Winder Legacy Park is a community park and destination playground located in downtown Winder at the corner of West Midland Avenue and Bellview Street, near the Center for Innovative Teaching and Winder Library. For nearly a century, this property served the community as the former home of Winder Elementary School, Winder High School and Russell Middle School. Today, it continues that legacy as a place where families can gather, learn, play and connect. The park is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
Park Features
Winder Legacy Park opened to the community in summer 2024 and includes:
- ADA-accessible destination playground
- The “Barrowsaurus,” a 28-foot rope-climbing pyramid
- 1/3-mile concrete walking trail
- Event field
- Small and large pavilions
- Picnic tables
- Restrooms
- Drinking fountain
- Shade sails
- Open green space
The playground was designed for children of all ages and abilities, with inclusive play features including accessible swings, a Universal Carousel, sensory-friendly play elements and wheelchair-accessible areas.
Location
Winder Legacy Park
84 West Midland Avenue
Winder, GA 30680
The park is located on the former school campus near the Winder Library.
Hours
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Overnight use is prohibited. Visitors are asked to be respectful of nearby residents and leave the park once the sun goes down.
Parking
Back-in parking spaces, including designated accessible spaces, are available along Midland Avenue near the playground.
Additional parking is available at the Winder Library and on the CFIT campus at the Bellview Street entrance when school is closed. A larger parking area is planned for a future phase.
Playground Safety
The Barrowsaurus rope-climbing structure is engineered with an interlocking web of ropes designed to limit falls to no more than six feet, in compliance with U.S. playground safety standards. The structure also includes reinforced turf beneath it for added protection.
Children should be at least 5 years old to climb the Barrowsaurus and should always be supervised by an adult.
Park Rules
Please follow all posted park rules.
Important reminders:
- The park is open from dawn to dusk.
- Shirts and shoes are required.
- No food, drinks or gum are allowed on the playground.
- Pets are welcome in the park but are not allowed on the playground.
- Pets must be leashed, and owners are required to clean up after them.
- Pavilions are available on a first come, first served basis during regular park hours.
- Please do not play in the sprinklers. This can damage young grass and irrigation equipment.
Future Park Plans
Winder Legacy Park was designed as a multi-phase project. Future planned amenities include:
- Splash pad
- Additional shade trees
- Food truck plaza
- Dog parks for large and small dogs
- Sports courts
- Reading nooks
- Pollinator meadow
- Bioswale
- Outdoor classroom/amphitheater
- Tree house
- Expanded parking
Future additions will be made as funding becomes available.
About the Park
Winder Legacy Park began as a public-private partnership in 2019, when community members saw an opportunity to transform the former school property into a park and playground for the Barrow County community.
With support from the Barrow Community Foundation, Barrow County School System, City of Winder, Barrow County Board of Commissioners, local families, businesses and donors, more than $5 million was raised to build the park.
The park opened on June 15, 2024. In spring 2026, the Barrow County School System transferred ownership of the property to the City of Winder.
Winder Legacy Park honors both the history of the property and the community effort that made the park possible.