Many of the parks in Hamilton County also feature playgrounds, and several cities have built large, multistructure community playgrounds. Among these are:
Imagination Station in Collegedale (423-468-1935)
Mountain Maze on Lookout Mountain (423-821-6212)
Kids' Corner in Red Bank (423-877-1103)
Pioneer Frontier in East Ridge (423-867-7711)
Pumpkin Patch in Walden (423-886-3566)
Scramble Alley in Soddy-Daisy (423-332-5323)
Hamilton County is also home to 46 elementary schools whose playgrounds are generally available for after-school, weekend and summer visits. See the list at www.hcde.org.
The city of Chattanooga operates 17 neighborhood community centers equipped with outdoor spaces that include playgrounds, sports fields and walking trails. Find out more at www.chattanooga.gov/parks-and-recreation/recreation27.
Chattanooga and Hamilton County are known for their green spaces and places for people to play. So scroll through the following list, pick one, two or three and visit. Explore the variety of parks in the city, suburbs and county.
Christa Selby follows as her 2-year-old daughter Madeline pedals along on a tricycle in Coolidge Park.HAMILTON COUNTY
Chester Frost Park
2318 N. Gold Point Circle, Hixson
423-842-0177
Features nine fishing piers, two boat ramps, 200 campsites, swimming area with sand beach, sand volleyball court, tennis court, picnic tables, playgrounds.
Tennessee Riverpark
4301 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga
423-493-9239
Stretches 10 miles along the Tennessee River from Chickamauga Dam to downtown Chattanooga. The landscaped and lighted concrete trail features artwork as mile markers so walkers and bicycle riders can gauge their progress. Includes two boat ramps, six fishing piers (five covered and three handicap accessible), picnic tables, shelters, playgrounds.
Enterprise South Nature Park
Volkswagen Drive
2,800 wooded acres with miles of walking paths, bicycle paths and off-road biking trails, areas for picnics and a small lake.
HIXSON
Vandergriff Park
1414 Gadd Road
HARRISON
Harrison Recreation
5637 Highway 58
Redoubt Park
6900 Bonny Oaks Drive
Soccer complex
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, RED BANK
Shackleford Ridge Park
4447 Shackleford Ridge Road
423-842-0177
227 acres, lighted baseball and soccer fields, three-mile woodland trail, pavilion.
Mountain Creek Park
1102 Mountain Creek Road
Walking trail
White Oak Park
Midvale Avenue, Red Bank
423-877-1103, ext. 2
Playground, picnic pavilion, dog park.
Falling Water Falls Natural Recreation Area
136-acre natural area, 110-foot waterfall, cave, trail. Access on Forest Park Drive and Levi Road.
DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA, SOUTHSIDE
Main Terrain
On Broad Street between Main and 13th streets.
Part art park, part fitness center and part stormwater detention pond, the city's newest outdoor attraction is encircled by a walkway with five exercise stations and three large interactive sculptures in the middle that mimic the shape of the Walnut Street Bridge.
Aquarium Plaza and The Passage Riverfront
1 Broad St.
Restrooms, drinking fountains.
Tennessee Riverpark
4301 Amnicola Highway
423-842-0177
Miller Park
928 Market St.
Benches, fountain and greenspace.
Ross's Landing Park
100 Riverfront Parkway
Across from the Tennessee Aquarium
River pier, marina, natural amphitheater, playground.
Chattanooga Chew Chew Canine Park
1785 Reggie White Blvd.
Dog park
Chattown Skatepark
1801 Carter St.
423-757-2076
Skatepark with ramps for roller bladers, skateboards and BMX bike riders, hockey rink with scoreboard, bleachers and pro shop, restrooms, pavilion and drinking fountain.
Jefferson Street Park
1800 Jefferson St.
Playground, pavilion.
Park Place Park/Ted Bryant Park
1003 E. 10th St.
Playground, restrooms.
Westside Park
1200 Grove St.
Walking trail, playground, pavilion, recreation center with gym.
NORTH CHATTANOOGA
Coolidge Park
150 River St.
Antique carousel, pavilion, interactive play fountain, climbing wall, picnic areas.
Renaissance Park
100 Manufacturers Road
North Shore adjacent to Coolidge Park
Trails, picnic area, overlooks, hills for sliding.
North Chattanooga Park
406 May St.
Ballfields, recreation center, indoor gym.
Rivermont Park
1096 Lupton Drive
Picnic pavilions, shelters, a walking trail, tennis courts, boat ramp, four ballfields, tennis complex, handicap-accessible playground.
