This park is so relaxing! Even on a cloudy, overcast, windy day, it's still warm enough to take a bike ride and gawk at the alligators and watch the cute turtles clamor for your attention. The walking path goes around the lake and towards some smaller ponds, trees, and vegetation. The pavillions provide shelter for family or group picnics. Restrooms avaialable!! Children in strollers, small bikes and even baby carriages can be seen with their loving caregivers who are getting out of the house for fresh air and peace of mind. There are a few restaurants here, if you get hungry, and a micro-brewry (First Magnitude) just about a five-minute walk away, if you are in mood for some delicious suds. Bring a blanket and have a picnic in the grass. Do some yoga, practice tai chi, or just sit at one of the benches and chat with a friend. This is a place to recharge your energy, so get ready to feel better! read more

See all

We saw some alligators swimming around. Lots of turtles too. Bird watching is fun. The fountain is pretty. They need to have an available washroom. The hours at the nearby bars are not convenient. read more

Depot Park - Alligator - Parks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This 32 acre city park in Gainesville is the largest public green space in the downtown area. This outdoor hub is a great place to see alligators, birds, and a great place for children to play at the playground. Inspired by the blue water caverns in Central Florida, the Splash in the Blue Grotto with waterfalls and ground jets is a great spot for play. The play area is open dawn to dusk. Stroll the Promenade overlooking the pond or relax on the open lawns. Covered Picnic at the Pavilion for family gatherings. Depot Station for a few restaurants. Cade Museum is also on the property. Periodically there are concerts or food trucks. A nice open air park with bathrooms. read more

See all

Weekends it's not clean, I guess no there's no workers on the weekends. Other than a little not clean (garbage).

Depot is one of the best parks around. Best in Gainesville for sure. I like the paved pathways for running or walking. It's good for families. He park is well maintained. They have a big pond with birds, alligators and turtles. It's next to a small science center. They have gazebos you can reserve for events. There is a beautiful playground that's huge and awesome for kids of all ages. Parking is in front and also next door in another lot. They have some places to eat right next to the park with several choices. I can't say enough good about this park. read more

Depot Park - Parks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all

This is such a wonderful park!! We met up with some friends here as it's the half way point t from where they live and where we live, so neither of us knew what to expect. I wish we would have known about the splash pad so we could have brought towels and a change of clothes. The play ground itself is very big and has various things for all ages. There's also a restaurant and beer garden next to the playground which is nice. It has some arcade games too if you need an escape from the weather. We hope to come back here before it gets too hot to enjoy the splash pad and try the restaurant. read more

Why did I not know about this park before!? This park is an amazing addition to the city of Gainesville. I have passed this park plenty of times when going to Luke's Bagel but I decided to stop by because it's Earth Month - and the weather was on it's best behavior. When you arrive to the park, there's a nice sized lot for parking which is features a nice sized pavillion right in front of it. The pavillion area has a few grills and nearby there's a bathroom and water fountain station. This park has several walking trails and a nice grassed area - which was perfect for tanning or even reading a nice book and enjoying the late. The park has a walking trail that takes you to the Cade Museum as well. Make sure you wear your sunscreen or protection although there are shady area - when it's sunny, it can get extremely hot. If you have kids, this park is also great to release their energy - as there's a nice sized playground that even an adult can envy. If you're craving something to eat - definitely stop by the Depot gift shop, or Goldie's Burgers. I love that this park caters to ALL ages with its great walking trails, fresh air, and great views! read more

See all

I go here all the time, it is right next to where I work. It's good for taking a break when I need to take my mind off of things.

Depot Park is an amazing find in Gainesville, Florida. I do not know how long this park has been here, but I have never noticed it before on my travels here. I am certainly glad I did this time. I enjoyed walking the little nature path, which is an asphalt walkway, however trees line both sides it was a very pleasant experience. The park also has a nice little playground for children and there is a lake with a fountain and it that the park is centered around. They also have Pavilions that you can kick back and relax for a bit. I also noticed on one corner, they had restaurants and stuff like that in old school box cars. Our communities definitely need parks like this. A place where people can come and escape the everyday grind of the modern world. This park is definitely a great addition to the Gainesville area. I give it five stars. read more

See all

Depot Park is a fairly new park that's kinda cool to walk around in. Tip: On the minus side, there's not a lot of shade here, so it tends to get pretty hot during the summer months. Among the attractions here, you'll find the Cade Museum.  This place offers a fair number of interesting exhibits to see.  There's even a place that sells beer and wine if you happen to be here in the evening :-) read more

