Explore Jay Blanchard Park: The Heart of East Orlando Looking for the best things to do in East Orlando? Whether you're already living in East Orlando or are considering buying a home in East Orlando, Jay Blanchard Park is a local treasure you can't miss. Located at 2451 N Dean Rd, Orlando, FL 32817, it's the perfect outdoor escape near UCF. What makes Blanchard Park special? The Little Econ Trail: Over 7 miles of paved, shaded trails for easy riding, running, or walking. Family Fun: 2 large shaded playgrounds with oak canopies and sunshades to keep the kids cool. Active Lifestyle: 6 tennis courts, beach volleyball, basketball, and fields for soccer or lacrosse. The YMCA: Home to the Blanchard Park YMCA for all your indoor fitness needs. Pro-Tips for Your Visit: Cookouts: Use the individual picnic tables and charcoal grills for a perfect family BBQ. Events: Check the Orange County Parks calendar for free movie nights in the park! Stay Safe: We love our Florida wildlife! Be mindful near the water's edge as alligators are common in the area. Thinking about buying a home in East Orlando? The Orlando zip code 32817 offers an incredible lifestyle with easy access to nature and city amenities. www.TestonTeam.com for full video walkthrough under News & Tips - Things to Do in Orlando read more

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Blanchard park is a great place to enjoy nature! The trail is great for jogging, biking and walking your dogs. Plenty of open fields and space to enjoy the outdoors. read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you are looking for a new scene to exercise, play outdoor sports, or a playground for the kids, then you need to check out this park! The paved trail goes on for miles and is perfect for running, biking, walking, skating, etc. And you can't beat the scenic lake! 10/10 recommend!!! read more

Blanchard Park - Walking trail - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Beautiful place to get some fresh air and enjoy the scenery. Part of the 7.4 mile Little Econ Greenway Trail runs through Blanchard, it's paved and great for walking or biking. There are tennis courts, volleyball courts, and kids play areas available. Overall one of my favorite places to walk around in Orlando. read more

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SKATERS, this review is for you!! This park is amazing the roller skate (team quads ) on. It is not too crowded, great scenery, mostly flat, and best of all, it is some of the smoothest pavement on such a long trail that I've encountered in a while. Definitely recommend! Be sure to park closer to the entrance because if you drive down about a mile past the entrance, the pavement isn't as smooth. I skated for about 1.5 hours in covered about 8-9 miles! Btw, just be mindful of acorns and branches that might trip you up and don't forget knee pads :) read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This is a gorgeous place to go to walk, bike, or play a sport. It's YMCA so I know it has extra facilities for events, camps, or whatnot. I enjoy getting leisurely exercise while looking for wildlife. read more

This was the first park at started cycling, its a nice park, i stopped going on dues to some construction they were doing in January, but its a easy trail to walk or ride, the section between Dean and Rouse contains tennis courts, and a YMCA, fields and nice picnic areas read more

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We love this place ! #Blanchardpark it's the best place! Also, it's super safety and beautiful place to sport outdoor sports read more

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We've come here twice for the nephews and parents. It's a beautiful park with lots of amenities. Trail is paved. Kid approved read more

Blanchard Park - Nephew approved - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Great walking path and recreation areas. Clean bathrooms. Kids love coming here. Clean grill areas around the park.

Blanchard Park has it all. It's an 84 acre park where you can fish, picnic, canoe/kayak on the river and hike. It also has courts, volleyball and ball fields. My grandson's loved playing on the playground. It's not big but it has lots of climbing and other challenging activities. The equipment is well maintained and there is a bathroom nearby. read more

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A gorgeous, free access, public park off of Dean Road. This park isn't far from the interstate exit and has easy access. They are free to visit and have a lot of amenities. The path has great views of a water area and there's wildlife around. The parking was one of the only down side. I went for a 5k event and parking filled up fast with all the cars. This made for a bit of chaos both entering and exiting. Probably totally fine otherwise when there isn't an event. The path is large and easy to maneuver. It's clean and well kept for easy walking, running, biking, etc. The room was great and I enjoyed all of it. Overall: A Outside of a bit of a challenging event parking situation, this pace is free and gorgeous! Love all the views and large pathway. read more

