Hall County Parks and Recreation
A vital key to a satisfying and healthy life is recreation and meaningful leisure time. And the diverse landscapes of Hall County and Lake Lanier offer just that. The Hall County and Gainesville Parks and Recreation Departments complement one another with award-winning programs for both youth and adults. From football and baseball to soccer and softball, Hall County has it all.
With 23 U.S. Corps of Engineers parks around Lake Lanier, there are a total of 47 beautiful parks in Hall County. This is significant - Hall County has more parks than any county in the United States. River Forks Park is the largest, most full-featured of the county parks with three pavilions, boat ramps and fishing, a sandy beach for swimming, playgrounds, and full hook-up campsites.
In addition, hot summer afternoons find children throughout the community gathering in one of the two public swimming pools. For tennis enthusiasts, there are 34 tennis courts in Hall County, most of them lighted.
Along with public parks, Hall County is home to eight golf courses, two professional racing facilities, the Elachee Nature Science Center, and numerous private parks and facilities located along Lake Lanier's beautiful shorelines. So take a look below to find out how to begin enjoying the outdoor treasures of Hall County.
Parks and Recreation
Hall County Parks & Leisure Services maintains thirteen recreation facilities for use by Hall County residents. The amenities at each facility vary widely. The facilities are listed alphabetically below, with a description and directions to each. For information about any of these facilities, call (770) 535-8280.
Alberta Banks Park is located near Flowery Branch School. Drive south on McEver Road; turn right onto Jim Crow Road. The park is on your left. The 20.5-acre park has four tennis courts, three Little League fields, two baseball/softball fields, a playground, one picnic shelter, restrooms and a concession building.
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Central Park is located at the intersection of Calvary Church Road and Candler Road. The 24.5-acre park has two picnic shelters, two tennis courts, a 3/4 mile exercise/jogging trail, 25 picnic sites, playground and restrooms.
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Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center is located off Candler Road, one-tenth of a mile east of I-985; turn right on Calvary Church Road; the Center is two miles ahead on the left. The Agricultural Center has a covered pavilion, outdoor arena, amphitheater area, exhibit and livestock barns, concession and restroom building, covered walkways, office building and a multi-purpose building.
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Clermont Recreation Center is located across the highway from Concord Baptist Church on Highway 254. The 7.5-acre park has one combination baseball/football field, playground, 8 picnic sites, a picnic shelter, restrooms, concession area, and gymnasium with restrooms/concessions area/office space.
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Laurel Park is located off Highway 129 (Cleveland Highway) north of Gainesville. The 136-acre park has two Little League fields, two baseball fields, a concession stand, a playground, two restroom buildings, two tennis courts, 25 picnic sites with grills, two picnic shelters, boat launch, and two soccer practice areas.
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The Murrayville Park &
Community Center is a 28.5-acre park with one Little League field, one combination baseball/football field, one picnic shelter, 10 picnic sites, and community center that will accommodate approximately 50 people.
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Platt Park is located in Chestnut Mountain and has 15 picnic sites, a covered picnic shelter, 1 softball/baseball field, 1 T-ball field, tennis court, playground, and restrooms.
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Rafe Banks Park
in Lula has 15 picnic sites, one baseball/softball field, one Little League field, outdoor/hard surface basketball court, tennis court, playground, one picnic shelter, nature trail and concession/restroom building.
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River Forks Park is located on Keith's Bridge Road off Brown's Bridge Road. The 118-acre park has 3 picnic shelters, an activity building, 60 picnic sites with grills, a boat ramp, a large swimming beach with a volleyball net and horseshoe pits, a bath house with showers, 4 playgrounds. This park is a camper's delight featuring 63 campsites. . . many on the lake, 4 restroom/shower buildings, sewer pump-out station for RV/campers, and a large open area for group camping.
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Sardis Recreation Center is located off Dawsonville Highway on Sardis Road. The center is on the hill above Sardis Elementary School. The 7-acre site has a community center building with gymnasium, gameroom, office spaces and meeting rooms. Outside there are two tennis courts, a concession stand, playground and one Little League field.
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South Hall Community Center is located in the area known as "Blackshear Place." It is a full-time, year-round facility with a gymnasium, meeting rooms, game room, office space, one Little League field, one T-ball field and concession area.
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Tadmore Park is located in East Hall County. Take Highway 129 (Athens Hwy.) South for approximately 3 miles, turn left onto 323 (Gillsville Hwy), go approximately 2 miles. The park is on the right before Tadmore Elementary School. It has one pavilion that will accommodate 30-40 people, playground, hard-surface basketball court, 1 combination baseball/football field, 2 Little League fields, 3 Soccer Fields, walking trail and restrooms.
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Clark's Bridge Park is located at 3105 Clark's Bridge Road. It has individual picnic sites, beach, boat ramp, rowing and canoe/kayaking facility.
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City of Gainesville Parks
Allen Creek Soccer Complex is located on Monroe Drive. This facility offers nine soccer fields for youth, adult and tournament play. Contact the Facility Manager at 678-450-6502 for league information and availability for field and stadium rentals.
