About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2011)
KRISTEN MORALES NEWS FROM THE JUICE BOX SET Summer "Fun": Crap, it's hot outside. But as parents, at some point we need to suck it up and leave the house. Besides, if we don't, hours of television make our kids as intoler able as the sweltering sun. Which leaves us with the question: Where do you go? Kids are pretty good about playing outside, no matter the temperature. My only prerequisite in a good playground, though, is shade. There's nothing that annoys me more than a cute playground located in what could otherwise be a desert. So, my daughter and I took a tour of the dozen or so parks around Athens to figure that out. Not only were we looking for places where kids could play—where I grew up, we called them "playscapes"—but also shade. seating, tables and places to run around. (Note that we only visited parks in Clarke County—Oconee County has three—and we didn't visit the 17 playgrounds at Clarke County schools.) But among the county's parks and rec facilities, it turns out the biggest isn't always the best. Here is what we found: hours. Bishop Park has paved trails, a covered tennis area and a neat little grove of trees near the playground that make for good tree climbing. And you almost need multiple days to do everything at Memorial Park, between visiting the duck pond, walking through Bear Hollow Zoo and hiking the Birchmore Trail. Each park also has a community swimming pool (and Memorial Park's is nice and shady). The playground at East Athens Community Center (400 McKinley Dr.) is brand-spankin' new, which means it has zero trees to shade it. But two other playgrounds offer up the typical slides, bridges and climbers with a little bit of shade. Lay Park (297 Hoyt St.) and Rocksprings Park (291 Henderson Ext.) have some trees that mercifully cover portions of their playgrounds. Lay Park also is across the street from another (very sunny) community pool; you can enjoy free frozen treats at the park, courtesy of ACC Leisure Services' summer "Popsicles and Playgrounds" program, from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, July 16. Rocksprings lacks seating for parents, but Leisure Services will have its popsicle operation up and rolling there the morning of July 23. Two other parks have playgrounds that seem more like afterthoughts than the main draw. At Sandy Creek Park (400 Bob Holman Rd.) and Satterfield Park (3028 Cherokee Rd.), the playscapes are simply plopped in an open, sun-drenched area. Then again, at Sandy Creek, I'd opt for swimming in the lake, anyway. And Satterfield's playground seems mainly intended for younger siblings waiting for basebaR or soft- ball practice to end (the park has several ballfields). My favorite park, though, is a shady little gem tucked into an in-town historic neighborhood. Reese and Pope Park (375 Pope St.) is surrounded by old trees and, at the top of a hill, seems to catch even the slightest breeze on a hot day. True, it's hard to top Memorial or Bishop parks in terms of amenities, but that's also what makes this park so charming: it's just a simple playscape on a rubbery surface, flanked by some covered picnic tables. The World of Wonder at Southeast Clarke Park includes a maze like castle and a nearby dragon, perfect for climbing. But when it’s sunny, most parks—including this one—leave kids hot and dry. One shiny, hot metal slide out of five. Parks with Playgrounds: The amazing World of Wonder castle and corresponding dragon- dominated play area at Southeast Clarke Park (enter off Whit Davis Road just south of Lexington Road) has to be the most interest ing place to play, except for one thing: it's darn hot out there. It's one of ACC's newest parks, and the trees around the sprawling castle structures are pretty paltry, leaving parents and kids few places to escape the sun. But check it out in the evening—the long shadows cool the playground down, and once the sun dips below the trees, the temperature is more tolerable. I'm going to lump Bishop Park (705 Sunset Dr.) and Memorial Park (293 Gran Ellen Dr.) into the same group because the playground at each park is pretty similar. While each is surrounded by trees—giving parents a good place to sit and read while the kids play—the playgrounds themselves are parched. But since each park has so many other offerings, it's not necessary to keep your kids out in the sun for Open Spaces for Play: There are several other parks with just qreenspace, and if you can stand to pack a lunch after peeling yourself off the couch, these shouldn't be missed. Specifically, check out North Oconee River Park East and West, which flank the river between Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway and Willow Street. The West park, bordering the Greenway on Willow Street, has lovely rolling, grassy hills dotted by trees and tables, perfect for a packed lunch. You can explore along the river or take bikes along the wide sidewalk and paved paths leading out of the park. Yes, I said "bikes." I know it's hot. I know it's nice and air-conditioned inside. But, I promise, once you get out of the house, it'll be worth it. Kristen Morales July happens to be National Park and Recreation Month; you can print a calendar of activity ideas for every day by visiting http://bit ly/n3YXuM. FORGOTTEf^ Treasure or nit WERNER HERZOG CINE kids .Midnight «E In s CLASSIC CARTOONS SUMMER FAMILY MATINEES SATURPAYS ♦ SUNPAYS 'SSt®® * zn&BEsnn 1307 PRINCE flVE. ATHENS, 6P 30606 lillUUl.lKEflNDJRNE.COfll 50C OFF fl BREAKFAST SRNDU1ICH UilTH COUPON. GOOD THRU 07/19. m-F 6:30-5:00 SSS 8:00-2:00 Summer Sale! 50% OFF select kids' clothes and shoes helix °flie • accessories .Va& TATTOO REMOVAL FAST, EFFECTIVE AMD REASONABLY PRICED STOP IN FOR A CONSULTATION AND LOSE THAT UNWANTED INK! 800 OyMborpv flty<?. fltb^nv 706-^9-0190 Sa/ 0/| 706-353-0500 Nour Offering 163 n. jackson st. M Athens, ga I V I JULY13.2011-FLAGPOLE.COM 11