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Beautiful and peaceful park! Love that they have the YMCA there as well - a lot of space for walking, riding bikes or going to the playground with your children. I loved it and will always come back for some relaxing time! read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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A nice respite from the concrete jungle of Orlando. The park offers a lot in a relatively small parcel of land. There are playgrounds, fishing, even a little bird sanctuary within the park. Ler's not forget the YMCA. I would advise people to use a bit of the caution that should be used anywhere, keeping aware of your surroundings, especially when it is more empty. Like early mornings. Years back there was a rape of a jogger. That does not mean this park is unsafe, but I implore people to keep in mind that there are bad people out there and while I do not wish anyone to allow that to impede on their enjoyment of their lives, I do recommend using common sense and being aware. Blanchard Park is a great spot for reflection, activities, and more. I recommend seeking it out and escaping the hustle and bustle of Orlando, if even for a moment. read more

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this was a bench in front of the lake super serene and calming definitely will return read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I figured it's about time I wrote a review for this place given that I'm here practically everyday. This is a nice little park with excellent running, walking, biking trails. The scenic views of the water, and various trees, shrubs, animal life is great for people who enjoy the outdoors like myself. It's because of the views that I much prefer to come here rather than solicit a membership at a gym. They use to have mile markers and for some reason they don't anymore so you kinda have to remember where they were placed or use a fitness app to keep track of it. There's several kiosk and BBQ posts all over the park, some with gazebo's, some with just picnic tables, and two kids play areas as well as tennis/basketball court. Did I leave anything out?.. Oh that's right, they have a YMCA here too. A lot of people stray from coming here because they feel that it's not safe, but I think that can be true anywhere you go now in days. You can enjoy the amenities the park has to offer but use common sense; If you're a young woman especially, don't come running/walking here when it's dark out. If there aren't a lot of people around, don't venture into the areas where it would take you an extended amount of time to get back out into public eye. Keep your cellphone on you, and if something seems weird, call the main office (407) 208-0954 and someone in one of those golf carts will check it out for you. read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I'm a walker. Not of the undead variety; definitely a little more "gotta stay healthy" and less "--ahahhhah--hhhhhh--". Therefore, Blanchard Park is one of my favorite haunts on this side of town. There are playgrounds, soccer fields, tennis courts, pavilions, picnic tables, and 7.9 miles of paved trail for walkers, runners, bikers, and skaters to peruse. Canoeing is also permitted on the Little Econ River. The scenery is pleasant -- lots of green and I always love taking shots of the river; the wildlife is also abundant. If you set out early enough in the morning, you can walk the trail without worrying about getting a heat stroke in the glaring heat of the sun. Throughout the trail, there are markers, fountains, and benches so you can get plenty of rest, and when you finish, the YMCA has a Tropical Smoothie. So be sure to drop in for a refreshing beverage. :) When the day's pleasant, you can always find a nice spot or bench near the river to catch up on your reading or do some light studying. Oftentimes, I always find photographers or artists near the riverbank, capturing the serenity of nature. Bring some food and you've got the perfect set up for a picnic and people-watching. I definitely recommend this park for anyone with children as there are several covered playgrounds and plenty of room for them to just run wild. The area seems relatively safe, though I do recommend either going at a decent time or going with a buddy if you're venturing on the trails-- I've heard reports of robberies near nighttime. See you there~ read more

Blanchard Park - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

The park is pretty. The lake is big and the path is great and is used for walking, running and cycling. There are 2 tennis courts and the YMCA is on the grounds. There are only 2 pavilions for picnics and I didn't see any other designated areas with grills for bbq. It's a nice green space to get yourself and your family moving. read more

This was the first park I visited when moving to Orlando a few years ago and it's the one I most frequent still to this day! I have walked, ran, rollerskated throughout the park and it's one of my favorites around Orlando! When it's comes to the rest of the little Econ greenway trail this is the part of it I prefer to walk on, definitely feels safer. I usually bring my dog out here to get a nice walk in. We usually come midday because it is not as busy versus later in the evenings it can get pretty busy. There are soccer fields that are well kept, accessible bathrooms, playground, trails that lead into the Forrest and trails out on a path, and fishing spots! Perfect park to come and relax. read more

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Beautiful park! New to FL and hit the bike trail with a good friend for the first time. Loved it!!! Highly recommended! Beautiful and perfect for any activity. Dates night/picnic night next!! read more

Great rail trail that goes through this park. We have walked, skated, and rode our bikes through. Its very peaceful and quiet. There are a few places along the trail to park and access it along the way. read more

Have been to this park a handful of times with my husky and always have a great time!!!

