Q: On the corner of Barrett Lakes and Cobb Place Boulevards is a park with a few metal paper airplane-inspired models on poles. Would you tell me about it?
A: You are asking about Aviation Park in Kennesaw that is on a portion of the Cobb County International Airport’s property that is appropriately themed and covers about 3 acres. The park is free, open to everyone and dog (leashed) friendly.
Midway along the Noonday Creek Trail, a bike share station was placed at this location in 2015 for the community’s use. The desire to put a restroom on the corner pushed for more investment in the underserved space.
“The vision was to utilize this undeveloped piece of property,” said Director of the Town Center Alliance Jennifer Hogan. “The Town Center Community Improvement District worked with the county, the community and designers to create the total vision.
“The alliance is a nonprofit creative placemaking partner to the Town Center CID. Our job is to enhance current and future projects, like Aviation Park,” she said. “We focus on public art, we’ve expanded the bike share program, we are working on programming for the district, such as the recently held Yoga in the Park series at Aviation Park. As a nonprofit we can engage a broader community than what the CID can. We can bring in all kinds of partners from the community that aren’t necessarily the property owners and we can also bring in philanthropic funds to further our mission of bringing in these amenities for our community.”
Between the paved parking lot and the covered pavilion and playground, a nice expanse of green space allows for a range of outdoor activities. Picnic tables, additional seating and a couple of grills are under the wing-shaped pavilion. Inside the enclosed playground are a variety of swings and a couple of climbing apparatuses. The restroom has been designed after the airport’s tower.
On a recent afternoon visit, grandparents and young families spent time in the playground and watched as planes descended to the runway.
At the front of the park is a mounted 1964 Beechcraft Muskateer surrounded by the “Mechanics of Motion” exhibit designed to engage and educate visitors. Each panel provides information about topics such as aerodynamics, weather, flight language, discovery of flight and related subject matter. The STEM exhibit displays a QR code on each panel for additional activities.
“We worked with Kennesaw State University to design a full sweep of educational exhibits that will be out at the park that are focused on aviation, both the history and also the STEM education of aviation and flight,” Hogan said.
“It will be a full educational opportunity for field trips for our local schools and homeschoolers.”
Excited to finish the exhibits up, she indicated that one would be installed by the end of the year and the remaining two in 2022.
Currently all programming has been postponed, but their first annual 5k/10k, the new Noonday Shanty 5k/10k is set for March 26, 2022. The race will be on Noonday Creek Trail and the 10k route will run by Aviation Park.
Address: 2659 Barrett Lakes Blvd, Kennesaw 30144.
New to Atlanta or simply have a question about this place we call home? Email your request to atlactualfact@gmail.com
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