Located just three miles west of Downtown Atlanta, Mozley Park includes a 100-person pavilion with a grill, a playground, two picnic shelters, two lighted softball fields, a tennis court, a basketball court, two multi-use courts, a PATH trail, a swimming pool and a recreation center.
The park is maintained by the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. For park reservations, call 404-546-6757. To reserve a pavilion, call the reservation number and be prepared to submit an application. As with all city parks, Mozley Park is governed by the city's Office of Parks official Park Use Rules and Guidelines.
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a national park located along a 48-mile stretch of the river. The park features a visitor's center, picnic areas and a diverse representation of Georgia's plant and animal life. Visitors can enjoy hiking, swimming, boating, fishing and more.
The Eastside portion of the Atlanta Beltline is the first completed section of the city's rails-to-trails project. Comprised of 2.25 miles of flat, paved pathway, it runs from the south end of Piedmont Park to Irwin Street. With convenient access points all along the trail with plenty of parking on side streets, the Beltline makes it safe and easy to access popular neighborhoods including Midtown, the Virginia Highlands, Innman Park and the Old Forth Ward by foot or bike. Public transportation will get you there to the Beltine, although it's a bit of a walk from the Midtown station. Unless you have a bike with you, it's usually better to drive.
Admission and Getting Around at the Eastside BeltLine Trail
While most walk, run or bike along the trail, it's not rare to see people skateboarding, inline skating or riding scooters. As long as it's not motorized, its fair game. Admission to the beltline is free, but it's best to go when it's not crowded -– especially if you plan on cycling. Weekends in the spring and summer can get a little packed, so if you want to avoid the crowd, check it out on a weekday evening. Starting from Piedmont Park and strolling down to the end and back is easily accomplished in an hour or two, but there are enough attractions along the way to make a day of it.
Must Sees at the Eastside BeltLine Trail
If you're interested in grabbing a quick snack or sitting down for a gourmet meal, the Beltline has you covered. Dozens of restaurants and bars have sprouted up along the trail, and all welcome foot traffic. If you're on the Beltline in the morning, check out the Neighborhood Café in the basement of PARISH for a pastry and quick cup of coffee. If you're looking for something more substantial, Kevin Rathburn Steak offers choice cuts of meat and seafood on the patio directly adjacent to the path. If you're a little thirsty, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall offers cheap drinks in a rustic atmosphere.
Also be sure to check out the rotating array of public art installations along the trail – most of the pieces are interactive, so feel free to play around.
Other Places to Visit Near the Eastside BeltLine Trail
The Beltline connects to a few of Atlanta's hidden gems. The Historic Forth Ward Park is a spectacular new addition to the city and includes a skate park, amphitheater, and even a small pond. Not many people know it's there, so it's a great place to go for a picnic if you want to avoid the Piedmont Park crowd.The Krog Street Market is also a short walk from the Irwin Street terminus of the trail. The indoor market has some of the most interesting vendors, food and drink in the city, so be sure to check it out if you have time.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the Eastside BeltLine Trail
Think it would be more fun to ride than walk, but don't have a bike? Or you just don't want to haul yours down to the city? No worries. Atlanta Beltline Bicycles offers reasonable rentals. They are located on the Irwin Street side of the trail in the green building that looks like an airplane hanger.
Saul King is an Atlanta native. He's a professional journalist as well as an avid cyclist, runner and over-indulger.
The Outdoor Activity Center is part of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. Through educational programs about ecology, conservation and the natural environment, the center involves people of all ages in environmental issues. It offers a 26-acre urban natural environment filled with team-building rope courses, nature-themed playground, 2 miles of trails and learning facilities. The facilities include a tree-house classroom, 650-gallon freshwater aquarium, community-run garden and multi-purpose building.
At 135 acres, Murphey Candler Park is the largest park in Brookhaven and features a wide variety of activities and amenities available to the public. Amenities include tennis courts, a swimming pool, picnic pavilions, trails and multi-use fields. The park's lake offers fishing for large mouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish to those with a valid state fishing license. There also are trails that feature scenic views that can be accessed from the parking areas at Murphey Candler Park.
Kittredge Park is operated by the DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs. It includes a public swimming pool open in the summer, a baseball field, a multi-purpose field and a large wildlife sanctuary.
Windwood Hollow is located off of Peeler Road, near the DeKalb County Water Works reservoirs. The small, tranquil park includes two tennis courts, playgrounds for toddlers and small children and a picnic area.
Located just a few miles west of Downtown Atlanta, the Outdoor Activity Center's motto is "Where Atlanta meets the Urban Forest." The center, operated by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, covers 26 acres and has more than three miles of hiking trails. In addition to serving as a meeting place for community organizations and environmentalists, the OAC includes a team-building roes course, children's playground, tree house classroom, 650-gallon freshwater aquarium and a community vegetable garden. A major focus of the site is youth environmental education. The OAC offers 45-minute "interpretive" hikes, lectures, field trips and a Junior Naturalist Program. The site of the OAC has historical significance as the practice location of the Atlanta Black Crackers, the city's Negro Baseball League team from 1919 to 1952. To learn more about the center, visit the Web site. For additional information on the Watershed Alliance, go to: wawaonline.org.
The Harriett G. Darnell Multi-Purpose Facility Services is dedicated to senior services on the city's southwest side.
According to the center's Web site, programming "is designed to achieve a high level engagement with life, low risk of disease and high physical, social and emotional function levels."
The center includes a fully-equipped fitness center, a 350-seat auditorium and cafeteria, a heated pool, library, conference rooms, gardens, walking trails, computer lab and learning center.