This playground is incredible! A community funded project, this playground is not to be missed - it…read morehas designs and features I haven't seen anywhere else! We love stopping to play here if we are in the Deland area. Freedom Playground has plenty of parking, bathrooms, pavilions with picnic tables, and playground equipment that can be used by a wide range of ages and body abilities. I love that the park has one main entrance gate to keep kids contained and also has the little kid area separate from the big kid area. There are accessibility features like wheelchair accessible ramps for the playground equipment and a ground level merry-go-round. There's plenty of slides, climbing and obstacles, a zip line, pirate ships, pretend play houses, and all the features you would want in a playground. I love the nods to Florida with multiple gators throughout! Freedom Park is a Florida gem!

From what I've read online, DeLand faced the exact same issue that so many municipalities around…read morethe country have faced and continue to face regarding what to do with their playgrounds. At one point in time it was a thing to build these large destination playgrounds made out of wood. While a nice idea on paper, eventually the upkeep proves to be problematic and expensive. Eventually the municipality is faced with the hard choice of costly renovations that will need to be redone in the not too distant future, demolishing the structure or trying to replace it with something more modern/contemporary. Either way it equals a lot of money that usually is nowhere to be found. Thankfully a few years ago DeLand along with residents, area companies, school children and a newly formed non-profit committee figured out how to replace the original wooden structure. Amazingly over 300K in private donations were raised along with DeLand kicking in the rest and what you have today is an amazing structure/facility. In my own area there have a been a few success stories with places like this: www.savekidscastle.org/ But there have also been a few mismanaged disasters with places like this: articles.mcall.com/2004-11-19/news/3571642_1_playground-jungle-gym-time-capsule What works here: * Lots of parking * Solidly clean bathrooms * Lots of shaded areas * Super safe recycled rubber ground which means no tracking mulch into the car * A very needed water fountain * Lots of different structures/play areas/misters that offer a ton of diversity What doesn't work: * At least when we were here the zipline was in sad shape. It needs to be raised up or just gotten rid of it because it was way too low to be enjoyable. I don't want to lay on the hyperbole but honestly aside one other park (Kids Castle in Doylestown, PA) this place is the nicest that I've ever seen and even though my kids are arguably a bit on the too old side to be enjoying a place like this, they still did. Great job DeLand! What an awesome place for the community!

Gateway Park, Debary, FL,…read more This was actually my first time coming to Gateway park to see the Christmas lights, and I have to say, they are great. Nothing over the top, but wholesome, and geared towards families and the surrounding community. We loved how the city utilized the pavilions for photo op areas and the exercise paths as the walkway to view all the beautiful LED lit sculptures. What really makes this park stand out is that kids can still play on the playground while the event is going on. Im sure an evening here allows moms and dads to catch a good night sleep for once, lol! Something else to note is that there is free hot chocolate offered here and the volunteers are using a stainless steel percolator to brew it, nice! An additional note, entry is free to the public, there are restrooms on site, and plenty of parking available. The only downside is tonight, 12/17/23, is the last night for the lights. Staff begins breaking everything down tomorrow. All in all, this was a great experience, and I look forward to returning next year.

I'm just now getting the time to post my Christmas photos from Gateway Park…read more I have lived only 15 minutes from this park for over 20 years and never knew that they did Christmas lights. So I was excited to finally get to see them. I love how they had photo areas all around the park. They really did a good job of creating a perfect army creating a perfect ambience for families and couples. The night we were there they were giving away free hot chocolate. They also have a playground and the kids were enjoying themselves. Definitely going to put this on my list for next year! This park can also be rented for small birthday parties.

