Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation

One of the first things visitors and residents alike notice when they fly into Atlanta is that we live in a forest. Trees are everywhere, a characteristic that distinguishes us from most urban areas. Local governments are so protective of our tree canopy that local ordinances require a permit to cut down a tree, and trees that are removed must be replaced.

Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit volunteer advocacy organization, is dedicated to tree conservation and planting. Since it began in 1984, Trees Atlanta has planted more than 15,000 trees along Atlanta’s streets and highways. The city has a tree replacement program, providing red maples, redbuds, dogwoods, and crape myrtles to be planted along the right-of-way on city streets. The city plants these trees on request on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call the city forester’s office, (404) 363-2908.

With our beautiful landscape of rolling hills and abundant greenery beckoning, it’s a shame to stay indoors—and few Atlantans do. If you’re into biplaning, bicycling, tennis, soccer, or even paintball, you’ll find places to play and people to share your enthusiasm. We’ve presented a sampling of the leagues, clubs, networks, and facilities available for various sports and hobbies. Not everybody loves being outside and—let’s face it—sometimes it does rain, so we’ve included some indoor sports as well.

For more information on sports clubs and events, pick up a copy of Atlantic Sports & Fitness, a free monthly magazine available at General Nutrition Center stores, various sports shoe stores, fitness centers, and bookstores. In addition to informative articles, the magazine runs an extensive listing of sports events and organizations and has an event hotline, (404) 843-2257. Another good source of information about sports groups and events is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Atlanta at Play section. It includes listings of clubs, events, and lessons and appears on the first Thursday of the month. Also, the free weekly newspaper, Creative Loafing, lists sports events in the Happenings section under Sports and Recreation.

Information about parks in the city of Atlanta can be obtained by calling the Bureau of Parks, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., at (404) 817-6744. City parks are open from sunrise to sunset. In addition, all the metro counties and smaller cities operate popular parks. Three of the biggest area parks are operated by the state and federal governments: Stone Mountain in DeKalb County, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Fulton and Cobb Counties, and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. For information, see our Attractions chapter. Nearby or within an easy drive are numerous state parks, many of them in the lush north Georgia mountains, and the Chattahoochee National Forest. Out a ways, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees two of the most popular lakes in the Southeast: Lake Sidney Lanier in Hall, Forsyth, and Dawson Counties, and Lake Allatoona in Cobb, Cherokee, and Bartow Counties.

You can hardly throw a stick in this town and not have it land in a park. In this chapter we mention some of the area’s most popular parks that offer great spots to spread out a blanket and read or have a picnic. Some have walking and running trails or bike paths. But keep your eyes open; appealing green spaces pop up everywhere.

A word of warning to those from colder climes: Atlanta can get very hot, and besides lots of friendly residents, our city plays host to hordes of hungry bugs. Wise outdoor revelers will use sunscreen and insect repellent to ensure comfortable, itch- and pain-free good times in Atlanta’s great outdoors.