Coolidge Park

There is more to say about Coolidge Park than one post can cover, but I'll take a stab at the first one here. This is the "central park" of Chattanooga.  This is where you'll find the mingling of everyone who loves Chattanooga--walkers, joggers, bikers, kids tossing the frisbee, people sitting quietly contemplating life, kids, adults, grillers, picnickers, sunscreen, swimsuits, family reunions, climbing walls, carousels...

It's where you can have festivals, concerts, fundraisers, fun runs...

You get the picture? This is a pulsing, living, center of the play life of Chattanooga.

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? yes

COST? none for the fountain; the carousel costs $1, kids 2 and under are free

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): 9am-7pm

Winter hours: 12-6pm

The two main guided play areas of the park are a fountain and a carousel.

I absolutely love the fact that you can show up for the fountain at 9:25, a few minutes before it turns on, and there will be almost no one there. The fountain will come on, the kids will play, you might zone out for a second, and all of a sudden there are dozens of kids enjoying the fountain with your own. Like magic they come from the paths, from behind the bushes, from the lawn of the park, drawn to the cool fountains in the hot sunshine.

The beauty of this fountain is that you can choose your level of involvement. An adult can easily splash their feet in the shorter fountains and feel refreshed. A timid toddler can sit in their swim diaper and play with a cup in the smaller fountain and be well entertained. And then there are the older kids who can fold themselves in the center fountain and feel the thrill and the risk of moving water all around them.

When you're done with the fountain, hit the nearby restrooms (located on either side of the pavilion), don dry clothes and head to the antique carousel located right next to the fountain. This 1894 carousel was restored by local wood carver Bud Ellis and his team. There are 52 beautiful animals to choose from and a few carriage seats for the parents who don't want to ride. The inner circles of animals move up and down, so be sure to choose one of those if you want the full carousel ride feel.

{MAP FOR COOLIDGE PARK}