City of Forest Acres Parks

City Park Usage: What's Permitted & What's Prohibited

The City of Forest Acres welcomes residents to enjoy our public parks for personal recreation and small gatherings. Informal events such as birthday parties, family picnics, or T-ball team celebrations do not require an event permit and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Because these are private gatherings, the City does not maintain a reservation calendar for small parties.

Organized events hosted by nonprofits, businesses, churches, schools, or other organizations require prior approval from the City. An Event Application must be completed, submitted, and approved before the event takes place. Events held without the required approval may be subject to cancellation or shutdown.

Requestors may fill out an event application here.

All park users are expected to help keep our parks clean and enjoyable for everyone. Groups must remove all trash and leave the area free of food, paper products, confetti, balloons, decorations, and any other debris before departing. 

Neighborhood Parks

Forest Acres is known for having some of the best parks in the midlands. Citadel Park, Idalia Park, and Pinetree Park are all neighborhood parks found tucked away along tree-lined residential streets in southern Forest Acres. They all feature open areas for picnicking or playing. 

Gills Creek Memorial Park

Gills Creek Memorial Park is along Gills Creek at 24 Forest Lake Place Drive. It opened in April 2024 and features a greenspace, a boardwalk for fishing, a splash pad and performance stage and a fallen police officer memorial in honor of two Forest Acres Police Officers shot and killed in the line of duty: Richey O'Brian Finch (1974) and Greg Alia (2015).

The park is open year round sun up to sun down and its splash pad is open in the spring, summer and fall from sun up to sun down.

Citadel Park and Idalia Park

Citadel Park and Idalia Park are also equipped with playground activities for children of all ages and comfortable seating for adults. 

Pinetree Park

Pinetree Park is an open, peaceful green space with swings and picnic tables. It is ideal for children or pets to run and play uninterrupted. Or for adults to enjoy a spot to read and relax.

Quinine Hill Park

Quinine Hill Park features a walking trail with a forgiving rubber surface for easy walking or jogging. It is located near the intersection of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard. Quinine Hill Park also has covered picnic tables for small gatherings or events and quiet seating for lunch-hour getaways or afternoon reading.

In the fall of 2022, the city announced it had purchased nearly six acres of land at the Richland Mall site located at the corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard, a gateway into Forest Acres. The mall itself was sold to Southeastern Development with plans to level the structure and build a mixed-use commercial and residential property with a five to ten year completion date.

In conjunction, the city will build its largest park along the back edge near the creek. That park's plans and name are still in the early stages of development but the goal is a large greenspace and amphitheater to host large city events such as Sweet Seasons and community concerts like it has in the past.