Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life - Conyers Rockdale Georgia 2017 | Page 42

Recreation

RECREATION

&ATTRACTIONS

Girls, boys, and their families just want to have fun.
And there’s lots of fun to be found in Conyers/Rockdale County.
Whether you’re seeking a quiet walk in the park or the excitement
of team sports, you can find it right here!

Playing in the park
From one end of the
county to the other,
Rockdale County
and the City of
Conyers maintain
an extensive
network of parks
for walking, bicycling,
picnicking and more. Residents
from every corner of the county
are taking advantage of the
Rockdale River Trail System’s
more than 10 miles of
walking and biking trails,
sharing quality time with
their families, getting
fit and enjoying our
natural resources.
So lace up your
walking shoes,
or grab a bike,
and enjoy the lush
scenery of one of
the trails.
The local schools
also make available
for public use a wide
array of recreational
resources from
playgrounds to
tennis and
basketball
courts.

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Rockdale County Parks and Recreation
offers activities for children of all ages such
as tennis lessons, dog obedience classes,
gymnastics, basketball, softball, baseball,
wrestling, swimming, water aerobics, yoga,
karate, jazz dance, and creative movement –
to list a few.
The department also supports several
non-profit recreational youth groups that are
run independently by community volunteers:
the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association, the
Rockdale Youth Baseball Association, the
Rockdale Girls Softball Association and the
Rockdale Youth Football Association. For
“young at heart” mature citizens ages 50 and
older, the Olivia Haydel Senior Center offers
a myriad of social events, programs, trips, and
recreational activities.
Children with physical challenges can
also participate in the thrill of the game
through the Miracle League. One of the
first of its kind, this league was created to
allow children with special needs to suit
up in a baseball uniform, step up to the
plate, and enjoy America’s favorite pastime.
Most of these children would not be able to
experience the thrill of the game as members
of a traditional youth baseball league.
Enjoying the great outdoors
The Georgia International Horse
Park (GIHP), which gained international
recognition as the site of the 1996
Olympics equestrian venue, mountain
bicycling venue and two of the five events
of the modern pentathlon, is home to a
variety of recreational pursuits. Of course
there are horseback riding and equestrian
competitions and events that range from

Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce • 770.483.7049 • conyers-rockdale.com

local to international in scope; however, the
GIHP also offers exciting trails for mountain
biking enthusiasts.
With its convenient access and spacious
accommodations, GIHP is the perfect setting
for special events, trade shows, festivals and
obstacle races. Ample parking and stateof-the-art equestrian facilities are available
in addition to the 15 miles of horseback
riding trails. GIHP is also home to the North
Georgia Live Steamers - a miniature railroad
featuring trains on which you can ride.
The Big Haynes Creek Nature Center
at the GIHP features eight miles of walking
trails, a canoe launch into the wetlands and
a gazebo observatory. Interactive audio and
learning stations can be found along the trails
to enhance the visitor’s experience.
Golf devotees will enjoy playing the course
at Cherokee Run Golf Club. Designed by the
legendary Arnold Palmer, the course features
challenges for golfers of all skill levels on a
rolling, tree-lined, rock-hewn course. Private
and semi-private clubs and public courses,
such as Honey Creek Country Club and
The Oaks Course provide more
opportunities for a day on the links. Nearby
clubs, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee and
Georgia International Golf Course, offer
even more choices.
Tennis is a popular game in Rockdale
County, and there are many courts from
which to choose. Pine Log Park, Johnson
Park, Richardson Park and Bonner Park
have tennis courts – most even lighted
– that are open to the public as well as
competitive and recreational teams.The
Rockdale Tennis Center, a state-of-the-art