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City Park/Candler Street Park Complex/Green Street Pool is located behind the Gainesville Civic Center on Glenwood Drive and across from the Martha Hope Cabin on Prior Street. These parks include a playground, stadium, two Little League ball fields, four lighted tennis courts, two picnic pavilions, restroom facilities, two youth softball fields, an aquatic facility and the Martha Hope Cabin. Green Street Pool is located on Green Street above the City Park Stadium, This facility contains a swimming pool, bathhouse and picnic area. The pool opens during the summer season for public swimming, swim lessons and water safety classes. There are limited times available for rental of this facility for private parties.
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Clarks Bridge Park is located on Clarks Bridge. This 1996 Olympic Games venue for rowing, canoe and kayak events is jointly maintained with Hall County Parks and Leisure Services. This park includes picnic tables with grills, walking trails, a beach, a boat ramp, fishing and restroom facilities.
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DeSota Park is located on DeSota Street. This small neighborhood park includes a playground, tennis court, basketball goals, a picnic pavilion, a grill, and restroom facilities.
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Engine 209 Park is located on West Academy Street. This is a historical park with benches and gardens centered around Train Engine 209, a coal car and a red caboose.
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Fair Street Park/Pool is located off of Fair Street near Fair Street Elementary. This park includes a pool, picnic pavilion, multi-purpose court and playground. The pool opens during the summer season for public swimming.
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Holly Park is located off Thompson Bridge Road. This park includes hiking trails, a boat ramp for access to Lake Lanier, fishing, two picnic pavilions and picnic tables.
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Ivey Terrace Park is located on Ivey Terrace Road connecting to Wilshire Trails as part of the Rock Creek Greenway. This park includes a picnic pavilion and walking trails.
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Kenwood Park is located along Kenwood Drive beginning at Myrtle Street. This park includes a playground and paved walkways.
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Lanier Point Park is located on Lanier Valley Road off Dawsonville Highway. This park has access to Lake Lanier with a boat ramp and also includes a picnic pavilion, hiking trails, fishing, and a playground. Restroom facilities are available when the Lanier Point Softball Complex is in use.
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Linwood Nature Preserve is located on Linwood Drive. This 15-acre natural area has streams and wetlands along with a hilly terrain that is home to deer, beavers, herons and other wildlife. The site is currently undeveloped and will provide walking trails for passive recreation.
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Longwood Park is located on Pearl Nix Parkway (West By-Pass) across from Gainesville High School. Walking trails wind through the park and along the shore of Lake Lanier in this final link of the Rock Creek Greenway with flocks of ducks and geese, fishing and bench swings overlooking the lake. This park includes eight lighted tennis courts, picnic tables with grills, two playgrounds, horseshoe pits, two gazebos, and two picnic pavilions with one also providing a kitchen, restroom facilities and grills.
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Myrtle Street Park is located on Myrtle Street. This park includes a multi-purpose court and playground.
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Poultry Park is located at Jesse Jewell Parkway and Grove Street. This is a small park providing benches and gardens centered around a monument to the poultry industry.
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Riverside Park is located at Riverside Drive and Yonah Avenue. This park includes a picnic pavilion with a grill, a playground and paved walkways.
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Rock Creek Park is located on the corner of West Academy Street and Northside Drive. This is the gateway into the Rock Creek Greenway linking parks from downtown to Lake Lanier.
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Rock Creek Greenway begins at Rock Creek Park near the downtown square and continues through Ivey Terrace Park, Wilshire Trails and ends at Lake Lanier in Longwood Park. The local Astronomers Club has scaled a model of the Solar System beginning at the sun on the square and ending at Pluto in Longwood Park. This makes a great educational nature walk for families!
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The vision for the development of a greenway along Rock Creek began with the Vision 2000 Strategic Parks and Recreation Plan where the problem of the erosion of the banks along Rock Creek causing the loss of many trees was identified. The City of Gainesville and the Parks and Recreation Board began working together with Friends of Gainesville Parks and Greenways to build community support and obtain funds to restore and protect the stream banks and develop a pedestrian and bike trail to link parks from downtown to Lake Sidney Lanier.
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Roper Park is located on Thompson Bridge Road and Virginia Circle. This park includes a lighted tennis court, playground, picnic pavilion with grill, restrooms and an athletic field.
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South Side Park is located on Positive Place Drive. This community park serves the Hall County Boys/Girls Clubs, Fair Street Elementary and the general public. The park includes a pavilion, restrooms, a Safe Kids model playground, ball fields, multi-purpose court and walking trails.
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Wessell Park is located on the corner of Wessell and Holly Drive. This neighborhood park includes a playground, picnic tables, two lighted tennis courts, a mini-basketball court and walking trails.
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Wilshire Trails is located on Wilshire Road below Gainesville High School. This park provides walking trails as part of the Rock Creek Greenway with bridges, boardwalks and rest areas. One steep trail leads to a lookout point overlooking the park. A playground, pavilion, grill and restrooms are also available.
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