Did you know that one of Orlando's best outdoor recreational areas was once a thriving orange…read moregrove? Today, Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a 183 acre park where families, fishermen, campers, bird watchers, and nature lovers can enjoy a break outdoors that makes you feel a world away from the nearby tourist attractions. This property once contained more than 2,000 citrus trees before the City of Orlando purchased the land in the 1970s under Mayor Carl Langford. It officially opened as Turkey Lake Park in 1978 with the mission of conserving land in its natural state for residents as Orlando's tourism industry rapidly expanded. In 1981, many of the remaining orange trees were relocated to make room for a campground featuring RV sites and cabins. The park was renamed Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake in 2004 to honor former Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick for his commitment to preserving Orlando's natural spaces. Along with former Mayor Glenda E. Hood, he helped ensure the beauty of this park would be preserved for future generations. Today, the park is the City of Orlando's largest community park. Turkey Lake is considered one of Florida's top rated fishing lakes, making it a popular destination for anglers. Beyond the lake, there are miles of walking and biking trails, shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, fitness stations, sand volleyball courts, a seasonal swimming pool, boat rentals, a dedicated drone flying area, disc golf, and numerous pavilions for gatherings. The campground offers RV sites and cabins for overnight excursions surrounded by nature. Admission is a nominal $5 per vehicle or $2 for a single occupant, making it one of the best recreational values in Orlando. Come for a picnic, to swim, cast a line, visit the rescue animals, or hike the trails as I enjoyed doing. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a reminder that Orlando offers more than just theme parks. I am so glad that the former mayors of Orlando had he foresight to preserve this slice of Florida's natural landscape where you never know what you might discover.

This is a really nice park and would be actually a great place if it wasn't right next to the…read moreturnpike. It is a large multi-functional, family-friendly park. There are several facilities available including pavilions, grills, disc golf volleyball, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, and even a drone course. There's a bike path, a nature path and a small animal farm where you can see a turkey, chickens, and maybe a variety of other animals. There are cabins (assuming for rent) and a spot for small RVs and trailers. The park includes several restrooms which are very clean. The disc golf course is extensive and likely a bit difficult as it meanders through several wooded areas and even one hole across the water. The park has several pavilions varying in size. Most have parking nearby, however several will require you to hoof your goods a little distance. This is a great place for a family or larger gathering. Two dollar entry fee. Dogs allowed on leash and there are several pet sanitary stations.

Windermere Recreational Center is small and during the week days very quiet and peaceful. There is…read morea tennis court, small green space, pier and a couple of gazebos. My favorite spot is the dock. The water is relaxing and you can go into it or sit and watch it slowly move.

This park is one of Windermere's best kept little secrets. Upon entering, it might not look like…read moremuch, but the park is quite big. There's plenty of parking in a parking lot right up front. There is a brand new fenced in playground that is shaded by large trees. There are tennis and sand volleyball courts. There are also multiple pavilions and a restroom. Walk down to the lake. Many people fish off the covered dock. In the evening there are lots of rabbits out by the trees. Be on the lookout for a variety of different bird species.

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.

Very cool park with a lot to do! It's very clean and the structures are new and safe. It's…read morecompletely fenced in, covered from shade, and has a turf ground. There are so many interactive things for the kids! Musical instruments, tic tac toe, items to spin and climb on, hang from and slide on, and even a picnic table to sit at! I wasn't a fan of the swing set being outside the fenced in area. My aim loves to swing, so we kept having to go in and out to get to it. I also docked a star because there are no bathrooms so come prepared with that knowledge.

I love bringing my kids here. There's plenty of parking. There are restrooms. The playground is…read moreshaded and also fenced in. It can get really busy and crowded if there's baseball games going on.

George Bailey Park has been providing the community years of family and baseball league fun. The…read moreball fields are pristine and the small playground is jam packed with equipment to burn off energy. There is also a green space that the kids use for soccer and other running activities. There are always kids exploring in the wooded area off of the playground. Lake Whitney Elementary School has access to the park so after school hours the playground gets very active and is not a good place for toddlers.

Braddock Park is well maintained. They offer baseball, softball and soccer fields. The kids…read moreplayground is small but not limited. There is shade and benches for parents supervising. They supplied a hand washing station and have water fountains. Bathrooms are available.

Never open to the public, should be accessible to everyone when academies are not playing. Really…read morethe only reason for 1 star, great facility besides this.

I absolutely love this public park. It has an excellent layout, a fantastic location, and is one of…read morethe most complete parks in the area. The playground is fun and feels safe for kids. There's also a pier where you can watch turtles and fish, which my children absolutely love every time we visit. If you enjoy being active, there's a scenic trail that's great for walking, running, or biking. The park also features basketball and baseball courts, picnic shelters for BBQs and birthday parties, clean restrooms, and plenty of parking spread throughout the different areas, making it easy to access everything. The real highlight of the park, though, is its tennis complex. Even though I don't personally use it, it's clearly the centerpiece of the park, with more than 10 tennis courts, excellent facilities, kids taking lessons, and tournaments happening regularly. If you're a tennis fan or looking to get into the sport, this is one of the best public places in the area. Overall, it's a fantastic park for families, sports lovers, or anyone looking to spend a relaxing day outdoors.

Nice community park that you'll miss if you blink. This is a decent size park with a few lakes and…read moremiles of walking/biking trails. The core of the park is a tennis center. There are several courts in good condition, including a pro shop and group pavilion. There are a few other picnic pavilions, clean restrooms, baseball field, and basketball court. There is also a playground and mini exercise area. Although not found designated as MTB on most apps, the park has an easy perimeter trail that is good for off-road/pavement cycling. It can be slightly challenging if only for some sandy stretches here and there, but generally a light workout. There are also some side trails as well as several other paved trails to ride on as well.

This is a very small park designed more for the residential neighborhood it is in than for a…read moredestination type park. For what it is, it is very nice. It has a small playground for kids, a baseball field, bathrooms, an open field and a pavilion and several picnic tables. I would north go out of my way for this park, but it is pleasant enough

Nice park that has a smaller playground perfect for toddlers, and a bigger playground with awesome…read moreslides for the big kids. There is a swing set as well. Some of the playground areas are old and a bit rusty. Park can be a bit noisy too since it's right behind a school.

This is a truly wonderful place with beautiful decor. It has come such a long way! I absolutely…read morelove coming here to enjoy the peace and nature. Plus, Andrew who works there is always respectful and so helpful with loading me in and out safely.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.