Seven-year-old Sebastian Hilles, left, shows his sister, Sabrina, 9, how to jump off of some playground equipment at Riverview ParkRiverview Park
1000 Barton Ave.
Outdoor amphitheater, playground, two tennis courts, picnic tables, grills.
Stringer's Ridge
901 Cherokee Blvd.
Hill City Park
18 Trewhitt St.
Playground
Maclellan Island
Tennessee River below Veterans Bridge
423-892-1499
Enclosed shelter, picnic area, observation platform, boat dock.
Riverview Bird Sanctuary
1621 Riverview Road
Neighborhood green space.
BRAINERD, TYNER, EAST BRAINERD, EAST RIDGE
Enterprise South Nature Park
8015 Volkswagen Drive
423-893-3500
Historical exhibits, picnic areas, four miles of hiking trails, 10 miles of mountain bike trails, five miles of paved walking and bike roads, handicap-accessible trail.
Batter's Place
2000 Jenkins Road
Tennis courts, ballfields.
Benham Williams Park
430 Williams Drive
Playground, park pavilions.
Brainerd Park
1010 N. Moore Road
Tennis courts, recreation center, indoor basketball court.
Camp Jordan
Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge
423-490-0078
Picnic pavilion, 13 baseball fields, nine soccer fields, amphitheater, sand volleyball court, fishing pond, child play area, two-mile walking track.
Heritage Park
1428 Jenkins Road
423-425-6311
This 22-acre park features a 3,200-foot walking track, picnic tables and grills, and a bocce ball court, as well as two creeks and acres of meadows. Its off-leash dog park is by paid membership ($25 annually) through McKamey Animal Center (423-305-6502).
Standifer Gap Park
8327 Standifer Gap Road
423-842-0177
Football field, baseball fields, sand volleyball court, eight lighted tennis courts, half-mile asphalt walking track, playground.
Audubon Acres
900 N. Sanctuary Road
423-892-1499
Visitor center, picnic area, field, four miles of hiking and walking trails.
$4 admission fee.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN/LOOKOUT VALLEY
Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center
400 Garden Road
423-821-1160
Animal exhibits, canoe rental and launch, boardwalk, hiking and horse trails, visitor center. $8 admission fee.
Point Park
The end of East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain
423-821-7786
Monuments, historical markers, trails, scenic views, visitor center. $3 entry fee.
Lookout Valley Park/Warren Park
370 Warren Place
Playground, ballfields, restrooms and drinking fountains.
John A. Patten Park
3202 Kelly's Ferry Road
Ballfields, recreation center, playground, walking trail.
Shepherd Park
2124 Shepherd Road
Ballfield, outdoor pavilion with stage, outdoor volleyball court, playground, recreation center with reading center, computer lab, full-size gym.
Tacoa Park
5205 Tacoa Circle
Walking trail, playground, pavilion
OOLTEWAH, APISON, COLLEGEDALE
Summit of Softball
8646 La Collina Way
Softball and baseball complex with eight fields.
Apison Community Park
11206 Old East Brainerd Road
423-842-0177
Picnic shelter, walking tracks, tennis/basketball court, dog park, horseshoe pit.
Wolftever Creek Greenway
West trailhead at Collegedale City Hall, 4910 Swinyar Drive; east trailhead at 9408 Apison Pike.
Offers a two-mile paved trail, restrooms, playground, two picnic tables, handicap access. Passes through Veterans Memorial Park (see listing).
Veterans Memorial Park
9300 block of Apison Pike
Accessible only by foot, the 2-acre park is along the greenway path across the street from the Collegedale Public Library. Plaques, monuments and a timeline of conflicts pay tribute to veterans. An M48 Patton tank and a Cobra attack helicopter are on display.
HIXSON, HARRISON, NORTH HAMILTON COUNTY
Chester Frost Park
2318 N. Gold Point Circle, Hixson
423-842-0177
DuPont Park
4500 North Access Road
North River Soccer Complex, disc golf course, concessions building, playground, restrooms, picnic pavilions, drinking fountains.
Greenway Farm
5051 Gann Store Road
Clubhouse, nature trail, scenic views, dog park.
South Chickamauga Creek Greenway
2900 Harrison Pike
Paved trail that runs for 4.25 miles along South Chickamauga Creek.
Middle Valley County Park
1900 E. Crabtree Road, Hixson
423-842-0177
Lighted tennis courts, football field, five baseball fields, four soccer fields, picnic shelters.
