This is a great little park in the Colonialtown South neighborhood near downtown. We took the baby…read morefor a stroll this past weekend and enjoyed the breezy weather. This park has lots of tree coverage which is much needed in the summer months. You can tell there was likely some damage and downed trees due to the recent hurricanes and some of the big oaks have uprooted. It's still a nice park nonetheless with wooden bridges, 2 playgrounds, a basketball court, and tennis court, and plenty of covered picnic areas and benches. They have a parking lot onsite as well as a community center. This park is also directly across the street from Dickson Azalea park, so if you're down for off-roading in more of a forest vibe (not stroller friendly), be sure to skip over there for a true nature adventure!

This charming park is located next to H.H. Dickson Azalea Park. H.H. Dickson is credited with…read morebringing azalea's from England to Orlando. Both he and Mayor Carl T. Langford are buried in Orlando's historic Greenwood Cemetery. Carl T. Langford (July 23, 1918 - July 9, 2011) was mayor of Orlando from 1967 until 1980. He was one of the first two Eagle Scouts in the state to be awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. After serving in the military he attended the University of Florida and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1948. Carl T Langford is most remembered for being instrumental in bringing Disney World to Orlando. Carl T Langford Park is an oasis of nature in Orlando. It is located along Central Boulevard just south of downtown. This 19 acre park has an abundance of ancient shady live oaks, wide sidewalks, and green open spaces. There are also laurel oaks and swamp chestnut trees. Many birds, butterflies, and squirrels make their home here. Park amenities include a playground, boardwalk, basketball and tennis courts, picnic pavilions, a gazebo and neighborhood center can be reserved for parties. A loved discovering the suspension bridge. In 2014 a three foot pink bunny sculpture appeared in the park. The rabbit was placed in the park in honor of Charles Smith (Chase Smith) a longtime aide to City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. Smith died in August 2013 at the age of 41, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Chase Smith stepped in one year to play the Easter Bunny for the children at the egg hunts in Lake Como Park and here in Carl T. Langford Park. He was a natural and was beloved for the role. To honor him, a pink bunny was placed here and at Lake Como Park. I enjoyed such a relaxing visit to Carl T. Langford Park. The trees are beautiful and this park is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Go for a hike, take the kids to play, host a party, or enjoy a picnic. Whatever you do, you can't help but be charmed by the abundance of nature in this picturesque park

Peghorn Nature Park combines two of my favorite things, history and nature. This beautiful 58 acre…read morepark was established in 1992 by the City of St. Cloud's Parks and Recreation Department to preserve Florida's natural wetlands and protect the area's ecological heritage from encroaching development. The park's unusual name dates back to the early 1900s and honors the local "peghorn" cattle, which were known for their distinctive peg-shaped wooden-looking horns. The park has a Cracker Village, which celebrates St. Cloud's pioneer history. In Florida, the term "cracker" refers to the state's early frontier settlers, particularly cattle ranchers and small farmers. The name is believed to come from the loud crack of the long leather whips these cow hunters used while herding free-range cattle across the Florida prairie. The Cracker Village serves as an open air museum filled with authentic historic buildings and exhibits from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Visitors can explore an old schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, cannery, and other restored structures that offer a glimpse back in time into the daily lives of Florida's early settlers. It's also an educational resource for school groups. Peghorn Nature Park amenities include restrooms, benches, picnic tables with umbrellas, a trailhead center, outdoor classroom, educational center, community gardens, a small playground, bike racks, and paved parking. This park offers Florida history, wildlife, and nature all for free. This was one of my favorite stops in St. Cloud. After exploring the historic village, I headed out to the nature preserve, where you can hike the Blue, Orange, and Green Trails. Several sections of the trails cross boardwalks that wind through nature where you can spot wildlife. During Halloween these boardwalks are transformed into a haunted trail, which sounds like a fun reason to come back.

