Amerson River Park — Attraction in Macon

Angry belligerent employee in the red truck at the entrance Friday 6 / 14 / 2024 : I was driving into Amerson at the entrance today around 7:30pm. The park closes at 8pm. The employee in the red truck started yelling at the top of his lungs for me to stop my car when I got to the railroad. The gate wasn't closed and he screamed at me belligerantly asking if I saw the sign behind me. I said Yes, that the sign says the park closes at 8pm. It was well before the closing time. He was extremely angry and erratic, seemed possibly under the influence / high / or drunk. This is not proper protocol for an employee to treat anybody coming through the doors of the park by verbally screaming at visitors. It sounded like he was trying to say there was an event and I wasn't welcome. When I started backing up my car, he was on his phone and furious, still yelling. He pointed at his finger to his head like he was shooting a gun. It was really scary, upsetting, and felt in danger. There was a group of about 10 teenage girls walking up to the park and I saw them as I was backing up. I explained that I didn't know what was wrong with that employee in the red truck, but that he was extremely angry and looked like he was going to hurt someone. When they heard him yelling and screaming from the area, they also ran away from the entrance. I have been going this park for years with no problems ever since they opened and I won't be going back here again because he was so...

19 May 2022 update: Apparently someone not only reads these reviews, but acts! We returned today and the toddler swing has been raised at least 2 inches, my grandchild's feet mo longer drag the ground! Thank you all for making the modification so quickly. The shade issue over the swings will take more to resolve, but the service alone prompted me to change my rating from 4 to 5 stars.

Original post 17 May 2022: My 3 y/o grandchild and I have been visiting local playgrounds and found this one during an online search. The playground area is very nice and expansive, with sail shading over each area EXCEPT the swings! And the swings (4 total -- two for smaller kids, two for larger kids/adults) are woefully inadequate. The swing harnesses are very heavy; 1-4 y/o swing with yellow harness is too low for longer than average toddlers, the 5-8 y/o green harness upper opening is too high for smaller children, just at nose/mouth level. The sturdiness is superb, feel either would hold a more weightier adult if they could fit in the seats, but needs some alterations to accommodate kiddies better. Also would be wonderful to double (or even triple) swings. This is one of the few playgrounds with abundant covered seating and excellent parking. I don't use public restrooms or fountains so cannot comment regarding those amenities, but at least they're available. So far, this playground is our top choice and we'll return as often...

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel compelled to speak up today because I truly care about our city. My husband and I have lived in Macon for nearly 10 years, and one of our favorite places has always been Amerson Park. We've enjoyed many peaceful walks along the river and have always admired how beautiful and well-maintained the park has been—until now. Today, we took our one-year-old grandson to the playground and were heartbroken to see how neglected this part of the park has become. The slide was broken in a way that could easily cause serious injury, and there was a hole in the flooring large enough for a child to trip or fall through. There were no baby swings available, and the existing swings were not only old and noisy but seemed unsafe. Worse, the playground itself was dirty, and mold was visibly growing on the shade structures. I’m not writing this to complain, but to raise awareness. This park is a gem in our community, and it deserves attention—especially the areas meant for our youngest citizens. Our children deserve a safe, clean, and fun place to play. I sincerely hope someone in the parks department sees this and takes action. We love Amerson Park and want to continue visiting it with our children and grandchildren, knowing they are safe and cared for. Thank you...