another soccer field area at the rear of the park. At the time of our visit, it had recently rained and the city of Clarkston was seeding new grass near the playground for the younger children.

The playground is divided into 3 areas – an area for younger children ages 2-5,  an area for children ages 5-12 and swings.

• The playground for the younger children has small slides, wall activities like “Find your Name in the ABCs”, musical instruments like drums and bells, and a large children’s fire engine that can accommodate many children.
• The playground for children ages 5-12 features many large slides, climbing wall, wall activities and metal climbing items like monkey bars.
• There are several kinds of swings including 2 infant swings.

The Milam Park pool boasts the following: zero entry, 4 lap lanes, wading pool and several water features for play. It is open between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Residents of Clarkson enjoy a discount while it still remains inexpensive for non-residents. The pool can also be reserved for parties. I will add photos of the pool area when the pool season begins at the end of May.

There is a fenced-in dog park directly next to the playground area.

Parking: Dedicated parking area

Surrounding Area: Residential

Wheelchair/Stroller Accessible: Yes

Ground Cover: Wood Chips

Seating: picnic tables

Pavilion: Yes, six in total with grills.

Restroom: Yes! 2 sets.

Direct Sun or Shade : Park is for the most part, very shady. Swings can be in direct sunlight.

Fenced in? :  No, but playground is set back farther from the street

Infant Swings: Yes

Quality of Playground Equipment: Newer. Installed 2012

Ball Fields: Yes, tennis, baseball and soccer.

Overall: This park has quality playground equipment and a very nice layout – especially for parties. This park has all of the ingredients for an excellent party – pool, playground, restrooms, grills and ample seating. There wasn’t enough grass or places to run around near the playground area for my son though.