Recently, I attended a race here on Father's Day. It was a simple 5K, but still have me a good idea of what the park's facilities had. Some tennis courts, a parallel river running alongside the running path and a swimming facility. I'm not sure how large the paths are there, so this might reduce the amount of long training sessions I could do there. But, definitely a possibility. Plus, there are great brunch places near by! read more

Loving this park!! It's pretty big, has two entrances, a dog park, plenty of walking and riding trails (bikes and what-have you) and their own YMCA that is fully packed with all the amenities you would expect from a YMCA. They additionally have playgrounds, picnic benches, grills, restroom facilities, a soccer field, exercise and training field and a lake with a spectacular scenery (make sure you hang around toward the evenings so you can enjoy the sunset). People are friendly, polite and respectful and park employees and community service workers and always making sure the park is clean and worthy of visiting. It does get crowded, even during the week, but obviously morning and evenings are busiest. Still, a pretty big park with plenty of space and parking. Worthy of visiting with the family or on your own. read more

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great park. there is a YMCA branch there. sports areas, foot and bike trail, play ground, and pavilions, too. remember: the cops may want to inspect your drinks as this is a condition of using the park. ***NO ALCOHOL!!!*** and behave there, too. oh, by the way... NO swimming in the canal there! read more

Blanchard park is a beautiful place to go whether you're looking to fish, canoe, walk a dog, exercise or anything under the sun. I constantly take my daughter on trips to the playground where she can enjoy many objects to interact with and other kids to meet as friends. There are multiple soccer fields and a YMCA. There are also tennis courts, outdoor pool at the Y, basketball courts, concrete and nature trails. Not far down the road is Downey Park but this one offers its own degree of fun and is a clear choice over Downey and day. You get wildlife from the opposite end of the river and may encounter a gator while watching the sunset which can simply take your breath away. This is my go to park for play and even me time for quiet scenic getaway. Stop by, have a picnic, being yourself or the family and enjoy a gem of a park between Dean and Rouse. read more

This park is located pretty close to UCF. My daughter and I had some to time to kill before dinner so we came over for a stroll. The park is 84 acres and runs along the Little Econ River that flows through the park. There is a paved 8.1 mile trail that runs along the river it that is popular with people who come for exercise. On the day we were there we saw a lot of birds at twilight nesting in the trees along the river. Other park amenities include sports fields, playgrounds, and picnic tables and pavilions. This park is great for team sports , hiking, fishing, running, canoeing, and cycling. There is also a YMCA family center at the park entrance. On the night of my visit the park was filled with families having a picnic dinner, kids playing on the playground, runners and cyclists on the trails, and groups of people playing soccer on the field. It looks like a popular recreation destination for the people of Central Florida. read more

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All around great park for anyone young, old, furry or fuzzy! I've been here twice so far and I love it. It has a nice, wide, paved sidewalk that stretches from end of the park to the other with a gorgeous view of the river beside it. There's numerous benches and trashcans, bathroom facilities, a nice playground, soccer field, tennis courts and probably more that I haven't discovered! You can enter/exit the park from either side (N Dean Rd or Rouse Rd). There is no fee to enter or park which is nice and there is ample parking along the stretch. The hours are 8-8pm I believe and they prohibit alcohol. It is pet and kid friendly. Just be considerate and pick up after your pets/kids - no one wants to walk into a brown surprise or see trash on the ground! I like to come here with a good book and lay out on the grass by the water. There are trees scattered on the grassy knolls that provide shade from the sun and curious birds that like to come over and say hi. Come with friends or alone if you need some peace and quite! read more

Blanchard Park - Lovely scenery - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This is a great park/recreational area! There's a lot of space and a lot to do here. I'm glad I found this spot. There's a long way of paved path for walking or running.. There's no way to get lost here haha There's tennis courts, volleyball, play areas for kids, BBQ areas, benches over looking the river, gazebos, plenty of grass area.. Ideal for dog walks/run/play. There's also off the paved path nature trails... Designated for walking. It's an over all great park. Anyone should come check this place out! read more

Blanchard Park - A'whole lot to do - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Great family friendly park with plenty of amenities. They have Tennis courts, basketball courts, bike/walking trails, football & soccer fields and there's even a YMCA located inside. read more

Great playground. Nice area for kids. Plenty of space for events such as birthday parties or other events

Such a great time of year to get outdoors and Blanchard Park has a little something for everyone. This park is large and there are so many picnic tables scattered throughout the park, so even on a busy weekend, you can enjoy getting out and stay socially distant. The popular bike trail is the reason we have visited this park a couple of times recently. The trail is paved and wide enough to accommodate the dog walkers, bikers, skateboarders, roller skaters, and more. We rode just about 5 miles on our bikes then turned around and doubled back. The trail runs next to a river so the view is enjoyable along the way. The only downside is that there is not much shade to be found, so make sure and bring your sunblock and hats for sunny days. Parking is spread out through the park too. The YMCA near the front of the park has the largest parking lot, but there are several other places to park along the road and near the large playgrounds. Great playgrounds for the little ones too, but a little too busy on the weekend for us. read more

