Our grandson's second birthday party was held here in July. This is one of those "hidden gems" that…read moremany guests to the party who lived nearby said that they "didn't even know this place exists!" Shade is hard to come by in the middle of a hot Atlanta day - so, if you don't want to die from a heat stroke, come equipped with a tent or something. The main attraction is a splash pool that kids just go ga-ga over. There is pretty good parking options available, with just a short walking distance to the splash pool, even shorter to the playground. Apparently, this is a predominantly Latino neighborhood, judging by the dialects used by kids and adults alike. There are some peddling their wares (food, drink etc.), but they are not particularly intrusive. We had a fun and hot afternoon!

This is not one of my favorite parks in Gwinnett, but it certainly is one of the closest county…read moreparks to me, and there isn't anything majorly wrong with it in my eyes. The bathrooms used to be filthy every time I would come in from 2020-2022. I would see workers cleaning them after 12 noon generally, but I just always happened to catch them when they were still pretty grimy. Recently, I went in this past Friday, January 27th, and the ladies' room was actually spotless compared to the other times I've seen it! Maybe I just caught it on a good day, maybe it was too cold for people to be out soiling it with heavy use, or maybe they've employed more workers to this park in the new year, but in any case it was a pleasant surprise. That's really the only gripe I've had historically with this park in the 3 years that I've been living in Norcross. Briscoe, Shorty Howell, Alexander, and Bethesda are probably some of my favorite Gwinnett parks just to name a few for various reasons, but Graves Park still trumps many Dekalb or Fulton parks in terms of cleanliness, overall safety, accessibility, parking, walking trails, scenery, and available picnic areas/ bathrooms. A lot of people love Graves for the dog park section. I haven't had a dog since my childhood, but it seems like a good place to let your furry friends run if you need the space. I personally like this park for the trails. There is a longer looping option through the woods and a shorter loop around volleyball/ tennis courts and the backside of the playground. All the patrons here are pretty friendly that I've encountered. If you need to get out of busy soul crushing traffic on Chamblee-Tucker Road or Jimmy Carter, come stretch your legs at Graves Park - a nice little getaway from the madness.

A small cutout of wilderness, which may have been left unsettled because it is hilly, irregular…read moreterrain. A parking lot led under some power lines to a nice-looking suspension bridge and a trail loop which ran by a stream. Nothing earth-shattering there, but a nice short workout in an urban area.

Hidden in plain sight? I never knew Morningside Nature Preserve existed until recently but I'm glad…read moreI was able to explore this woodsy space earlier this month. Morningside Nature Preserve has about 2 miles of trails, and the South Fork Peachtree Creek runs through its 33.1 acres. The Preserve used to be known as Wildwood Urban Forest. There's a parking lot on the smaller side off of Lenox Road, and you can also access the preserve from Wellbourne Drive; I spotted some cars parked on the street. Didn't look like any public restrooms were available. Some sandy beachy areas are located alongside the creek, and there's even a wooden suspension bridge. There's basically no trail signage with a plethora of spur trails branching off the main one. Luckily Morningside Nature Preserve isn't so large that getting lost would be an issue but there were several times that I thought I was wandering onto private property. And there were parts of the boardwalk that needed repair. In addition to humans, there were a bunch of doggos here also enjoying the urban outdoors. But you need to look where you step to prevent unpleasant poop encounters. Bad dog owners, bad!

This park is deceptively huge. It spans 135 acres and dates back to 1954. There is a decent amount…read moreof parking available for visitors. The park is actually two sections, separated by a lake. The park is a nature park has has many picnic tables and shelters, with picnic tables under them scattered on both sides of the park. Some of the picnic tables and shelters are located along the river and provide some panoramic views. The park also features a nice nature trail that is in the wood and pretty well shaded. On one side of the park you will find a small, but newer playground area with percussion instruments, saucer swings, and a couple of slides. It is pretty basic. The other side has a much larger playground. It has a huge play structure that looks like a fort and has a rock climbing wall, slides, and bridges. There is also a pyramid net climber, saucer swings, and toddler swings. The equipment is pretty spread out and in pretty good shape. There is a smaller play structure for little ones which has tunnels, slides, and bridges. You will find rocking animals in that area as well. This side of the park also has a restroom facility. This park is certified as a wildlife habitat and you will see water fowl, geese, beavers and squirrels up close and personal to name just a few animals. Someone was fishing while I was there, but I do not know how good the fishing is, or even if it is allowed. I do not know if it is part of the park, but across the street you will find a huge and amazing baseball complex that looks like it is home to a junior college. It is nice and very well maintained. All in all, this park is decent. It is well maintained and the lake and views are awesome . I will admit that There is not much to offer outside of the trails, shelter, lake, and picnic tables. I like the park, but I was not wow'ed or overwhelmed. The playgrounds are somewhat basic and probably would not holds a kids attention too long. This park would be great for those looking for a nature park.

While strolling along the park's loop, we noticed the drained lake. I got the wild idea to venture…read moreonto the seemingly solid lake bed, which turned out to be a massive blunder. Although the mud appeared dry on the surface, it was deceptively soft underneath, causing me to sink deep into it up to my knee.

Beautiful park. Lots of ducks, even cottonmouths so be careful walking near brushy shore areas…read more Saw a beautiful 8 foot cottonmouth. Park is very serene

The place is quite charming and delightful aesthetically. However, it is relatively small and does…read morenot quite fit the criteria of a public park. It may not be worth a visit if you reside more than 2 miles away. Yet, if you happen to live in the vicinity, it serves as a wonderful spot to enjoy leisurely afternoons - simply lovely indeed.