See all

Wow- this playground and park is awesome! An easy 10 minute walk from downtown, there is also plenty of parking here. We passed this park once, and my kids were so excited to go after just seeing it from the car windows. On the playground: love all the non traditional playground structures. The boulders on the 'hill' were a huge hit, as was the brick wall structure and the huge concrete pipe with holes in it. This park encourages kids to run, be creative, and use their bodies. I was shocked at how many kids and parents were here. Thanks for being fully fenced in, although there are two entrances, so still must watch out! The rest of the park is beautiful also, rolling greens and pathways along a small water body, with an entrance to a wooded trail on the opposite side of the playground. We walked a bit down this trail before turning back, not sure where it goes or if it makes a circle. None of the restaurants at the old train station were open when we went, but we went and sat on the deck porch anyways just to check it out. Will definitely return! read more

My kiddos love this park! It's great for imaginative playing, well-spaced out, and well-maintained. The bathrooms nearby are clean and well-maintained. It's near Cade Museum (another awesome spot), and some food and drink. This was an awesome pit stop on our road trip! read more

This park really does have everything. Fields to lay down in, to have a picnic, to take time for self care. There are paths to take through the park, around the park, behind the park. It has an extensive and expansive playground (which I as an adult would happily use without shame). It also has a restaurant, a pavilion and a museum for getting up to a few different things. You can park your bike here and take a leisurely stroll around the various small lakes and canopied walkways. One of the best parts that has nothing to do with the park is that Luke's is right across the street. Grab an amazingly fluffy bagel then head back over to enjoy a relaxing breakfast laid out on the grass. Pretty darn great place to exist. read more

Depot Park - Parks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Amazing park for kids! They could play here for hours. What's nice is that they have the children's museum next door at a reasonable price that will keep your kids entertained as well. We also saw an alligator swimming in the pond and a group of kids on a fields trip. read more

A gem of a park in Gainesville! Nicely fenced playground area, clean restrooms, walking and biking trail around the campus, the old depot has been restored. Off street parking lots are available, we found the large parking lot off of SE Veitch Street. read more

See all

I really like Depot Park it is really big and it has nice scenery. They have lots of different types of restaurants with good food and service. There is also an area with lights that is pretty. This is a good spot to hang out with friends especially if the weather is good. My boyfriend and I also recently went on a walk on the trails around here which some of them are really long. read more

Great place to go walking and get some fresh air and great food! A colleague of mine recommended Goldie's, a food spot within the park (owned by pop of top and the top) My husband and I had a chance to go and it didn't disappoint! The lady who took our order was Bert pleasant, the eating area was perfect-not many people inside (just 1 family) because it was so beautiful out everyone was outside. We sat in the area where you place your order on the picnic table to eat and the food, OMG it was great! We both had the cheeseburger (my husband added bacon on his) with a side of onion rings, tots (with mine) and crinkle fries but all in all we shared and tried all the sides! All were yummy! Fries were seasoned and so good with the goldie sauce! The bun and burger ratio was perfect and the bun was soft. We definitely were glad to try another yummy spot in Gainesville! We will be back! read more

See all

Such a nice way to spend a Saturday! I was super impressed with how clean the park was considering dogs are allowed to be leashes everywhere. I loved the trails and being able to just lay a blanket down on the grass and relax for as long as I wanted! We went on a cooler day and were able to get an awesome spot in the sun! There is a deliciosandwich shop, a pizza good truck, and a beer and wine place to get snacks and something I drink while relaxing!! I can't wait to go back! read more

See all

I absolutely love this park! I've been visiting Depot Park since it opened and I can't get over how beautiful it is!! I can't speak for the children's play areas (although they look super fun!) but the adult options will leave you with tons to do! With their own Pop-A-Top onsite, the General Store offers up all of the goodies and treats as the Main Street location, but it comes equipped with more space, seating and a working kitchen which allows them to offer up their own menu. Looking for a drink? Check out the Boxcar for a chilled glass of wine or a fresh draft! I love that there are so many seating options for adults to sit and relax with a drink! There's also plenty of grass space for picnics, fun with your dogs and kids, and lots of space to bike or rollerblade! One of my favorite things about Depot Park? The community aspect! Just recently, the Parks Dept. hosted an outdoors movie, for free! The picture and sound was amazing, and there was ample room for kids and the kiddie-adults. I wish they were hosting this event more than once a month, but I know that they are simply testing the waters. I can't wait for more events, art festivals and more that Depot Park thinks up for us to enjoy! read more

