Clayton Offers Numerous Avenues to the Outdoors
Published Nov 03, 2008
The Beach at International Park offers fun in the sun for all ages.
Clayton County Parks and Recreation maintains nearly 700 acres of parkland, including nine community and nine neighborhood parks, as well as aquatic facilities, senior centers, nature areas and greenways.
“We’re finding through studies that when people have the opportunity to enjoy natural scenery within their community, it has a direct correlation to healthy lifestyles,” says Detrick Stanford, director of the Clayton County Parks and Recreation Department.
“And any time you enhance the quality of life, it betters the economy in the region as well.”
One of the most popular outdoor destinations in Clayton County is the 200-acre International Park in Jonesboro, home of the 1996 Olympic beach volleyball competition. International Park features picnic areas, an indoor arcade and game room, walking and biking trails, fishing, volleyball, a 6,000-seat amphitheater and The Beach water park.
“We’re looking for it to have regional appeal because it has so many amenities,” Stanford says. “The Beach has waterslides, a kiddie pool, pavilions for rent and 17 tennis courts.”
Another recreation hotspot is the Gerald Matthews Sports Complex in Hampton, which has eight soccer fields, eight tennis courts, nine athletic fields, two walking tracks and playground equipment.
Nature in its purest state can be experienced at the Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, which offers 146 acres of unspoiled woodlands with gardens, spring-fed ponds, an interpretive center, picnic area and 4.5 miles of hiking trails.
“We feel like we have a jewel in the rough with our nature preserve,” Stanford says. “We have a very diverse and knowledgeable staff there, and you can see programming and learn about animals and plants native to Georgia.”
The Clayton County Water Authority maintains the Smith Reservoir and the Shamrock/Blalock Reservoir for fishing and canoeing from March through October. And the authority oversees the 32-acre Newman Wetlands Center, which includes an interpretive center that demonstrates the importance of preserving wetlands environments and educates the public about natural resource conservation. A half-mile trail winds through the center and allows visitors to walk through wetlands and rainforest areas and see wildlife, including 130 bird species.
“Visitors of all ages can experience the beauty of the natural setting while learning about wetlands and their local watershed,” says Suzanne Brown, public information officer for the water authority.
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Ian Curcio
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