Category: Parks

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Parks Reviews

Papanooga Park Roundup: Gilbert-Stephenson Park

Address: 19 Van Cleve St, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742

While this park isn’t actually in Chattanooga or even Tennessee for that matter, it is just across the state line in Georgia. The Gilbert-Stephenson park has attracted families and people of all for years with the tennis courts, sand volleyball court, swimming pool, walking track, and the former playground. In 2020, the playground got a face lift and it has been the centerpiece of the community since its grand re-opening in June 2020. 

The play structure is inclusive, meaning most parts of the playground as accessible for people of all abilities. The playground meets all seven principles of inclusive playground design: fair, included, smart, independent, safe, active, and comfortable. It includes climbing, sliding, imaginative play, manipulative items, cooperative play, gathering and social spots, jump in and out elements, and looping patterns. Some specific features include:

  • Lots of field space
  • Tennis courts
  • Sand volleyball court
  • Access to the 7.5-mile long out-and-back trail, the Fort Oglethorpe Greenway
  • Covered patios
  • Public bathrooms
  • Public pool ($5)
  • 4 person see-saw
  • Multiple slides (metal and plastic)
  • Multiple swing sections
  • Circular “tire” swing
  • Rocking boat
  • Age 2-5 section
  • Musical items, such as metallophone, touch piano, and drums
  • Calisthenic workout area
  • Large play structure with a bridge

I have taken all of my children to play here, including my 14-month old, 4- and 5-year old. They all were able to find ways to play and explore according to their own interests and developmental ability. I think that this playground is really a “diamond in the rough” to the community in Chattanooga. We are so used to the Blue Cross Healthy Place in Highland Park, the Pumpkin Park, and the Imagination Station that this great park in Fort Oglethorpe goes undiscovered from many in Tennessee. It is certainly one that Chattanooga locals should try out if you are looking for a new place to play and explore!

Rating: 5/5

Categories
Parks Reviews

Papanooga Park Roundup: Pioneer Frontier Playground

Address: 1509 Tombras Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37412

On April 6th, 2021 the city of East Ridge began the demolition on the well loved wooden Pioneer Frontier Park with plans to build a new playground and splash pad with a $1,000,000 budget. The original wooden castle park was built in 1994 and served the city for 27 years. The new Playcore playground was under construction for a year and was completed on April 2nd, 2022. 

I’ve gone on before in my Scramble Alley and *New* St. Elmo Park about how much I love wooden castle parks because of the imaginary worlds that are easily created and explored. I feel the same about the original Pioneer Frontier Park, but that isn’t the focus of this review. The new park has some pretty awesome features, including:

  • Multiple swings
  • Monkey bars
  • One of those circular “tire” swings
  • A kids aged 2-5 section with monkey bars, swings, and a small play structure
  • A roller bar slide
  • A bridge section above the main play structure entrance
  • Tower with two tall, windy slides
  • A contemporary designed rope bridge
  • A merry go round with rope seats
  • A calisthenic workout area
  • A splash pad to be opened in summer (will update when opened)

There are some parts of the play structure that resemble the plastic play structure at the Imagination Station in Collegedale. My kids greatly anticipated the grand opening of this playground and have enjoyed playing here when we have come. If you have a scooter, skateboard, or bike that needs some roll time, there is a small track around the playground. 

