Atlanta, Georgia is a greenspace paradise, or at least some of it is. Have you visited Atlanta’s parks system?
In this article, we’re going to show you where some of the best parks are in Atlanta. You can use these spots for a quick jog, a pleasant walk or even a nice picnic.
Greenspaces have become even more popular during the coronavirus pandemic, where getting into the open air and away from large crowds can do wonders for our physical as well as mental health.
Here Are The Best Atlanta Parks
So, you can see that finding great park space is no biggie in Atlanta, and yet, many Atlanta parks have their own features, dynamics and geography. Whether you’re looking for a place to just chill and relax or trying to find a place for your kids to play, you’ll find that the best Atlanta parks have a little of both.
So, which Atlanta parks are the best? Well, how about we rely on the many voices found on the internet to answer that question? AtlantaFi has compiled numerous comments from various sites to get their take on the best Atlanta parks you can find.
Piedmont Park
Atlanta’s premier green space in Midtown, often called the city’s backyard. Sprawling lawns, Lake Clara Meer, sports fields, dog parks, playgrounds, and events galore.
Recent buzz: Still tops Yelp and TripAdvisor lists for its beauty and accessibility. Perfect for picnics, runs, or people-watching. “The heart of Atlanta—always vibrant and green!”
Lake: Yes. Lake Clara Meer, an iconic 11.5-acre lake in the heart of the park. It’s a centerpiece for scenic views, walking paths around it, fishing (post-renovation), and skyline photos—often called one of Atlanta’s most beautiful urban lakes.
Cook Park
Cook Park, officially Rodney Cook Sr. Park, in the Vine City neighborhood of Atlanta has all the amenities you’d want in an urban greenspace: It’s close to the community, near downtown and is expertly manicured!
Lake: Yes, Cook Park in Atlanta features a prominent 2-acre stormwater pond and wetlands. This central water feature serves as both a scenic amenity and a functional, eco-friendly system that filters storm water to protect the neighborhood from flooding.
Bellwood Quarry
The Bellwood Quarry Westside Park is old abandoned quarry converted into a modern urban water reservoir park.
Lake: Yes, the Bellwood Quarry, now part of Westside Park in Atlanta, features a massive 45-acre water reservoir. This former granite quarry was converted into a 1.9-billion-gallon emergency drinking water reservoir to serve the city. It acts as a scenic lake at the center of the 350-acre park.
Here’s what one park lover says about Bellwood Quarry: “This is going to be one amazing park after my first big love Piedmont Park. I love the fact that you can walk or bike around the entire park and end up in different section. I spent hours walking around this park and loved it. I will sure be going there again for my nature walk. I love the fact that the city of Atlanta is working hard to create these different parks venue for people to be outside and keep them healthy. This is a smart investment for people who know how much health care cost in this country. Keep up the good work opening these different venue to keep us healthy.”
Perkerson Park
Perkerson Park, located at 770 Deckner Ave SW Atlanta, is a 50-acre park in the Capitol View/Sylvan Hills neighborhoods. It has a basketball half-court just past its entrance, but up the path on a plateau about 200 yards away is a full court basketball court. There’s also a kids’ playground, a recreational fields, a jogging track and frisbee tournament grounds.
Southside Park
Here’s what one reviewer says of Southside Park: “Great mountain bike trails and super close to downtown ~15min drive. Super flowy, fun XC single track. Lots of switchbacks, gradual climbs and a few zippy bits especially on the Hickory trail.”
South Bend Park
South Bend Park, located at 1955 Compton Dr SE in Atlanta, GA, is a family-oriented, peaceful, and clean recreational space known for its dog park, playgrounds, and natural features. The park offers amenities such as swings, slides, picnic tables, a barbecue grill, and a tennis court, serving as a welcoming spot for families and dog owners.
Here’s what one park-goer says of South Bend Park: “The park has a trail starting adjacent to the pool. The SouthTowne Trail is a winding paved pathway perfect for biking or walking. Plenty of twists and turns. Although, you can’t mindlessly walk with phone in hand, but that’s a good thing. You can hear, & partly see, the streams through all the trees and kudzu. Birds are chirping everywhere, especially cardinals. This trail leads into the Swann Nature Preserve where they had a bridge closed. I was almost at the end, couldn’t finish the trail, so I went off course, and found an eastern box turtle before I got to the stream. There are a lot of elevation changes, so it’s a nice physical exertion, but at least there’s plenty of shade. Saw a few deer prints in the mud, along with (possibly) coyote tracking it.”