Always a fun place to hang out! Gainesville desperately needed a spot like this and I'm glad we have it. The best place ever when the weather cools down, 10/10 recommend. read more

Now this is what I call a park!! The City of Gainesville and the developers did an amazing job with the execution of this park. Looking at the contemporary green space, I wouldn't have never known that the site used to be contaminated if I didn't read about the park's history. While I do agree that parking is limited, there are so many amenities the park has to offer that it doesn't take away from the fact that it's an awesome park. It has a playground, a splash park, a promenade, pavilions, the Pop A Top general store, Boxcar Wine & Beer Garden, a conservation area, and memorial for Fallen Cyclists. Almost every components of these amenities have some really cool features and if these weren't enough, they're also currently working on the construction of the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention that's supposed to be completed in Fall '17. Wished we had something like this in JAX. read more

See all

This place is so fun for all ages! Some areas are shaded and some are full sun so it can get hot. The burger place and sandwich shop is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and it wasn't updated online so that was a little disappointing. We were roadtripping with kiddos so this place seemed perfect for lunch and get wiggles out! read more

A beautiful park, plenty of parking, wide sidewalk for walking, jogging, letting your dog sniff stuff. There was people sitting on the grass getting sun, a beautiful lake with water feature. If you don't want to spend any money but want a nice day outside, this is a great local park. read more

Came here to picnic and the only downside is that the ants crashed our get together. Other than that it was a great time to get out and find a shady spot under a tree to enjoy our lunch. With the no open container law lifted we also enjoyed some nice adult beverages. Ain't no laws when you're drinking claws! But back to the park, there is a lot of green space to picnic, had a huge playground that is now open, and there is a small wilderness trail around a couple ponds. Overall, made for a great afternoon hangout. read more

What a fun and exciting park located in Downtown, Gainesville. This park is the work of some thinkers, who wanted to take something and make it amazing. I have enjoyed going to Depot Park on many occasions and I can see how this sight is becoming more and more used for festivals and fairs. Depot park has lot of parking which is super nice. The lot has plenty of spots for people to park and go for a run, do some fun stuff, or just park. They have a really cool kids playground where you could take your kids to run around and get some energy out. They have a nice big lake their as well and some running trails where you can go work out. Also, Pop a Top has a location here where they sell caned beer and wine. This is great if you want to drink a nice brew and watch the sun go down. They also have plenty of tables and chairs where you can sit with friends and relax. This is a great place to do all of this and I believe you will have a great time once you visit. read more

See all

My favorite place to walk/jog (on a good day). Also a great place to just enjoy being outside. I can't speak from experience, but kids seem love the place. The park is clean, & it has a trail for pedestrians & bikers alike. It's not too wooded, but I think it has a good ratio of nature to man-made additions. It has a railroad theme going on, & I love how they have a Pop-a-Top onsite. They also share the land with the Cade Museum. Depot Park honestly feels like a community in itself. There are all kinds of people there-- families, couples, college students, older Gainesville residents-- without feeling crowded. read more

Awesome park!! We were visiting some friends in Gainesville and they brought us here for the kids to play. First thing is there are 2 parking lots, the main parking and overflow parking that is directly beside the park. The children's play area is fully fenced. The splash pad area is little kid friendly. My almost 2 and almost 4 year olds were able to play safely without big kids plowing them down. The ground inside the park is mainly padded turf, does still get hot on bare feet but a nice soft fall if a kid takes a spill. There is 1 area that I noticed had mulch. They have several play areas that are mainly covered by sun canopy so you don't have to worry about the equipment being too hot to play on. The baby swings were fully shaded. This is an awesome park!!! I wish I had something like this closer to me! read more

See all

What an absolutely beautiful park. I'm so impressed with what Gainesville has done & is doing at this park! On the east side of the park is the picnic shelters (with very clean & functional grills). The gutters from the roofs are connected to rain barrels that collect water for repurposing. There is a large bathroom nearby that, on a very hot August day, was surprisingly clean. The children's play area is fantastic - it's done in a train theme & all of the equipment is new & in working order. There was even a splash area for cooling off. The depot has all been refurbished & looks fantastic. On one end, there is a convenience-type store, Pop-a-Top, where you can purchase snacks, drinks & freshly made sandwiches. There is an event space in the middle that would be very quaint for a party. On the west side of the depot is the Boxcar Wine & Beer Garden. They have local beers on tap & in cans and just started a small menu of appetizers & main courses. We tried a maple & but covered bacon app that was delicious. On the east side of the park, they are nearing the completion of the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention - I can't wait until that opens! There is a walking trail that circles the pond in the center of the park. A portion of the trail goes through a natures preserve & looked very interesting. The park is located at the head of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail - what a place to end a great ride! read more