Rating: 4.5/5

Categories
Exploring Parks

“Local-ish” Chattanooga Swimming and Waterplay Spots: Hiking Edition

  • Elsie Holmes Nature Park 
    • Address: 88 Ben Holmes Rd, Ringgold, GA 30736
    • Hike down the trails to the South Chickamauga Creek with some water access points along the way. At the end of the creekside trail there is a deep spot with space for swimming. In addition, once crossing the creek there is a place to safely explore a protected bat cave.
  • Ringgold Recreational Complex 
    • Address: 16 Gale St, Ringgold, GA 30736
    • There is a short walking path along the South Chickamauga with some accessible water access points along the way. However, you can just drive along the path all the way to the creek.
  • Rainbow Lake Wilderness Park
    • Address: 304 Ohio Ave, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
    • Just off of Ohio Avenue there is parking that gives access to a hiking trail which goes behind the golf course and leads to the Middle Creek.  There are points at the bottom of the hill to go for a dip in the water.
  • Glen Falls 
    • access from Ochs Highway between Sanders Road and the Ochs Highway turn off, technically in Chattanooga, but on Lookout Mountain.
    • The short hiking trail leads to the shallow Glen Falls stream that connects with the Chattanooga Creek off of the mountain. You can access the trail from the formal parking area where the sign is, but you can park just before the sharp curve on Ochs Highway to hike down the steep hill to Glen Falls.
  • Pot Point Nature Trail 
    • Address: 17805 River Canyon Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405
    • If you want to hike all the way up the mountain and then back down you can, but you can also start down by the wooden boardwalk that goes by the river. There are places to pull off the trail and swim in the Tennessee River. We stopped about .9 miles from the parking area, but there are many suitable places.
  • North Chickamauga Blue Hole
    • Address: 354 Montlake Rd, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
    • After a short hike from the parking areas you will find multiple areas to swim in deep pools. The area is littered with massive boulders for sunbathing, just make sure to check for water depth before jumping into the creek!
  • Big Soddy Creek Gulf
    • Address: 11721 Back Valley Rd, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
    • There is a large parking area with a mile (or so) long path that leads down to the water. It gets pretty busy in the warmer months, so just be aware of the potential limited parking spaces.
  • Foster Falls
    • Address: 498 Foster Falls Rd, Sequatchie, TN 37374
    • After parking and taking a short hike you will find a spectacular 60-foot waterfall pouring into a deep pool of water. It can get very crowded in the warmer months, but it is well-worth it!
Categories
General Parks

“Local-ish” Chattanooga Swimming and Waterplay Spots: Non-Hiking Edition

Free:

  • Tennessee Aquarium 
    • Address: 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
    • Fountains and plaza stream open during aquarium hours
    • Water steps currently closed (as of 5/16/22)
    • Free to public
  • Coolidge Park 
    • Address: 150 River St, Chattanooga, TN 37405
    • Fountains open during park hours
    • Free to public
  • Chickamauga Dam Day Use Area 
    • Address: 3012-3020 Kings Point Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37406
    • Roped swimming area open during park hours
    • Free to public
  • Chester Frost Park
    • Address: 7872 Causeway Road, Hixson, TN 37343
    • Beach Area Hours: 6am-10pm daily
    • Free to public

Inexpensive:

  • Warner Park Outdoor Pool and Splash Park 
    • Address: 1254 East Third Street, Chattanooga, TN  37404
    • Open May 28th, Mon-Fri 11-5, Sat 12:30-5
    • Age 3 and older are $3, children 2 under are free
  • Carver Center Outdoor Pool
    • Address: 600 North Orchard Knob Street, Chattanooga, TN  37406
    • Open Now, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:30-3
    • Age 18 and older are $2, 17 under is $1
  • Brainerd Complex Indoor Pool
    • Address: 1010 North Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN  37411
    • Open Now, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
    • Age 18 and older are $2, 17 under is $1
  • South Chattanooga Complex Indoor Pool
    • Address: 1151 West 40th Street, Chattanooga, TN  37409
    • Open Now, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
    • Age 18 and older are $2, 17 under is $1
  • Red Bank Community Pool
    • Address:  3620 Tom Weathers Dr, Red Bank, TN 37415
    • Opens May 28th, Tues-Sat 11-5, Sun 1-5, Closed Mon
    • Ages 4-60 are $4, Children 3 and under Free
    • Season passes available

Expensive:

  • SOAKya Water Park at Lake Winnepesaukah 
    • Address: 1730 Lakeview Dr, Rossville, GA 30741
    • Opens May 28th, Fri-Sat 11-7, Mon,Tues, & Thurs 11-5, Sun 1-6, Closed Wed
    • Prices start at $29.96 for children aged 1-2 and 60+, $39.95 for ages 3-59
  • NoogaSplash at Chester Frost Park
    • Address: 2389 Gold Point Cir N, Hixson, TN 37343
    • Opens May 28th, Sun-Fri 11-8 and Sat 10-8
    • Prices start at $15.99 (weekday) and $18.99 (weekend)
Categories
Parks Reviews

Scramble Alley

Last week I wrote a post about my feelings regarding the demolition of the St. Elmo wooden playground to make way for the new Blue Cross Healthy Place playground. You should read the post, but suffice to say, I am not happy. 

