by David Dewitt

Created on: October 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 08, 2008

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Atlanta lies a haven of escape from the rush of life. Chastain Park offers Atlanta a place of rest and relaxation with a little something for everyone. On its 268 acres, Chastain offers a wide variety of activities and events that are sure to please any and every visitor.

Chastain Park was originally named North Fulton Park before it was renamed to honor Fulton County Commissioner Tony Green Chastain in 1946. Chastain was a champion of the parks and helped drive the development of parks within Fulton County. Today, the park enjoys its success largely because of Chastain's efforts and is a filling tribute to his memory.

Chastain Park offers a number of things that any park might offer such as walking trails to enjoy an afternoon stroll. There are ball fields for summer time baseball games, picnic areas, and playgrounds for the children to enjoy. Keep in mind that Chastain also has much, much more to offer than the usual park.

Chastain Horse Park

Chastain Park had long held stables on the grounds but the 1939 stables were The horse park was established on 13 acres of the Chastain park grounds in 1997 and in 1999 a 4 million dollar renovation was completed. The horse park offers a variety of programs including a school program that serves over 200 students per year. The park also is certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NHRHA) and offers a Therapeutic Riding Program for the mentally and physically handicapped, along with programs designed for at risk children.

Northside Youth Organization

Chastain Park provides the location for Atlanta's Northside Youth Organization. The goal of the organization is to provide recreational athletics for children 5 to 16. Northside offers programs in baseball, softball, basketball, football and cheerleading with over 3,000 children participating each year.

Chastain Amphitheatre

The most popular attraction in the park is the amphitheatre. The Chastain Amphitheatre holds between 60-70 concerts from April through October. The amphitheatre is a main venue for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra where they perform classical music concerts. The amphitheatre also hosts a variety of contemporary concerts as well.

North Fulton Golf Course

The North Fulton Golf course is a for profit course on the grounds of Chastain Park with proceeds from tee times going to the trust fund for maintaining the park. The greens were reconstructed in 2006 to help the course become a true treasure in the Atlanta area. North Fulton now ranks among the most playable courses in the entire area.

Chastain Tennis Center

The original tennis center was lost in a fire in the late 1970's and was rebuilt in 1979. The newer facility offers a number of amenities for the tennis enthusiast. The center is open year round, even on Sundays and most holidays. Chastain Park offers a little something for everyone, whether you enjoy atheletics or just relaxing. The next time you are in the Atlanta area and need a break from the routine. Remember Chastain Park is calling you to spend some time to rest, relax, and recharge.

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