Mowbray Community Park
1709 Mowbray Pike
423-842-0177
Picnic shelters, restrooms, tennis courts, asphalt walking track, softball field, outdoor basketball court, playground, grills.
Meadowview Park
11201 Meadowview Road
423-842-0177
Basketball court, horseshoe pits, half-mile asphalt walking track, two softball fields, playground equipment.
Zach Poole enjoys a walk in the sun with Tucker, a three-month-old chocolate Labrador Retriever, at the walking park in Dayton, Tenn.SODDY-DAISY
North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness
Montlake Road, Soddy-Daisy
423-842-1163
Swimming holes, eight miles of trails.
Kids Park
North end of Soddy-Daisy on Dayton Pike
423-332-5323
Basketball court, tennis court, playground, walking track, clay horseshoe court, lighted ballfields.
Veterans Park
9000 block of Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
Walking track, pavilion, war memorial, gazebo, restrooms, lighted ballfields.
Scramble Alley Park
9835 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
Wood climbing maze for kids, picnic tables, pavilion, restrooms. Replica of historic Poe's Tavern is adjacent, with picnic tables and space for community events.
Holly Park
11606 Holly Circle, Soddy-Daisy
423-332-5323
Boat ramp, picnic tables, restrooms.
HIGHWAY 58, HARRISON, BONNY OAKS, TYNER
Enterprise South Nature Park
8015 Volkswagen Drive
423-893-3500
Harrison Bay State Park
8411 Harrison Bay Road, Harrison
423-344-6214
Campsites, swimming pool, boat ramps, hiking and mountain bike trails, fishing, golf course, picnic area, volleyball, tennis courts, horseshoe pit.
Booker T. Washington State Park
5801 Champion Road
423-894-4955
Boat ramps, swimming pool, playgrounds, volleyball, horseshoe pit, group lodge.
Lake Hills Park
4395 Bellview Ave.
Picnic tables, half-mile walking trail, park benches.
Lakeside Park
4800 Swan Road
Tennis courts, ballfields.
Tyner Park/East Brainerd Park
6900 Ty-Hi Drive
Ballfields, recreation center with full-size gym, game room.
Washington Hills Park
4620 Oakwood Drive
Football field, softball field, playground, recreation center with full-size gym.
ALTON PARK, ST. ELMO, EAST LAKE
Ben Miller Park
W. 40th St.
Community building, tennis courts, sand volleyball, restrooms, picnic tables.
Caruthers Park
3300 Brannon Ave.
Shaded walking trail, playground, ballfield, picnic area.
Church Street Park
3813 Church St.
Swing set, horseshoes.
East Lake Park
3000 E. 34th St.
Scenic pond (no fishing), playground, tennis courts, picnic pavilion, amphitheater, senior adult building.
East Lake Recreation Complex
3610 Dodds Ave.
Ballfields, football field, playground, tennis courts, recreation center.
Harris Johnson Park
41 W. 28th St.
Picnic area, playground, walking trail.
Park City Park
2606 Cannon Ave.
Playground.
Pringle Park
2613 Long St.
Playground.
South Chattanooga Park
1151 W. 40th St.
Outdoor walking track, tennis courts, ballfields, full-size gym, indoor pool, dance studio.
EAST CHATTANOOGA
Warner Park
1254 East 3rd St.
423-697-1385
Softball complex, swimming pool, Spray & Play water park, picnic tables, fitness center.
Carver Park
600 N. Orchard Knob Ave.
Walking track, park benches, playground, ballfields, outdoor pools, disc golf course, recreation center.
East Chattanooga Park
2409 Dodson Ave.
Softball field, playground, recreation center, indoor basketball court.
Avondale Park
1305 Dodson Ave.
Playground, baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, tennis court, recreation center.
Eastdale Park
1312 Moss Drive
Ballfields, recreation center.
Frances B. Wyatt Park
406 Colville St.
Ballfield, tennis court, playground, recreation center.
Glenwood Park
2610 E. Third St.
Tennis courts, recreation center
Riverside Park
1004 Crutchfield St.
Playground, pavilion, basketball court
Tatum Park
1609 Union Ave.
Picnic pavilions, walking trail.
Watkins Street Park
2403 E. 12th St.
Playground, picnic pavilion.
Montague Park
Rugby field, large-scale outdoor art exhibition
1151 E. 23rd St.
423-757-5478
Six ballfields, concession stands, playground and grassy areas.