Perkerson Park facts for kids
Perkerson Park is a large, fun park in Atlanta, Georgia. It covers about 50 acres (which is like 38 football fields!). You can find it in the Capitol View and Sylvan Hills neighborhoods. The park has lots of cool things to do, like a splash pad, a big playground, and sports fields. All of this is surrounded by huge, shady oak trees. Perkerson Park is open every day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, so there's plenty of time to visit!
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Park History
Perkerson Park is named after the Perkerson family, who owned the land a long time ago. Thomas Jefferson Perkerson (born in 1804) moved from South Carolina and settled in what is now Fulton County. He and his wife, Isabella Ferguson, owned a huge farm of 405 acres. Their family home was built in the late 1830s and stayed in the family until 1934.
Thomas Jefferson Perkerson became the very first sheriff of Fulton County when it was created in 1853. His son, Angus M. Perkerson, also became sheriff later on, from 1873 to 1883. Another Angus M. Perkerson, his grandson, became an editor for a magazine in Atlanta.
The Perkerson family had seven children. One daughter, Matilda, married Jeremiah Silas Gilbert. Their home, the Gilbert House, is now a special landmark in Atlanta. Another daughter, Elizabeth, lived in the Perkerson family home in her later years.
During the Civil War in 1864, Elizabeth wrote a letter to her brother Angus, who was a soldier. She wrote about how their family stayed in their home during the war. They even talked with both Union and Confederate soldiers to keep their family and home safe. Elizabeth described how Atlanta looked after the war: "Atlanta is a perfect mass of ruins... All the public buildings are gone except the City Hall."
In 1944, a big part of the Perkerson family's land was sold to build new neighborhoods. This included the 50 acres that are now Perkerson Park. The Perkerson family gave this land to the City of Atlanta. The park was officially created around 1952. It's the biggest green space and the only public park in the Capitol View Historic District. The park's recreation building is used for many things, like classes, neighborhood meetings, and even as a place to vote. There's also a sculpture in the park called "My Spirit is Changing," made by Toby Martin around 1985.
Park Fun and Features
Perkerson Park has many cool things to do, whether you want to be active or just relax. Here are some of the features:
- A big Playground area
- A fun Splashpad to cool off
- A recreation center for activities
- Tennis courts
- Basketball courts
- Fields for Baseball, football, and other games
- A permanent Disc Golf course
- A covered picnic Pavilion with outdoor grills
The park also has open fields, a stream, and large wooded areas. These quiet spots are great if you want to relax and enjoy nature away from the busy parts of the park.
Splashpad Fun
The splash pad at Perkerson Park opened in May 2012. It was created with help from local leaders and the Atlanta BeltLine project. This splash pad is a fantastic place for kids to cool down on hot summer days! It's open every day from May 1st to October 1st, from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
Disc Golf Course
Perkerson Park is home to the only permanent public disc golf course in the city of Atlanta. It's a challenging course, known as one of the most scenic and longest in the Atlanta area. It even has some very long holes!
The course goes through a forest with lots of trees and along a stream. It has hills, making it an exciting game. Most holes have two starting points (tee pads):
- The short pads (red) are great for beginners and intermediate players.
- The long pads (black) are for more advanced players.
Each tee pad has its own sign to help you find your way.
- Number of holes: 18
- Baskets (targets): Gateway Titan
- Tee pads: Rubber
- Landscape: Moderately hilly and wooded
- Course Length: From 5,284 feet to 6,867 feet
- Course Designer: John Ritger
Future Plans for the Park
There are exciting plans for Perkerson Park to make it even better! The park might expand by about 10.5 acres to the south, reaching Casplan Street. There are also plans for many improvements, such as:
- Restoring the park's stream
- Adding more street parking
- Improving the ball fields and tennis courts
- Making the playground even bigger
- Adding new entrances for people walking into the park
- Building more walking paths
- Creating an event lawn with a special stage for performances and gatherings.
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