To my knowledge there are now only two wooden playgrounds in Hamilton County and Scramble Alley is one of them. The wooden playground on Lookout, in St. Elmo and in East Ridge were considered “dangerous” and were all replaced with plastic structures, however, this one in Soddy Daisy isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. There is a small wooden plaque with an engraving of the year 1995. If this park was actually built in 1995, it is in amazing condition. It is pristine, primeaux, that good good!

My boys and I went with a friend and his kids to Scramble Alley on the last snowy day of the winter of 2022. It looked like what a Hogwarts winter would be if the construction wizards chose wood as the chief material instead of magical stone. We started out gingerly walking around the structure carefully, so as not to slip and fall, but before long a massive snowball fight ensued. Now, bear in mind we are talking two fully grown, adult men and four children aged 2, 3, 4, and 5. So, maybe “massive” isn’t the best adjective, but it gets the point across.

Although this would be an ideal location for a paintball, airsoft battle, or at the very least capture the flag. (Probably don’t do the gun battle thing because it is probably illegal and the Soddy Daisy police station is right across the field.) There are wooden castle turrets, tunnels, slides, bridges, and more. It is very similar to the old wooden playground at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee where I grew up. My mom would work with fitness clients around the running track while their kids and I would pretend to be jedi knights saving the day….Ah… memories… Well, where was I, it has:

  1. Wooden turrets
  2. Tunnels
  3. Slides
  4. Bridges
  5. Swings (regular and baby)
  6. Multiple monkey bars
  7. Short zip line
  8. Bouncy bridge
  9. Stairs. Lots and lots of stairs.

I found it on Yelp and decided that I was going to find the perfect day for the drive all the way out to Soddy Daisy to play on a playground. Man, was it worth it. HIGHLY recommend this playground for chase games, imagination play, and general jubilation.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Categories
Parks Reviews

*New* St. Elmo Park Open

One day last summer when my wife and I went on a walk with our son and daughter down the Virginia Avenue Greenway from the Sawasee Thai Restaurant to the St. Elmo Park to play. To our dismay, there wasn’t a playground anymore. The playground was taken down due to safety concerns and the new playground is now completed. 

Here are some of the features that your little monkey might enjoy:

  1. Curved climbing wall
  2. Monkey bars
  3. Obstacle course
  4. Swing area
  5. Fitness center
  6. Age 2-5 play zone
  7. Green space on the grave of the old St. Elmo Park

While it is exciting that there is now a play space in the St. Elmo neighborhood again, I miss the old wooden park. It matched the whole vibe of St. Elmo. It had that long metal slide. It had a giant tire half submerged in the ground. It was a freaking tree house for goodness sake. This new park is just a smaller, less interesting version of the Blue Cross Healthy Place at Highland Park.

I understand there may be laws and regulations about the construction of wooden playgrounds these days. It may come down to environmental impact or cost, but I just don’t see old school wooden playgrounds made anymore. Which is a bummer because my most vivid childhood playground memories (aside from that one time I pooped my pants on the slide in preschool) are on wooden castle playgrounds. I remember pretending to be a jedi or a ninja, running, hiding, stick-sword fighting, jumping, and all the wonderful things that children do. These are the experiences our children deserve and I’ve found my own kids are more likely to imagine and play more openly on wooden playgrounds, for whatever reason.

I’m glad that the former entryway was kept. It helps someone like myself who fondly remembers what it used to be.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars