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10 Atlanta parks to host an outdoor event on the cheap, mapped

Bringing together family and friends in the great ITP outdoors doesn’t have to include a massive budget

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When summer comes to Atlanta, Atlantans head outside. This means family picnics, family reunions, and softball games with friends, to name a few favorite occasions.

Thanks to the city’s many parks—both large and small—folks can come together outside without spending big bucks.

Check out these affordable outdoor venues around town, and start planning your own quintessentially ATL event—on the cheap—today.

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Lynwood Park

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Atlantans looking for an affordable outdoor space for their next event will find it at this Brookhaven park. With facilities like a basketball court, playground, tennis court, swimming pool, and plenty of green space, there’s no shortage of activities. Plus, residents can rent a picnic shelter for $25 per hour; nonresidents of Atlanta pay $50 per hour. 

Atlanta Memorial Park

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Up in Buckhead, this 199-acre park honors soldiers killed or injured during the Battle of Peachtree Creek in 1864. Park facilities include a lot of green space, a playground, and paved trail. The city website states the green space is available for rent, but doesn’t disclose rates. (There’s enough grass here, however, that a large picnic would essentially be free). Be warned, though: Because it sits in a floodplain, this park floods during hard rains, so it could take some time to dry out afterward, making conditions unpleasant for an outdoor event. 

Spring is here! #atlantamemorialpark

A post shared by AtlantaMemorialParkConservancy (@atlantamemorialparkconservancy) on

Freedom Park

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Encompassing 210 acres, it’s not surprising this Candler Park green space has tons of space to host any type of outdoor event (it’s popular with hammock loungers these days). Linking such notable communities as the Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Poncey-Highland, Druid Hills, Virginia Highland, and Little Five Points, this park is easily accessible for any event.

The Freedom Park Conservancy oversees many of the park’s events, but doesn’t mention any specific rental spaces; most people simply gather on the grassy hills east of Moreland Avenue. Here, it’s not difficult to spread a blanket, set up some chairs, and bring your family and friends together. 

Oakhurst Park

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This 8-acre park offers much to entertain groups on the cheap. A picnic pavilion with restrooms can be rented for just $50 for two hours for Decatur residents; that fee doubles to $100 for nonresidents. Other park facilities include a playground, basketball court, two tennis courts, two multi-purpose fields, and two parking lots. 

Washington Park

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Spread across nearly 21 acres, this West End park comes with a playground, tennis courts, paved trails, and a natatorium. Picnic shelters are available, as is a 150-person pavilion outfitted with water, power, and restrooms. Rental rates for the pavilion are $150 for Atlanta residents and $200 for nonresidents.

Bessie Branham Park

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Encompassing roughly 6.5 acres, this Kirkwood park features a cool urban treehouse, extensive playground, basketball court, two tennis courts, a baseball/softball field, and a steep hill for climbing or rolling down. For events, a 75-person pavilion is available to rent for $100 for Atlanta residents, $150 for nonresidents. Take note: The pavilion does not include water, power, or restrooms. 

Lang-Carson Park

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On the smaller side, this 3.24-acre park in Reynoldstown offers a picnic shelter, basketball court, and playground. It also has a tee-ball field for rent, although the city website doesn’t say what the going rate is. An added perk is the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail nearby.

Adair Park

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Southwest of downtown, Adair Park has two namesake parks: Adair Park I and Adair Park II. The smaller of the two, Adair Park 1 serves up a ball field, playground, and basketball court on more than 6 acres. Covering more than 10 acres, Adair Park 2 has a basketball court, ball field, playground, picnic shelters, and grills. Green space is available for rent in both parks, although the city’s website doesn’t mention rental rates. Picnics encouraged.

D.H. Stanton Park

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Located in Peoplestown, abutting the future Southside Trail, this local park offers softball and soccer fields as well as a sprayground to ward off the heat of an Atlanta summer. Perfect for smaller groups, the park’s pavilion accommodates 30 people, and is outfitted with water, power, and restrooms. 

