Georgia has no single office that runs every park. A state agency, 159 counties, hundreds of cities and several federal bodies each manage their own land. A neighborhood playground in Marietta, a state park in the north Georgia mountains and a national battlefield all answer to different offices. This page helps you work out who controls the park you care about and how to reach them.

Who Runs Parks in Georgia: State, County, City and Federal Offices

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversees the state park system through its Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division. That division operates more than 60 state parks and historic sites, many with campgrounds, cabins, trails and lakes. State park law sits mainly in Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which covers conservation and natural resources. Hunting and fishing on public land fall to a different DNR unit, the Wildlife Resources Division.

Most state parks charge a per-vehicle parking fee, known as the ParkPass, with daily and annual options. Camping, cabins and some programs are booked separately. Fees change, so confirm current prices on the state parks website or at the gate before you drive out.

A few well-known parks sit outside the standard DNR system. Stone Mountain Park is run by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, and Jekyll Island in Glynn County is managed by the Jekyll Island Authority. Both charge their own parking fees. Federal sites add another layer. The National Park Service manages Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb County and Cumberland Island National Seashore, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees lakes such as Lake Lanier near Gainesville.

Most of the parks in our database are local. Cities and counties own the playgrounds, ballfields, greenways and recreation centers that people use every week. Those local departments set hours, rules, rental fees and program schedules, so they are usually the offices you will actually call.

A simple rule of thumb helps. If the park has a campground, lodge or entrance station, look to the state or a federal agency. If it has a ballfield, a pavilion or a recreation center, look to the city or county that owns it.

Metro Atlanta Parks Versus Small-Town and Coastal Georgia

Metro Atlanta is where Georgia's park listings cluster. Fulton County, Cobb County and Gwinnett County together hold well over a third of everything we list. Dense population means more neighborhood parks, more recreation centers and more overlapping governments.

Overlap is the main thing to understand here. The City of Atlanta runs its own parks and recreation department. Fulton County runs parks outside the city limits, and cities such as Roswell, Alpharetta and East Point have their own park systems. East Roswell Park on Fouts Road in Roswell and Jefferson Recreation Center on Norman Berry Drive in East Point are both listed under Fulton County. A mailing address alone does not tell you whether a city or county department answers the phone. Larger destinations such as Piedmont Park are run in partnership with a nonprofit conservancy, so event permits may go through the conservancy as well as the city.

Gwinnett shows the county-run model clearly. Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville, Best Friend Park near Norcross and Scott Hudgens Park in Duluth all appear under Gwinnett County. One county department can handle reservations and programs across several cities. In Cobb County, Larry Bell Park on Fairground Street Northeast in Marietta and Brinkley Park on Hunter Street in Smyrna are listed the same way, even though their addresses carry city names.

Outside the metro area the picture changes. Smaller counties often have one or two parks, and the same office may handle ballfield schedules, pavilion rentals and other local government business. Staff are fewer, hours are shorter, and answers often come by phone rather than online. Longview Park in Carrollton and Huntington Playground in Warner Robins are examples where our listing gives a street but no phone number.

Georgia also has several consolidated governments, where city and county have merged. Athens-Clarke County, Augusta-Richmond County, Columbus-Muscogee County and Macon-Bibb County each have one local government covering both. That means Athens Memorial Park in Athens, Hickman Park in Augusta and Heath Park in Columbus fall under a single local government rather than separate city and county offices.

On the coast, Savannah in Chatham County brings its own conditions. Cann Park on West 46th Street is one of its local listings. Coastal parks deal with tides, marsh edges and storm closures that inland parks rarely face.

How to Find the Right Georgia Park Office in Our Listings

Start with the city page if you know the town, or the county page if you do not. Then work through this short checklist:

That last check matters. Brown Park on East Marietta Street in Canton carries a phone number with an out-of-state area code. Treat it with caution and confirm through the Cherokee County or Canton parks office. Dupree Park in Woodstock, also in Cherokee County, lists a Georgia number you can try instead.

Where a listing shows only a street, as with Cambridge Grove Playground in Kennesaw, use a map app to confirm the entrance and parking. Then call the local government's main line to reach the right department.

North of Atlanta, Platt Park on East Reed Road in Gainesville sits in Hall County, near Lake Lanier. Lakeside parks there may be run by the county, the city or the Corps of Engineers, so check who manages the specific site you plan to visit.

What to Know Before You Visit a Georgia Park

Summer in Georgia is hot and humid, and afternoon thunderstorms are common from June through August. Go early, carry water and check for lightning before using open fields. Ticks and mosquitoes are active across most of the state for much of the year, so repellent is worth packing.

Many county and city parks post hours from dawn to dusk, but that varies, so read the sign at the entrance. Dogs usually must be leashed, though dog park areas have their own rules. Local ordinances govern alcohol, grilling and drones. State park rules differ again.

Fishing in Georgia generally requires a license for anyone 16 or older, with extra requirements for trout waters and some free fishing days each year. Boating, hunting and wildlife management area access have separate rules. Check with the DNR Wildlife Resources Division before heading out.