I ended up randomly in Atlanta this weekend and did the quality research beforehand - I looked for…read moreweird things to do here on Reddit, and this creepy Doll's Head Trail popped up. Luckily I had two chums in the area who were more than willing to drive over and investigate with me, so off we went. It was an interesting drive through East Atlanta; I was mostly excited to see a Piggly Wiggly, but I imagine your mileage may vary on such a sighting. I also learned about trap houses. Anyway. The weather for this was actually ideal. The temps were unseasonably low (a concern I had about wandering into Hotlanta in August), probably in the low 80s, and it was cloudy, which gave the whole adventure a spooky vibe. There were a few other cars in the parking lot but aside from two guys fishing and a couple we stumbled across who looked to be up to no good, we saw no one. As hikes go, this is much more of a walk than anything remotely strenuous - the total mileage can't be more than a mile or two, and the first few tenths of a mile are on a paved path before ultimately shifting to normal dirt. I've spent some time in the northern part of the state hiking up the GA high point Brasstown Bald but this area is devoid of altitude; anyone with working legs should be able to navigate this easily. Beyond the doll shizzle, optics are limited. The path goes by Constitution Lake, where we could see a row of turtles in the distance, but that was about it. Pretty meh. The obvious highlight is the Doll's Head Trail/Loop, which probably takes about 10 minutes or so to get to from the parking lot/trailhead. Honestly? Cool idea, and I can see how I stumbled across it online, but a lot of it was literally just garbage. I'm from NJ, and we have a few similar themed paths - notably a Fairy Trail in Maplewood that features little houses with dolls/action figures nestled into tree trunks, etc. Other than a few legitimately neat set pieces, mostly centering on (you guessed it) doll heads, most of what we saw out there was just moldy crap. It's a shame, because I think they could really make this edgy and unsettling, especially come Halloween time. But by opening this to the public to assist - always a gift and a curse - a lot of people seemed to just use it as an excuse to dump some of their old crap from the garage. A shame, and the group that's monitoring the trail (and there seems to be an official one, based on some of the signage we saw) should probably step in and make this more appealing. A random/spooky doll head hanging from a tree? Yes. Here for it. A piece of rusted metal from the 1980s just dropped into some foliage? No, that's littering. My chum did express interest in coming back to contribute so hopefully she can help lead a renaissance for this space. This is tough to recommend unless you're really in the area. I'd focus on something in a nice section of the ATL that's not cosplaying as the city dump, at least until they figure out how to fix this.

A neat spot but a bit creepy. Not sure if it's the day I came but didn't really see that many doll…read moreheads - if any. Lots of seemingly junk collections, and we randomly met the person who started it who was there to check up on it! Really emphasized not bringing anything not found in the park (otherwise it'd just be a junk yard / littering + keeping non-natural items where you're not supposed to leave stuff in nature). Pretty cool concept, flat walk, all shaded, very short walk. Lots of parking.

Nice place for kid , have ressroom and bbq .................beautiful sunshine …read more Walk through forest

This park is a hidden gem. It has a walking trail around the perimeter of the field and playground…read moreso parents can walk while the kid plays. It has benches so you can sit and even a few grills. There are basketball goals and a pavilion for a small gathering.

The way to get in the park was a bit scary to drive - I'm not from here!!!…read more The park have a small parking lots and covered in pebble stones. There was a kid playground with so many cool stuffs. There was a map for the trail but the trail itself was surprisingly short!!!! I totally didn't expect it. The park was clean. There was a couple swings along the trail, and seating area.

This small park is so cute & adorable…read more Parking - Not so great, BUT they do have a small lot & you can park across the street near the homes. My condo is a 7 min run from here, so I have no trouble. I personally love the 7 min jog to get here. Helps me warm up. This park is really really really small. You may get bored running here if you're a runner who loves scenery. I don't really care for it. But this park has a fun playground and a small outdoor gym (?). I've used it a few times. A lot of parents come here with their kids to hang out. So, it is a busy park area. Definitely family oriented. Quite pleased with Brookhaven so far.

This is a decent 10-acre nature park that is in 3 sections that runs in a zig-zag formation. It is…read moresmack dab in the middle of the historic Ansley Park neighborhood. There is tons of free street parking available for the park's visitors. One of the park's sections runs right up to people's backyards. The park is situated in a low-lying ravine. You either have to take stairs or walk down a semi step hill. One section of the park has a small stream that runs along it and is located between houses. It has a few picnic tables, some green space and trail that goes through it. The main section of the park has lots of green space. There is a chain link back stop on the field that can be used for kickball, softball and baseball games. This park is perfect for kit flying, tossing a frisbee, playing catch, or having a picnic. You will find wooden glider swings around the park as well as picnic tables and benches. There is also a decent playground with a metal spiral slide, a wooden play structure with monkey bars, slides and bridges, a 4-way see saw, a bank of traditional/toddler swings, and a tire swing. This is a decent park that is adequately maintained, but it starting to show its age a bit. This is a low key park that is worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood. I think it needs a little maintenance and upgrades, but still a decent option to spend a few hours.

Great wooden park with an old school feel. It is set in quiet Winn park with plenty of shady picnic…read moreareas with lots of grassy flat areas for private enjoyment. Ample mulch provide soft landings for those inevitable falls. A great alternative to a more secluded park outing over Piedmont park. With no nearby food options be sure to roll in packing... a lunch. If not there are lots of food options a short walk to Peachtree. Make a day out of it and couple this shady quiet park with a visit to the high museum. Old growth trees coupled with a slow paced neighborhood make this a great option to spend a few relaxing hrs.