Centennial Olympic Park
Here’s what one city resident says about Centennial Olympic Park: A clean park in the middle of downtown Atlanta. Not sure if the “grass” is actually astroturf, but it was cut very low and looked kinda dry. Overall the park was well maintained and a nice tribute to the Olympic games that were held here in 1996. Only takes like 30 minutes to explore the entire park, including all the monuments.
Lake: No. ts primary water feature is the interactive Fountain of Rings, a popular dancing water fountain. While it features a water garden, it is a landscaped, urban park rather than a water-based recreational area.
Here’s what one reviewer said: “With the train station being literally at the park, the industrial ambiance is quite relaxing, if you ask me. The Marta train station is located across the street. Thankfully, a pavilion is close in distance to cool off at & is perfect for hosting parties.
The basketball court is gated and filled with great street players. There is also a gated pool with a kiddie umbrella water area. The only thing I dislike is the lack of parking spaces in front of the parks community building.”
How You Can Save Atlanta’s Parks
You might not know it but, Atlanta’s parks are endangered due to urban sprawl and utter neglect from city officials and the community. But you can do something about that.
Join the movement spearheaded by the Trust for Public Land to put a park within a 10-minute walk of every American.
1. Volunteer Your Time (The Most Direct Impact)
Hands-on work keeps parks clean, beautiful, and functional.
- Park Pride — The go-to hub with over 90 Friends of the Park groups (e.g., Friends of Piedmont Park, Grant Park Conservancy, Chastain Park Conservancy). Join cleanups, invasive plant removal, mulching, trail maintenance, or habitat restoration. Sign up for free volunteer days or start/join a group for your local park.
Website: parkpride.org (check “We Can Help” or “Volunteer Program”). - Piedmont Park Conservancy — Regular weekday and weekend opportunities in Atlanta’s flagship park (weeding, trash pickup, invasive removal, mulch spreading). Great for individuals or groups.
Register: piedmontpark.org/support-the-park/volunteer. - Atlanta BeltLine — Trail cleanups, event support, community outreach. Orientations and group projects available—perfect for the expanding network of trails and new parks.
Sign up: beltline.org/support/volunteer. - Trees Atlanta — Focus on urban forest restoration (e.g., Conserve the 4-0-Forest events for invasive removal and tree care). Projects most Saturdays.
treesatlanta.org/get-involved/volunteer. - Other conservancies — Grant Park Conservancy (monthly workdays), South Fork Conservancy (creek restoration), Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, or Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (trail/river cleanups).
Search the City of Atlanta’s volunteer page (atlantaga.gov > Department of Parks & Recreation > Volunteer info) for a full list of trusted partners.
2. Donate or Advocate
- Support Park Pride or specific conservancies (e.g., Piedmont Park Conservancy) for funding maintenance, programming, and improvements.
- Donate to Trust for Public Land (tpl.org) — Active in Atlanta (e.g., BeltLine land acquisition, Cook Park stormwater projects). They push for equitable park access and new greenspaces.
- Advocate: Attend Parks & Greenspace Conference (next one March 2026 at Atlanta Botanical Garden), support the city’s Activate ATL strategic plan (2022-2026, focusing on more parkland and funding), or contact City Council members about park budgets/priorities.
3. Everyday Actions to Help “Save” Parks
- Pick up litter during visits (even small efforts add up—join or start casual cleanups via apps like Litterati or local groups).
- Report issues — Use ATL311 app/website for maintenance needs (broken equipment, overgrown areas, safety concerns).
- Use responsibly — Stay on trails, pack out trash, avoid off-leash dogs in restricted areas to prevent erosion/wildlife harm.
- Spread the word — Share positive park experiences on social media, encourage friends/family to visit/volunteer, or support events that highlight parks (e.g., BeltLine activities for World Cup 2026).
- Plant natives/support trees — If you have space or join efforts, help combat invasive species and urban heat.
Atlanta’s parks thrive because of community involvement—volunteers and advocates have driven major wins like BeltLine progress and recent grants ($35M+ for 19 parks in recent cycles). Start small: Pick one park (maybe Piedmont or your neighborhood spot), sign up for a volunteer shift this spring, and build from there.What park do you love most, or how would you like to get involved (e.g., volunteering, donating)? I can point you to more specific links or upcoming events!
Final Word
Atlanta, Georgia has become an oasis of public greenspaces. People looking for wide open spaces and green acreage don’t have to travel very far to find it in the city.
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Got any other ATL parks to add to the list? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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