Happy National Picnic Month from your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful! Although you don’t NEED an excuse to explore Gwinnett County’s award-winning parks, a picnic is an excellent way to discover all that our local Parks & Recreation Department has to offer while enjoying some well-deserved time in the Great Outdoors! Not to mention all of the benefits of enjoying a day outdoors, such as stress reduction, much needed doses of Vitamin D and good old fashioned FRESH AIR! Did you know that people tend to spend 90% of their time indoors and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the air INDOORS could actually be anywhere from two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors, due to things like mold, dust, tobacco smoke, household cleaning products and more? So… what are you waiting for? Grab a blanket, a basket and a smorgasbord of tasty treats, then head outside to one or more of these awesome parks peppered throughout the county! Many feature pavilions with picnic tables, as well as, meadows and/ or open greenspace – providing the perfect spot for a classic picnic.
Tribble Mill Park
2125 Tribble Mill Parkway, Lawrenceville 30045
Since Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful had a hand in cleaning up the land upon which Tribble Mill Park now sits, it holds a special place in our hearts! Today, it features 713 picturesque acres with a Fishing lake, Boat ramp, Ozora Meadows (accommodates up to 3,500 people for large events), Playground, Pavilions, 3.4-mile paved trail, Cross Country Course and Non paved trails for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking.
Little Mulberry Park
3855 Fence Road, Auburn 30011
At a sprawling 892 acres, this park boasts FOUR entrances – one in Auburn and the other three in Dacula. It also boasts Multiple pavilions and playgrounds, Fishing lake, Overlook area at one of the highest elevations in Gwinnett, 18-hole disc golf course, Nature preserve, Equestrian trail parking, and over 5 miles of trails for walking and riding horses.
West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center
4488 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Berkeley Lake 30071
Showcasing a pool deck that proves ideal for a poolside picnic, this park also features Indoor 25-yard by 25-meter competition pool with 750-seat spectator area, Instructional pool that is open year-round, and Outdoor leisure pool with zero-depth entry, Two giant waterslides, River channel and water play structures.
Bogan Park
2723 North Bogan Road, Buford 30519
In addition to pavilions for hosting your picnic, this incredible 83-acre park boasts a Community Recreation center, Indoor aquatic center with competition and leisure play pools, Outdoor basketball courts, a Seven field baseball/softball complex, Sand volleyball courts, Playgrounds and Two miles of walking trails.
Duncan Creek Park
3700 Braselton Highway, Dacula 30019
This 110-acre park was voted one of Atlanta’s star playgrounds by Atlanta Parent Magazine. It features a skate complex, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, Playground with handicap-accessible features,
Pavilion and Football/multi-purpose field with lighted walking track.
McDaniel Farm Park
Historic Entrance: 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth 30096
Park Entrance: 3020 McDaniel Road, Duluth 30096
For a truly unique picnic experience, visit this 134-acre historic park, which features a restored farm depicting a typical 1930’s farm in Gwinnett County with Furnished farmhouse, Barn, Blacksmith shed, Carriage house and Tenant house, as well as over 3 miles of walking trails, Farm-themed playground, Dog park area and Rustic Pavilion overlooking scenic greenspace. It’s one of Gwinnett’s newest additions!
Rhodes Jordan Park
100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville 30046
This 162-acre park at the heart of Historic Lawrenceville boasts a Community recreation center, Fishing lake, Pavilions, Playgrounds, Baseball/softball fields, Football field overlay, Outdoor leisure play pool,
Tennis center, Outdoor basketball court, Soccer fields, Horseshoe court and 1.9-mile paved trail.
J.B. Williams Park
4935 Five Forks-Trickum Road, Lilburn 30047
At a slightly more “intimate” 25 acres, this park showcases a Dog park area, Skate complex, Playground, Pavilion, Baseball/softball field with lighted walking track and .75-mile paved trail.
Bay Creek Park
175 Ozora Road, Loganville 30052
This very special 154-acre park features a Handicapped-accessible ball field and playground for children with special needs as well as Baseball/softball fields, Football/multi-purpose field with lighted walking track, Skate complex, Playgrounds, Tennis courts, Basketball courts, Pavilion and 1-mile paved trail.
Lucky Shoals Park
4651 Britt Road, Norcross 30093
In addition to picnic pavilions, this 68-acre park features a Community recreation center, Indoor and outdoor basketball courts, Indoor badminton courts, Indoor walking track, Multi-purpose youth fields + a Multi-purpose adult field, Lighted tennis courts, Playground and 1.14-mile paved trail.
Jones Bridge Park
4901 East Jones Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners 30092
For a scenic riverside picnic, this 30-acre park will NOT disappoint. Fun for all ages, it features Pavilions,
Playground, Good Age Community Room, Sand volleyball court, Soccer fields and River overlook areas that are ideal for fishing.
Lenora Park
Gym & Disc Golf Entrance: 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville 30039
Football/Multi Entrance: 4500 Lenora Church Road, Snellville 30039
Pool Entrance: 4315 Lenora Church Road, Snellville 30039
This 178-acre park in the southernmost reaches of the county features three entrances plus Gym, Baseball/softball fields, Fishing lake, Dog park, 18-hole Disc Golf Course, 1.5-mile paved trail, Pavilion, Playground, Fishing Lake, Football/multi-purpose field with lighted walking track, and Outdoor leisure play pool.
E.E. Robinson Park
Baseball/Softball Complex: 885 Level Creek Road, Sugar Hill 30518
Multi-Purpose Complex: 650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Sugar Hill 30518
Spread out over 119 acres, this park features two entrances, Multiple playgrounds, Pavilions, Baseball/softball fields, Tennis center, Sand volleyball courts, Football/multi-purpose field with lighted track, Brand New Interactive fountain and .95-mile paved trail with bridge. FUN FACT: One of the pavilions at this park is named in honor of GCB’s beloved former Executive Director, Connie Wiggins!
George Pierce Park
55 Buford Highway, Suwanee 30024
Weighing in at an impressive 304 acres, George Pierce represents fun for a wide range of ages with Prime Timers Pointe Senior Recreation Wing in the Community Recreation Center, Outdoor basketball courts, Soccer fields, Football/multi-purpose field, Youth baseball/softball fields, Adult softball fields, Playground, Pavilions, Shuffleboard Courts, Pond, and a network of trails including 2.6 paved miles + 1.2 non-paved miles + the Ivy Creek Greenway Trailhead for another 1.25 paved miles.
Harbins Park
Park Entrance: 2995 Luke Edwards Road, Dacula 30019
Equestrian Entrances: 2405 Indian Shoals Road, Dacula 30019
Football/Multi Entrance: 2550 Indian Shoals Road Dacula 30019
Baseball Complex: 3200 New Hope Road, Dacula 30019
Want a little more room to spread out? This sprawling park is Gwinnett County’s largest at an astounding 1,900 acres with four separate entrances. Sprinkled throughout, visitors will find Playgrounds, Pavilions, Mile after mile of paved and non-paved trails, Football/multi-purpose field with lighted walking track, Dog park area, River Channel, Lake and Seven-field baseball/softball complex.
Needless to say, with a whopping total of 50 AWESOME parks throughout Gwinnett County, we can’t list them all. This is merely a spectacular sampling to help you get started. To view a complete listing, please visit the Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation website.
When packing your picnic, our blog “5 Easy Tips to Hosting a Planet-Friendly Picnic” is a must-read!
Image source: By J. Putnam (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Information source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality