Biggest Parks in Atlanta

Posted by seomypassion12 on February 28th, 2023

Westside Park is Atlanta’s biggest green space. With 280 acres around the Bellwood Quarry, it’s set to connect with the Proctor Creek Greenway and eventually the Atlanta Beltline 먹튀제보

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says it’ll change the neighborhood “far beyond just being the largest park in Atlanta,” sparking a wave of development that includes Microsoft’s plan to build a 90-acre campus near the quarry.
Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry

Piedmont Park has long been Atlanta’s largest park, but now, it’s being surpassed by Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry. With 280 acres centered around a water reservoir, the park is expected to be 100 acres larger than Piedmont and will offer views of the city’s skyline as well as walking and biking trails.

At a ribbon-cutting event this week, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms praised the new park for being Atlanta’s biggest and best. It promises a green oasis on the city’s outskirts that will provide equitable access to green spaces in neighborhoods that have been disinvested.

The park is located on 280 acres between Johnson Road and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, along the southern edge of Grove Park, Bankhead, Knight Park / Howell Station and West Highlands. It also runs through Subarea 9 of the Beltline master planning area and connects to Proctor Creek Greenway.

With the help of a .5 million grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the city has already started construction on the park. It will include two and a half miles of bike and hiking trails, public art sculptures, open fields, and a viewing spot on the high cliffs of the former quarry to get a view of the Atlanta skyline.

In addition to the park’s recreational amenities, the site will also serve as a drinking water reservoir for the city of Atlanta. The formerly flooded granite quarry will be converted into a 2.4-billion-gallon reservoir, increasing the city’s water supply from a three-day supply to an estimated 30 to 90 days.

After a decade and a half of planning and development, the city cut the ribbon today to welcome residents of all ages to the newly unveiled first phase of Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry. The newest and biggest park in Atlanta is a major milestone for a city that was ranked 49th among the nation’s 100 most-populous cities this year by the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore.

The .5 million first phase of the park includes a gateway to the property, a “grand overlook” on the high cliffs of the former Quarry and pedestrian connections to the Proctor Creek Greenway Trail. Other attractions include large sculptures, a playground and open fields, plus two and a half miles of ADA-accessible bike and walking trails. In the future, it’s expected that the park will be home to a rim trail, BMX bike tracks and dog parks as well as a farmer’s market, restaurants and meeting rooms.
King’s Gap State Park

The biggest park in Atlanta is King’s Gap State Park, a sprawling nature preserve that boasts 2,500 acres of forest and sixteen miles of trails. This scenic spot is a natural treasure that’s also filled with history.

Kings Gap is home to the state’s environmental education and training center, which offers a variety of classes for both kids and adults. The center aims to fulfill the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks’ mission to educate about the natural world and develop problem-solving skills. Teachers and students use a wide range of curricula to learn about the park’s ecosystems and critical environmental issues facing society.

During the day, the center’s staff train high school students and teachers in the Bureau of State Parks’ watershed education program. They also lead workshops and offer resources tailored to meet specific needs.

The park is also home to one of the country’s top civil rights museums. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights champions the struggle for equality through history, offering spine-tingling exhibits such as “Rolls Down Like Water,” which simulates the taunts and threats faced by activists during the Jim Crow era.

To get to Kings Gap, take Exit 37 off Interstate 81 and drive south on Route 233 for 2.5 miles. The entrance is on Pine Road, one mile east of the Huntsdale Fish Hatchery.

Hikers can take in the views from the top of Buck Ridge on a 4.6-mile loop hike. It winds around a picturesque stone mansion on the ridge and offers sweeping views of the Cumberland Valley, vernal pools churning with life in spring, forests aflame with color in fall or mountain snow in winter.

If you’re looking for something more challenging, consider hiking the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail that runs through hardwoods and pines, over creeks and past small waterfalls. The park also offers a number of other recreational options, including camping, fishing, swimming, orienteering and rock climbing.

This is a great spot for families to get out in the fresh air and see the changing leaves of autumn. It’s a popular destination with hikers and nature lovers, and is just a short distance from downtown Atlanta.
Historic Oakland Cemetery

Less than a mile from downtown, Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s oldest public park and the final resting place of many of its noted citizens. Its 48 acres are filled with treasures – history and gardens, sculpture and architecture, ancient oaks and magnolias. It is a wedding venue, green space, art gallery, classroom and a place to celebrate the city’s rich and fascinating past and its promising future.

The original 6 acres (24,000 m2) of the cemetery was purchased by city leaders in 1850 and conceived as an innovation in the “garden cemetery” movement, which transformed stark graveyards into pastoral landscapes designed to both honor the dead and bring pleasure to the living. It is one of the finest examples of this renowned American landscape style in the country, and has been preserved for its cultural, historical, and architectural significance.

Walking around the grounds is a bit like stepping back in time, as visitors are greeted by a variety of monuments and statues representing eras from the early to late 19th century. These range from the Kontz Memorial, a Neoclassical sculpture to the Neal Monument, a unique example of Egyptian Revival.

Another area of interest is Potter’s Field, a 7.5-acre (3 hectare) section traditionally designated for burials by those who were not able to afford a traditional plot at Oakland. Here you will find the remains of people such as Martha Lumpkin Compton (daughter of Governor Wilson Lumpkin), Jacob Elsas (in whose pharmacy the first Coca-Cola was sold), and John B. Hood, a major general in the Civil War.

As you walk through Oakland, it’s easy to feel a sense of serenity and peace as you wander among the graves. You may be surprised at how different the atmosphere is from that of downtown Atlanta, where the city is a constantly-changing mix of urban growth and commercial development.

Visiting Oakland is like taking a walk through time, where you’ll see a wide range of human history and the stories behind it. Whether you’re looking for a quiet moment, or a place to reflect and connect with your loved ones, Oakland is a place where everyone can find something special.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Adjacent to Midtown’s Piedmont Park, the 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden is a nature lover’s oasis. Founded in 1976, the Garden’s mission is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, conservation, research and enjoyment.

The Garden’s highlights include a 600-foot-long Canopy Walk suspended 40 feet above a woodland tangle of azaleas, hydrangeas and perennials. It’s also home to the Fuqua Orchid Center, one of the country’s largest dedicated to orchids.

Another popular attraction is the Garden Lights holiday lights show, which illuminates the rotunda and Robinson Gazebo in an array of green hues. The lights are free to watch, and it’s a great way to take in the Garden’s beauty during a night out.

During the Christmas season, this attraction draws thousands of visitors each year and it’s a must-see for anyone visiting Atlanta during the holiday season. General admission tickets allow you to view all of the lights, while Premium tickets offer flex dates (so you can change your ticket if necessary), a lighted bulb necklace and a holiday treat.

The Garden has a variety of exhibits and special events, including concerts with renowned musicians like Old Crow Medicine Show and Emmylou Harris. Other favorites include the Children’s Garden, an Edible Garden with outdoor kitchen and a sculpture garden.

There are countless plants to see at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, from tropical, desert and endangered species to rare orchids. The Fuqua Conservatory houses exotic and rare plants from around the world, while the Orchid Center displays more than 2,000 orchids.

Other attractions include the Children’s Garden, a Soggy Bog, Venus flytrap exhibit and observation hive. It’s a great place to take kids, but be sure to dress properly for outdoor weather.

A visit to the Garden will leave you feeling refreshed and enlightened. If you want to experience a special event, consider the Garden Lights holiday lights show, which is a favorite among Atlanta tourists and locals alike. This is a must-do during the holiday season, but it can get crowded so be sure to arrive early!