Park It!

Hobgood, Patriots Offer Unique Opportunities

Hobgood Park and Patriots Park are two of the most widely used parks in Cherokee County. Separated by less than a mile, both parks serve thousands of people each week.

From baseball to softball, multipurpose fields, pavilions, tennis, walking tracks and dog parks, there’s something for just about everyone.

Hobgood Park

Hobgood Park features four championship, lighted adult-youth softball diamonds, six baseball diamonds, two batting cages, one artificial-turf athletic field, four tennis courts, a playground, a half-mile walking track, three pavilions, four picnic areas and restrooms. The softball fields, pavilions and turf athletic field are available for rent.

Summer can be the busiest time at both parks, as each hosts all-star and travel baseball and softball tournaments throughout the season, contributing to the $11.5 million the sports tourism industry brought to Cherokee County in the past year.

The 60-acre park has two complexes: softball and baseball. The baseball complex is leased to nonprofit Hobgood Baseball, which runs the baseball programs for boys and girls ages 3-17. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.hobgoodparkbaseball.com.

The softball complex is run by Cherokee Recreation and Parks, which offers youth and adult softball leagues. A 2021 Board of Commissioners decision brought in more than $200,000 for improvements to Hobgood Park, including new dugouts, pressure washing and painting of the concessions area. The revenue also is funding tennis court resurfacing.

The Hobgood Park softball complex focuses on adult softball leagues (many of the youth programs operate out of the Twin Creeks Softball Complex at J.J. Biello Park). Registration is team-based and is open to anyone. Adult leagues play Monday through Thursday evenings during the spring and fall seasons. On average, there are 50 men’s teams, 20 co-ed teams and 15 church teams each season.

Four lighted tennis courts are available for use and can be reserved through the Cherokee Tennis Center by visiting login.reservemycourt.com.

The multipurpose fields at Hobgood Park are located through the entrance to the Hobgood Park Baseball complex, and are home to adult flag football in the spring, summer and fall. Active users of the multipurpose fields include Cherokee Youth Football, Cherokee Youth Lacrosse and the Cherokee Girls Flag Football League. The fields also are open for use for soccer, although Cherokee Youth Soccer operates out of the Badger Creek Soccer Complex in the Holly Springs area. The multipurpose fields are available to rent, as are the pavilions located at the park. Reservations can be made by calling 770-924-7768.

Patriots Park

The 33-acre Patriots Park, located on Kellogg Creek Road, includes two natural-grass baseball-softball diamonds, two fenced off-leash dog areas, a fully accessible and inclusive playground, a paved walking path, a large open meadow, a picnic pavilion, restrooms and an artificial turf adaptive-use baseball-softball diamond.

Pawtriots Park — the dog park inside Patriots Park — has a 10,000-square-foot fenced area for small dogs under 30 pounds. It features a hurdle and stands, which are available for the public’s use. The large dog park is 30,000 square feet and includes a tunnel and platform for play. Park users are limited to three dogs each at a time.

Patriots Park also features Freedom Field, an adaptive-use field designed for athletes of all abilities. It is home to the North Metro Miracle League Cherokee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inclusive adapted sports and social activities for children and adults of all abilities. Last season, 60 players were registered with North Metro Miracle League Cherokee and volunteers gave their time to assist during the games. North Metro Miracle League Cherokee began in 2002, and Freedom Field became its home when Patriots Park opened in 2017. Those interested in getting involved with the league can message its Facebook page at facebook.com/northmetrocherokee or email commissioner@nmmlcherokee.net.

Just down the way from Freedom Field is an adaptive-use playground specifically built for children of all abilities. It features swings, ramps, climbing structures, slides and more. The playground is the only fully accessible and inclusive playground in Cherokee County, meaning anyone with mobility issues should be able to access all of it. The playground also has elements designed for individuals with special needs, such as sounds, different textures for the vision impaired, etc.

Patriots Park also features two natural-grass baseball-softball diamonds, a pavilion available for rent, restrooms and an open meadow area. All park features are encircled by a three-quarter mile walking path that is used by about 100 people per day.

• Tennis court reservations: login.reservemycourt.com
• Pavilion and field rentals: 770-924-7768
• Hobgood Baseball: hobgoodparkbaseball.com
• North Metro Miracle League Cherokee: commissioner@nmmlcherokee.net
• More information: playcherokee.org

– Erika Neldner is the communications director for Cherokee County. Erika, married with two boys, has lived and worked in Cherokee County since 2005.