Piedmont Park in Atlanta

What are the highlights of Piedmont Park?

Enter from Piedmont Avenue via the 12^th or 14^th Street gates (2 of 13 entrances to the park), and you’ll find the Front Lawn where the Peace Monument stands before Active Oval. This field has volleyball courts and a soccer field. Turn right and after a short stroll, you’ll reach the Noguchi Playscape playground.

North of the monument leads you to the fancy and private Piedmont Driving Club, which has a swimming pool and wedding and dining facilities. Just past it is the vast collection of gardens at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Conservation Garden and its beautiful Aquatic Pond are not to be missed – you can have a round of giant outdoor chess here.

East of the gardens is the Legacy Fountain, a great place to beat the heat during summer. The Promenade next to it is a nice spot for enjoying regular events like plays and small concerts. South of it is the Boardwalk that leads you to the Piedmont Dog Park and the relaxing Six Springs Wetlands Preserve.

The shore of Lake Clara Meer is home to an Aquatic Center, where you can enjoy a few laps in the onsite swimming pool. Sean’s Heart of the Park is an excellent restaurant serving sandwiches, salads, and refreshments. You can bring your gear and cast a line. The Dockside of Clara Meer is a beautiful place where many have proposed to their beloved. On the southernmost edge of the park is Oak Hill, which has a beautiful meadow that’s ideal for a picnic.

Trails at Piedmont Park

With close to 200 acres of green space, Piedmont Park is a wonderful spot to refresh, have fun, and exercise. There are several running routes ranging from 4-mile loops around the park to shorter tracks within areas like Active Oval, The Meadow, and Oak Hill.

Wherever you go in the park, you’re treated to scenic views with either lush groves and grassy meadows or a reflective lake surface set against Midtown’s highrise skyline. Piedmont Park’s well-manicured and diverse terrain has made it one of the best places to jog in Atlanta.

What festivals and events are held at Piedmont Park?

In 1895, the northern part of Piedmont Park (where the Driving Club currently is) played host to the Cotton States and International Exposition, which ran for 100 days. Nowadays, its main venues include the Dockside at Clara Meer, Greystone, Magnolia Hall and the Promenade.

Among the most prominent events are the Piedmont Park Arts Festival and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, usually held in August. The Memorial Day weekend Atlanta Jazz Festival, the lively Music Midtown, the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, as well as the Atlanta Pride Festival also call Piedmont Park their home on different dates each year.

Good to know about Piedmont Park

Most of the open spaces and sporting activities as well as the events and festivities within Piedmont Park are free and open to the public. The park runs along 10^th Street and Piedmont Avenue in midtown Atlanta. It’s about 2.6 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta or a 10-minute drive via Juniper Street and Courtland Street.