Great park a lot of parking. Nice and clean grass a lot of tree around awesome Orlando Soccer staff…read moreteam

Sylvan Lake Park in Heathrow is one of those rare finds that perfectly balances nature, recreation,…read moreand community. My kid plays soccer here with Seminole Youth Soccer, and it's easily one of our favorite spots for practice and weekend games! The soccer fields are well maintained, and the sidelines have plenty of space for families to relax and cheer on their teams. Between matches, it's not unusual to spot a few deer wandering through the trails, which always feels like a little dose of magic in the middle of a busy day. Beyond soccer, the park offers a small playground, tennis courts, and beautiful walking and biking trails shaded by trees -- perfect for getting some steps in while the kids play. There's ample parking, clean facilities, and it always feels safe and family-friendly. Whether you're here for youth sports, a morning jog, or just some quiet time in nature, Sylvan Lake Park is a true Heathrow treasure.

We came across this little park while we were in the area, and what a great find! It has a really…read morenice playground that is great for kids of all ages. One of the biggest pluses, especially here in Florida, is that the playground is mostly shaded. Every park should be this way. There are also public restrooms, a small butterfly garden, a little free library, and a nice grassy area with plenty of room to run around, play soccer, or even fly a kite. There is street parking available as well. Overall, this is a great little park with a lot to offer. I am so glad we came across it and will definitely be back the next time we're in the area!

Beautiful park for the kids right in the middle of downtown Sanford…read more Large playground area would swings. Lots of large beautiful oak trees for shade. Pavilion with picnic tables. Bathrooms Free books. Butterfly garden. Large open space for picnic Great place to talk a ball or football. Minutes from downtown Sanford restaurants and shops

This is a twenty acre park that is a pleasant respite from the grind of the modern world. I would…read moredefinitely recommend this park to go chill oh, maybe grab some lunch and eat it there.

This is a 20 acre park located in Orange City. It's amenities include picnic pavilions, a play…read moreground, athletic fields, and a tennis court. I visited on Sunday because the park was used as the staging area for the Manatee Festival. For a $8 cash only entrance fee the festival had bounce houses, small rides, vendors, exhibitors, food booths, and a dog show. Valentine Park provided parking so you could board the bus that took you to nearby Blue Springs to see the manatees. From what I saw this was a nice park that locals would enjoy.

Just off the Spring to Spring Trail in Deltona which extends from Green Spring Park to De Leon…read moreSprings State Park, lies Thornby Park, a 38 acre natural area where the 1916 Thornby homestead once stood. Historically this area on Deltona's southern shore of Lake Monroe has been home to both native tribes and early Volusia County pioneers. During the Second Seminole War, the US Army built Fort Kingsbury named after a soldier who died of a fever in nearby Ft. Mellon. It was a defense stockade built here in response to the Seminoles burning Palaka in 1835 which was a major port on the St. John's River and a critical entrance point into Central Florida. The last residents on this land were Dr. James H. Glass and his wife Anna Wells Glass who built a two-story house. It was one of the finest residences in the area and it stood until teen-aged vandals burned on September 15, 2003. In the 1990's the land was at the center of a preservation battle between residents and developers. The community successfully advocated for the city to purchase the land, leading to the land being acquired by Volusia Forever and the city of Deltona. A public park was established in 2011 but unfortunately it was too late to preserve the Glass House like nearby DeBary Hall. While the Glass House is long gone, Thornby Park does have a large play area for all abilities and which is ADA compliant. It is called the Inspiration Playground and it was completed in 2012 with swings, monkey bars, and slides. In this area there are also restrooms, benches, picnic tables, and a gazebo donated by the Friends of Thornby in honor of Dr. Glass. Near the playground you will find the entrance to the boardwalk that takes you to the Thornby Trail, a half mile, loop nature trail. This area is a haven for wildlife and it contains several interpretive signs along with an outdoor classroom. Halfway through the trail is the remains of a piece of old narrow gauge railroad trestle that was used by mules to haul citrus to the docks of Lake Monroe. I had enjoyable stroll along Thornby Trail taking in the nature and history of this peaceful preserve. Thornby Park is a testament to the tenacity of the activists who fought long and hard to keep this pristine area from being turned into another development.