Adams Park

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Down on Atlanta’s southwest side, this bucolic, 158-acre park includes a ball field, tennis courts, and a swimming pool to keep everyone entertained. In addition, a 100-person pavilion can be rented for $150 for residents and $200 for nonresidents. 

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Lynwood Park

Atlantans looking for an affordable outdoor space for their next event will find it at this Brookhaven park. With facilities like a basketball court, playground, tennis court, swimming pool, and plenty of green space, there’s no shortage of activities. Plus, residents can rent a picnic shelter for $25 per hour; nonresidents of Atlanta pay $50 per hour. 

Atlanta Memorial Park

Up in Buckhead, this 199-acre park honors soldiers killed or injured during the Battle of Peachtree Creek in 1864. Park facilities include a lot of green space, a playground, and paved trail. The city website states the green space is available for rent, but doesn’t disclose rates. (There’s enough grass here, however, that a large picnic would essentially be free). Be warned, though: Because it sits in a floodplain, this park floods during hard rains, so it could take some time to dry out afterward, making conditions unpleasant for an outdoor event. 

Spring is here! #atlantamemorialpark

A post shared by AtlantaMemorialParkConservancy (@atlantamemorialparkconservancy) on

Freedom Park

Encompassing 210 acres, it’s not surprising this Candler Park green space has tons of space to host any type of outdoor event (it’s popular with hammock loungers these days). Linking such notable communities as the Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Poncey-Highland, Druid Hills, Virginia Highland, and Little Five Points, this park is easily accessible for any event.

The Freedom Park Conservancy oversees many of the park’s events, but doesn’t mention any specific rental spaces; most people simply gather on the grassy hills east of Moreland Avenue. Here, it’s not difficult to spread a blanket, set up some chairs, and bring your family and friends together. 

Oakhurst Park

This 8-acre park offers much to entertain groups on the cheap. A picnic pavilion with restrooms can be rented for just $50 for two hours for Decatur residents; that fee doubles to $100 for nonresidents. Other park facilities include a playground, basketball court, two tennis courts, two multi-purpose fields, and two parking lots. 

Washington Park

Spread across nearly 21 acres, this West End park comes with a playground, tennis courts, paved trails, and a natatorium. Picnic shelters are available, as is a 150-person pavilion outfitted with water, power, and restrooms. Rental rates for the pavilion are $150 for Atlanta residents and $200 for nonresidents.

Bessie Branham Park

Encompassing roughly 6.5 acres, this Kirkwood park features a cool urban treehouse, extensive playground, basketball court, two tennis courts, a baseball/softball field, and a steep hill for climbing or rolling down. For events, a 75-person pavilion is available to rent for $100 for Atlanta residents, $150 for nonresidents. Take note: The pavilion does not include water, power, or restrooms. 

Lang-Carson Park

On the smaller side, this 3.24-acre park in Reynoldstown offers a picnic shelter, basketball court, and playground. It also has a tee-ball field for rent, although the city website doesn’t say what the going rate is. An added perk is the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail nearby.

Adair Park

Southwest of downtown, Adair Park has two namesake parks: Adair Park I and Adair Park II. The smaller of the two, Adair Park 1 serves up a ball field, playground, and basketball court on more than 6 acres. Covering more than 10 acres, Adair Park 2 has a basketball court, ball field, playground, picnic shelters, and grills. Green space is available for rent in both parks, although the city’s website doesn’t mention rental rates. Picnics encouraged.

D.H. Stanton Park

Located in Peoplestown, abutting the future Southside Trail, this local park offers softball and soccer fields as well as a sprayground to ward off the heat of an Atlanta summer. Perfect for smaller groups, the park’s pavilion accommodates 30 people, and is outfitted with water, power, and restrooms. 

Adams Park

Down on Atlanta’s southwest side, this bucolic, 158-acre park includes a ball field, tennis courts, and a swimming pool to keep everyone entertained. In addition, a 100-person pavilion can be rented for $150 for residents and $200 for nonresidents.