It's been a long time since I updated this review. Didn't go often last year because it was…read moreliterally under water. Couldn't walk the trail if you tried, though you might have been able to swim it. It's about 40 minutes from my house and the trail is less then a mile anyone. They have an old schoolhouse, a cannery, and a blacksmith building on the premises, so that's pretty cool to see. Once in a while they host pioneer type days, which are fun, but yesterday's was really tiny. Only a couple venders. The blacksmith was there, someone talking about composting, and Shellie's Jellies (best jelly ever! Award winning, great flavors, my fav is the pineapple rum, but all of her jellies are bursting with flavor, except maybe the beauty berry, that one is a bit reserved) The best time of the year to go is Halloween (I'll have to go back and find my pics from last Halloween, insane). Entry is free during the day. Open Mon-Saturday. They have a fright night type of thing Halloween nights, they charge for that If you live close go to see the park often, quiet and relaxing. If you live a little further like me, at least go for Halloween! Oh, yes, the nature trail is now dry, they've cleaned it up, got rid of those horrible pallets, and cut back some of the vegetation so even my 80 year old mom felt comfortable walking through

Warren Park was such a delightful discovery on a recent trip to Orlando. This park in Belle Isle is…read morenamed after Wilbur and Rose Warren. In 1924, they donated eight acres of land along south Lake Conway "in consideration of the sun of $10" to Orange County, establishing the county's first public park. This donation was the foundation for what would later become Warren Park. For decades, this beachfront park offered a spot for folks to gather and visit with family and friends. Wilbur Warren also served as the first park commissioner when the Office of the Park Commissioner was established in 1926. In 1996, a park renovation added a dock for kayaks and paddleboards. Warren Park also has a rental pavilion, tennis and pickleball courts, picnic tables and grills, sand volleyball court, and a playground. A paved 0.3-mile walking path with exercise stations encircles the park. Note that the park is in two pieces. You have to cross the street to reach the smaller waterfront portion of the park. Warren Park is an important recreational resource for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat. The large shade trees are especially lovely but my favorite part might be the scenic lake view. Take the pups for a walk or the kids for play. This family friendly park has something for everyone.

I grew up going to this park with my cousins. It was one of…read moreour favorite things to do I. The summer. We would run around the field with frisbees or play in the park. We would bring our tennis equipment and play on the courts when they weren't being occupied. I haven't been to this park in a while, but pass it by on the way to the mall quite frequently. It's still looks as fun as I remember! I'm glad to see it's still in good upkeep!

While passing through St. Cloud, I stopped at Wheel Park to stretch my legs. Originally built in…read morethe mid1990s, the park was named Wheel Park because it was designed for nontraditional youth sports on wheels, including inline skating, BMX biking, and skateboarding. Today, this city maintained park has evolved into a more family friendly destination. It features a recently updated, shade-covered playground, picnic pavilions, and covered picnic pavilions with tables for relaxing or enjoying a meal outdoors. One of the interesting features in the park is the bilingual Born Learning Trail, sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County in partnership with the City of St. Cloud. The interactive trail includes 10 activity signs in both English and Spanish, encouraging children to learn through play as they explore the park. Whether you're bringing the kids to the playground, looking for convenient picnic spot, or taking a break during a road trip as I did, Wheel Park is a clean, well-maintained recreational space that's a welcoming outdoor stop in St. Cloud.

Rose Place Park is an 18 acre Orange County park that officially opened in 2007. Orange County…read morepurchased the land in 2000, and in 2004 they used it as a yard waste drop off site following Hurricane Charley. In 2007, the property officially opened to the public as Rose Place Park. The park takes its name from nearby Lake Rose and sits in an area that was historically agricultural before being developed. Today, the park offers open green space, walking paths, picnic pavilions, and a playground. In November 2023, Rose Place Park reopened following a complete rebuild of its playground and amenities. The playground is surrounded by a safety fence and has two gated entrances, five benches, and ADA-accessible ramp access. Shade sails to help protect the play area from the Florida sun and the bonded rubber stone surface provides a cushioned foundation.. If there is a drawback to this park it is that it lacks a restroom. Still, the park had a nice community vibe with people walking for exercise, kids playing soccer and enjoying the playground, and others were relaxing at the picnic area. For me, Rose Place Park ended up being a great place to stop, stretch my legs, and take a short break before getting back on the road.