Large gatherings need a reservation. Birthday pavilions, team practices and weddings typically go through the managing parks office. Deposits, insurance or permits may apply for bigger groups. Book early for spring and fall weekends, when demand peaks.

After heavy rain, trails, fields and low-lying parks may close without much notice. Playground surfaces can get hot enough to burn skin in July, and restrooms or water fountains at smaller parks may be closed outside the warm season. A quick call or a look at the county's social media page can save a wasted trip.

Parks throughout Georgia range from neighborhood playgrounds and community athletic fields to vast state parks and regional open spaces, all providing residents with access to natural environments, recreational facilities, and outdoor programming.

Park locations are available in 96 cities across Georgia. They are spread across 56 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Atlanta, Marietta, Savannah, which have extensive park systems with hundreds of individual facilities serving large urban populations who depend on parks for recreation and green space access.

Residents of Georgia should explore both local city and county parks and the state park system — state parks often offer more expansive natural settings, camping, and hiking opportunities, while local parks are more convenient for everyday recreation.

Park by Counties

B
C
D
F
G
H
J
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
W

Residents of Georgia can find park locations, hours, rental availability, and program registration through their local parks and recreation department website or the state parks agency portal. Annual park passes for state parks often pay for themselves within a few visits for frequent outdoor recreationists.

Browse Park by county across Georgia to find the nearest location.

How Georgia Pays for Parks and How to Weigh In

Park budgets in Georgia come from several streams. Counties and cities use property taxes and general funds. Many also rely on a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, which voters approve for capital projects such as new fields, trails and recreation centers. When a local park is rebuilt or expanded, a SPLOST project list is often the reason.

At the state level, DNR administers federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants that help local governments build and improve outdoor recreation. In 2018, Georgia voters also approved a constitutional amendment creating the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program. It directs a share of existing sales tax on outdoor sporting goods toward land conservation grants.

You can influence what happens at a local park. County commissions and city councils hold public meetings where park budgets and master plans are discussed. Many departments have advisory boards and run public surveys when drafting plans. Friends groups and volunteer cleanup days exist for many parks, and the Georgia Recreation and Park Association is a professional body that supports local park staff across the state.

If you want a broken swing fixed or a light replaced, start with the department that manages the park rather than the state. Note the park name, address and what you saw, and attach a photo if you can.

Park Questions Asked Across Georgia

State parks and historic sites are run by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources through its Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division. Campsites, cabins and other lodging are booked through the state parks reservation system, online or by phone. Weekends in spring and fall fill quickly, so reserve well ahead. Day visitors normally need a ParkPass for each vehicle, sold as a daily or annual option. Cancellation, pet and check-in policies vary by site, so read the details for your park before you pay. Our listings focus mainly on local parks, so use the state agency for overnight stays.

It depends on who runs the park. Most state parks charge a parking fee through the ParkPass system. Stone Mountain Park and Jekyll Island charge separate parking fees set by their own authorities. Federal sites vary, and some national park units charge entrance or parking fees while others are free. Most neighborhood parks run by cities and counties, such as playgrounds and walking trails, are free to enter. Pavilion rentals, ballfield use, classes and league sports usually carry fees, though. Prices change, so ask the managing office before you go, especially if you are bringing a group.

Contact the department that manages the park, usually a county or city parks and recreation office. Our listings give a phone number for many parks, such as Dupree Park in Woodstock at 770-924-9576, Scott Hudgens Park in Duluth at 770-814-6981 and Laurel Park in Stockbridge at 770-507-3840. Ask about the booking window, deposit and group-size limits. Also ask whether alcohol, amplified sound or inflatables need extra approval. Larger events may require insurance or a special event permit. Have your date, expected headcount and a backup date ready when you call.

Southwest Georgia has fewer parks spread over longer distances, and smaller staffs behind them. In Dougherty County, Chehaw at 105 Philema Road in Albany appears in our database as Chehaw State Park. It is known for its wild animal park and trails, and you can call 229-430-5275 to confirm hours and admission. Chehaw has been operated by a local park authority rather than the DNR state parks division, so confirm who to contact. Expect hot summers and longer drives between parks than in metro Atlanta, so plan water and fuel.

Savannah's city government and Chatham County each maintain parks, and several other agencies add to the mix. The city's historic squares and Forsyth Park are city-managed landmarks. Skidaway Island State Park is a DNR park, while Fort Pulaski National Monument on Cockspur Island belongs to the National Park Service. Neighborhood parks like Cann Park on West 46th Street are local sites, so contact the city or county for rules and rentals. In warm months, bring bug spray for gnats and mosquitoes, and check tide and storm advisories before visiting marsh-side areas.

Call 911 for emergencies. For maintenance issues, contact the office that manages the park. In DeKalb County, for example, our listings show 404-679-5911 for Briarwood Park in Atlanta and 404-244-4938 for Mark Trail Park & Recreation Center in Decatur. Give the park name, street address, the exact spot and a short description of the problem. A photo helps staff prioritize repairs. If you cannot tell who manages the park, check the county on its listing, then call the city or county main line. Follow up if the problem is still there after a week or two.