Marietta Parks Offer Great Family Fun at Great Price -- Nothing

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars.

This column is dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family's bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money.

You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together.

This week, Frugal Family scoured our local sources to come up with a great family summer outdoor activities in Marietta provided by the Parks and Recreation Department: picnic areas, tennis courts, computer or video gaming, volleyball—even a butterfly garden.

- Visit the ponds at Laurel Park, a large city park that features an open play field, a one-mile track, a sand volleyball court and several picnic tables. The park also is home to a large playground that caters to younger children and toddlers. Older children will enjoy playing on the 13 lighted tennis courts or the outdoor basketball court year-round.

Elizabeth Porter Recreation Center - Afternoon or evening of recreational activities and video games for kids at the Elizabeth Porter Recreation Center. Center features tennis courts, large playground with an outdoor gym, indoor gym with basketball courts and foosball tables. Kids can reserve a space in the computer lab or sign up to play video games each evening.

Monarch Park Butterfly Garden - Monarch Park is operated by the City of Marietta and features a butterfly garden that's open year-round. Children of all ages can take as self-guided tour of the butterfly garden to see the native plants, flowers and hundreds of species of butterflies up close. The quarter-acre park is also an idyllic spot for picnics and recreational activities.

Lawrence Street Recreation Center – Offers free family activities every day. Kids can spend some time in the playground outfitted with a large slide and swing set, or play in the indoor gym that features a basketball court, table tennis area and foosball tables. The center is open Monday through Friday. Offers supervised after-school programs for children ages 6 to 12.

Henry Memorial Park - Henry Park in Marietta can be a fun destination for children who want to enjoy some sunshine and play with friends or family members. The 3.5-acre park features two outdoor basketball half-courts, a walking trail, a gazebo for picnics and events and a large playground.