This park is always good to stop at for a good workout or quick trip to the playground with the…read morekids ! Or let's say a field day or even a picnic! It's plenty of space for everyone. I often see yoga classes or speed training and tons of people walking or running along the outside of the park. My only downside is there are no rest rooms here so it makes it harder to actually stay for a longer time especially with little ones.

Gaston Edwards Park is located on the shore of Lake Ivanhoe. I had a delightful stroll through the…read morepark after visiting the shops across the street in Ivanhoe Village. Dr. Gaston Holcombe Edwards (1875-1934) served as a surgeon in the Colon Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. He moved to Orlando in 1919 where he practiced medicine. The history of the park goes back to the 1920's when following the land boom, the Junior Chamber of Commerce wanted to build a solarium and boat basin on Lake Ivanhoe. Orlando Mayor S.Y. Way and Dr. Gaston Edwards who was serving as the the chairman of the utilities commission disapproved of the plan. Lake Ivanhoe was Orlando's main water source and they feared it would get contaminated. In honor of his dedication to Orlando's health and well being, this park was named in honor of Dr. Gaston. Today the park offers a paved walking path with exercise stations, boat ramp, playground, and pavilion with grills. Gaston Edwards Park is a popular destination for cooking out, exercise, jet skiing, paddle boarding, or just sitting on a bench and enjoying the lake view.

We visited this location for a Brunch in the Park event a couple of weeks ago. I won some tickets…read moreso my friend and I decided to go check it out. They had several drinks for us to sample and I didn't like any of them since I don't really drink alcohol anymore, the food was really good and we especially enjoyed the tea sandwiches and the food from Metro Diner. I can't remember all the places I tried, but I'm so excited that they had it at this park as we've been by here several times, but I never actually walked through the park. Can't wait to be back!

Celebration is a planned community developed in Orlando by The Walt Disney Company in the 1990s. It…read morewas designed according to the principles of New Urbanism blending traditional early-20th-century American architecture with a walkable layout of interconnected streets, parks, and a downtown district. Master planners Robert A.M. Stern and Jaquelin T. Robertson structured the town around distinct neighborhoods centered on communal squares to recreate the charm and sense of community found in classic American small towns. A defining feature of Celebration's design is its Savannah inspired squares. They incorporate central focal points such as tiered fountains or open lawns surrounded by perimeter roads. One such space is Market Square Park, located at the end of Market Street in the heart of Celebration Town Center. This passive park features a classic fountain, benches, mature shade trees, and attractive landscaping that creates a place where you want to sit and soak in Celebration. Market Square Park is a place for visitors to meet up, relax, or take a break while exploring downtown Celebration. The surrounding area hosts the Celebration Farmers Market every Sunday and is just steps away from the restaurants, cafés, boutique shops, and professional offices that line Market Street. The beautiful setting and central location made for an enjoyable visit.

In 2016, the conceptual planning and design for Centennial Park were funded by the St. Cloud…read moreCommunity Redevelopment Agency (CRA), an organization established to revitalize areas of the city, promote economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance property values. Centrally located in downtown St. Cloud, Centennial Park was designed to serve as a focal point for living, working, and recreation within the Downtown CRA District. This passive park features public art, a pavilion, picnic tables, bike racks, benches, and a spacious open lawn for community events and gatherings. A large free parking lot adjacent to the park provides convenient access for downtown visitors. Centennial Park offers a welcoming and relaxing setting where visitors can relax and take in the charm of downtown St. Cloud.