Have You Found Your Hidden Gem in DeKalb County?

Most people don’t take the time to enjoy the precious gifts that we have in DeKalb County. There are many places that you rarely hear anything about that are beautiful places to enjoy some peace, exercise and outdoor activity. I want to talk about a few places I love in DeKalb County.

When I am seeking peace, I head over to Wade Walker Park where the atmosphere is serene. This park has multiple children's play areas, huge fields to play sports, beautiful covered shelters for picnics and entertainment, and a very gracious amount of parking and paved walking areas. I know that there is a new state-of-the-art YMCA being built along the entrance of the park but why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? I think that this was a beautiful and serene place before the YMCA and hope that it will remain. This park also has bathrooms which is a very important amenity to families that want to spend a day in the park. And, the tennis courts are awesome. This park is a hidden gem right in our neighborhood. Wade Walker Park also has a pond located in the back that is beautiful. This is exactly the kind of thing we deserve as taxpayers in DeKalb County: beautiful places where we can take our families in our own neighborhoods. The only thing about this pond is that I have noticed that they have removed some of the picnic areas and have turned off the water spout. It was very relaxing hearing that water. I am not sure what happened with that.

Next on my list is Hairston Park. Now, this is a smaller park with a serene setting. I love the fact that there is a paved walking area around the green space which encompasses a children’s playground and benches. The huge deal in this park for me is the pond with ducks. It is a very beautiful place to come and walk, meditate and watch the ducks. This park reminds me of the park located in downtown Smyrna Georgia. My only hope is that DeKalb County has more of a vision for this park and landscapes it properly. It has the potential to be beautiful; especially around the water. It would be a good idea for DeKalb County to visit Smyrna and come back with some ideas that will enrich our area. The only downside to this park is that the parking is very limited. So, even if you had a large community event, the parking could possibly be an issue.  All in all, this is a very relaxed place to visit.

Last but not least, I stumbled upon a barbershop in our area that offers haircuts for $5 on Wednesdays. I had to do a “double take” and ensure that I was seeing the right price. I entered this shop and spoke with one of the owners to see if this was a real honest offer. The owner explained to me that they have a heart for people and understand that we are in an economic recovery period. So, they wanted to dedicate a day to give back to the community by providing professional haircuts at a very affordable price. I was really impressed with the shop that I had to mention their good works. Square Bros. Barbershop is located in the Ingles shopping center at the corner of North Hairston and Rockbridge Road. Make sure you add this gem to your list for a Wednesday visit.

Do you know of any other hidden gems in the area? Have you stumbled upon a beautiful place in our area that seems to be overlooked or unknown? Have you found that perfect spot that would be great for singles and families in our Stone Mountain-Redan Area? Have you found a business that offers services at a fraction of cost to give back to the community? Please share your thoughts.

Wade Walker Park

5584 Rockbridge Rd 

Stone Mountain, GA 30088

Hairston Park

933 South Hairston Road

Stone Mountain, GA 30088

Square Bros. Barber Shop

4825 Rockbridge Road

Stone Mountain, GA 30083