This trail is a nice long hot course. It does not have enough trees. The water at the fountains is always warm. Never go by yourself on this pathway. There are a lot of areas where people can hide and grab you. The UCF student who was killed went on her jog when there are always a bunch of people on the trail. She was also grabbed in the area by the bridge behind the post office on Econ. This part of the trail where she was grabbed is visible from Colonial Drive. There have also been rapes in the early morning hours. Again, do I need to say not to go alone? Also not a good idea to go for a run before the trail actually opens. Also, be careful in the morning hours. The gators like to come out and sit on near the walking path. The pathway that runs from Rouse Rd to Econ is the most traveled area of the trail. The pathway that runs from Econ west is very desolate. read more

Jay Blanchard Park hosts one of the best in line skating and bike paths in Orlando. It's a long stretch of smooth pathway covering 5 miles or more in one direction. There is plenty of uphill and downhill battles for you to get the most out of your skate or bike routine. There are water fountains available, park benches and areas for you to rest, as well as a small kids playground and soccer fields around, there is also a indoor bathroom facilities. If you like to in line skate, but hate bumpy roads, or interrupted paths this is one of the best places to go. read more

Blanchard park is between Dean and Rouse roads and is a great outdoors place with soccer fields, basketball courts, a tennis court, a running/walking trail and the ability to rent bikes. It's also a good place to have picnic or cookout. There are grills and sit down areas scattered throughout. Plus there is a river that runs along side the trail and is great for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. However, I wouldn't swim in it because the water looks rather nasty. There are always people running, walking, biking and roller blading on the trail. However, I MUST give some words of caution. Please do not run on this trail alone...at least not past the main areas where people often frequent. This is where a UCF graduate student was recently killed. The scary thing is it happened during prime running hour, 6PM. There are several points along the trail where it seems like you're in the middle of nowhere with nothing but trees around you. In the past, there have been other incidents as well. This is a great park for the most part, but the area as a whole isn't the best. If you go with your kids, make sure you keep an eye on them...and if you want to go for a run try to have someone with you. read more

This is a great park with lots of things to do for kids and adults. They have lots of organized activities, or you can come out and enjoy the trails to walk, bike or blade. It is a very scenic park, with lots of views of the river. It is very popular on nice weekends. I hit this park from time to time when riding my bike. On one ride, my friend had a mechanical issue with his bike, and needed to use a tool. We found a park employee who led us to their shop and let us do the repair. So the folks that work there are topnotch. read more

I've been to many parks and honestly, this is the best park I've been to. There's miles upon miles of bike trails along the scenic Econoloxahatchee river; you almost forget you're in Florida. There's TONS of benches and a bunch of water fountains to keep hydrated and take a break while bike riding. I saw families having parties with bounce houses, and lots of people fishing, roller blading, and walking dogs. There's doggy bags and clean up stations available as well. The park is free to enter. read more

I adore Blanchard Park. I have a YMCA gym membership and it's really great that when I work out at the gym, I can also go on a walk/run at the Blanchard trails. It's always very clean, there's two playgrounds, several Soccer fields, trails, fishing and picnic areas, and plenty of space for birthday parties. read more

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Jay Blanchard is such a great local park. Lots of water to fish but there are tons of alligators to beware of. My favorite is that there is a lot of parking and you can take a long walk along the lake with your dog. There's also great bathrooms and children's playground. read more

Blanchard Park is honestly one of the main reasons that my husband and I were anxious to live back in East Orlando after being away for a few years. It's right on the Econ River and it really is a some nice scenery. It's kind of a little retreat in the middle of a pretty hectic part of town. My husband and I really like all the wildlife that can be seen there - from tons of different birds, snakes, and even gators - it's definitely interesting just to see what you'll spot. The trail itself is great... it spans about 8 miles and it's a great place to Rollerblade. All that being said, after a few shady occurrences (and a murder... eek...), my opinion of Blanchard has definitely been tarnished. It's not really in the greatest area of town and there has been a bit of a spike in crime recently. Some stretches of the trail can be pretty isolated and definitely creepy after dark. I'd say that it's still a great place to go if you exercise a little bit of common sense and caution. Just like anywhere else... running alone/late at night = probably a bad idea. So take a friend, go before dark, and enjoy some of the beauty that East Orlando still has to offer! read more