Well there is not much to do at this park in terms of walking trails, there is a cool remnant of a…read morerailroad trestle that probably was mule driven and used to haul citrus and other produce to the docks on Lake Monroe. Now, this park does have a pretty cool kids playground, so if you have young children, this is a great place to head towards. On the path, you can definitely feel it's age. You know that this area has seen time since the dawn of time and the railroad trestle alone proves that this area was an integral part of early Florida life. I do not see myself returning here, but I am happy that I stumbled across this small park. Again, if you have small children, I would definitely recommend coming here to the children's play area. On that aspect, I would give here five stars. While the walking path is by no means impressive, I am glad that I saw the railroad trestle and that I took the time to see this part of unspoiled Florida.

This little park is great. I love that it's fenced in. You have plenty of room to run and play. No…read morepets allowed. There's a small track traversing the edge of the park for parents and others to walk/jog. A little playground good for anyone 2-12. Splash park open until 6 pm and an even larger one in Mill Park that is just next door. Waterfountains, benches, a few tables. Perfect little place to get the kids a day outside without being to overcrowded. Bathrooms are a little below par but good enough to relieve a little.

The park is nice but could have better options for the playground area maybe add a jungle gymread more

Trailblazer Park is a great find in Lake Mary in Seminole County! It has a cool playground,…read morepavilion with picnic tables, and splash pad. There are a few trees for shade near the playground but the splash pad is mostly in the sun. The splash pad is seasonal and $2 cash per person, is fenced in, and has an attendant. The playground has swings and couple fun climbing structures. The bathrooms are clean and there is a changing table in the women's restroom. We would come back to this nice park again!

Gemini Springs Park is located in DeBary, Florida, 25 miles north of Orlando…read more Since you can no longer swim here due to high concentrations of bacteria in the waters, visitor attendance can be quite low. And since there's alternative parks situated throughout Central Florida that are swimmable, not many people will make the effort to experience Gemini Springs. In fact, I'd categorize this place as a local town park more than anything. It's free to visit and hours are sunrise to sunset. There were no names or signs for the hiking trails, so at times it felt like I was wandering aimlessly. But, the trees decorated with Spanish Moss exuded southern charm and most corners I turned felt like strolling along a nature trail. There's a dual sided passageway that acts as the centerpiece to the park and is also a dam spillway which (I believe) separates the DeBary Creek waters and the Gemini Springs area. I did spot a gator which almost caught a fish right in front of my eyes. I also noticed a soft shell turtle who appeared to be laying her eggs in the sand and some birds doing fishing of their own. Gemini Springs has picnic pavilions, a playground, a dog park, a fishing pier, plenty of grass to play around, and even camping is permitted here. Lastly, I'd like to highlight a section of the park that turns colorfully vibrant when the sun is shining... - Follow the concrete walkway (which you can't miss). - Then...you'll approach a tucked away corner of the springs. This area can be a rewarding moment for admiring the great outdoors. If you just pause and absorb the surroundings, nature's beauty shines through. It's a refreshing reminder that just because a park isn't as accessible as it once was, doesn't mean it should go unnoticed. I believe Gemini Springs Park can be a worthwhile half day visit.

Great family friendly location. It's not to crazy with parking. You basically become immersed in…read morethe wild life. Activities was so much fun because they have so many.

Great walking trails through the forest, & paved biking trails. Saw lots of friendly bicyclists…read more Air pump & bicycle tools available for bicyclists near the restrooms. Parking gets full, but there's additional parking north on Fatio. Saw small wild blueberries. A tiny red tick dropped from the trees & landed dangling in my hair. Only saw that one. Great shade & lots of plant diversity. Fun seeing the different trees & plants. Saw a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar also.

I love Lake Beresford. My favorite place to get my outdoor time in. I love how quiet and shady this…read moreplace is. A paved 1.8 mile path to run and even have the option to try the spring to spring trail if you dare. Can't wait for the expansion that's coming.