Depot Park - Boxcar Beer & Wine Garden - Parks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

After speaking with one of the Depot Park staff I learned that the City of Gainesville and Alachua county have finally agreed to allow access to the bus park lot next door. When we visited today signs were posted, don't park here tow zone. Signs guided you to the overflow lot next door that Alachua County owns. I'm told that a gate, walking path or bridge to join this parking area with Depot Park is in the works. Thus my rating upgrade from 4 to 5 stars. Great job City of Gainesville and Alachua County on working together to bring such a wonderful area to the people of Gainesville and the surrounding area. Kudos !! read more

Great place to enjoy a day with your family or friends. Great area for bike riding or a walk in the park with friends or your fur baby. And they have cool festivals where vendors come out and put up booths with their products. My friend and I rode our bikes here today and it was such a beautiful day out, I'm glad we decided to go out today. The playground was packed, the trails were full and the scenery was more than exquisite. I would love to come back and bring my little brother or nieces and nephews to enjoy a day at the playground, water park or have s family picnic. read more

See all

Very similar to Cascades Park in Tallahassee, but kicked up another notch! I love the fact that the play areas are gated so my little speed demon can't get away. We were here on a grey Sunday so parking/crowds weren't an issue but I can definitely see the need for more parking when the weather is nice. The day we were there the library was doing a free craft, nice. I look forward to some of the adult events too, like Yoga! read more

Depot Park - Waterfall area. Also love the turf grass! - Parks Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

A beautiful family & pet friendly park that hosts numerous events. Some of these events include VegFest and 352Creates, which are very popular & fun! This is a great place to enjoy being outdoors or go for a walk/run. There is a train theme throughout the entire park, and a Pop-a-top general store. read more

Great place for kids. This seems to be a pretty new park. There is not very much shade which is not a problem in the winter but could pose a challenge in the summer. It has a variety of walking paths as well as a gigantic play ground for kids. There is also the Cade museum which we did not go to but is supposed to be good for children. If you are visiting Gainesville it is a nice place to stop by. In the evening there is a place to get beer and wine. read more

See all

This park is my favorite in Gainesville. Whether it's for a run or just to sit in the grass and enjoy the weather, I've never been disappointed. There's a pop-a-top market and a bar called the boxcar, as well as a humble & wood fire food truck. The children's play area is also really thought out and well done. I also love how everything is laid out in a railroad theme. I came here to do some homework and eat lunch in the grass with a few of my friends, and we all really enjoyed ourselves. read more

I love coming to depot park. You can skate, have a pet or just enjoy a nice day outside. I have never had a dull moment here. It's perfect for families, a date or friends hanging out. Be prepared to have a swimsuit if your children may go into the water. There are food options as well like pop a top. read more

I love this park. The city made a great investment. It's big, beautiful and clean. There are places for kids, adults, bikers, walkers, grillers, picnicers and even dancers. Come out here on a beautiful day and fly a kite! read more

Very nice park. They have water and nice play areas. They also play music. However. A song came on "young a" (?) and the female was rapping about "taking your man" and "bouncing that ass." Some young girls under 10 or so started dancing and twerking. My daughter was like, "what is going on," as we are advert fans of the joy fm and do not participate in those types of activities and music choice... perhaps the park will make sure that those types of songs aren't played in the future. It was very awkward watching young girls twerk and dance like that. But I guess their parents are more so to blame. Sigh. read more

Excellent park! the water features are fun and safe. Very family oriented park. Parking is ok, but on the scarce side. There is a pop-a-top market and bar right on the park for a snack or drink after the walks. The park is very well taken care of. There are dog cleanup bags available on many stations. There's a lot of bike parking. read more

See all

I absolutely love Depot Park! They did such a great job. There is a beautiful lake and walking trail, that you should totally check out. There is also a great playground area. It is train themed, and is totally adorable! There is a stage and they have been having music pretty often, which is awesome! The Pop A Top and side car are also pretty sweet! They have food, drinks, and then a bar with a DJ. It is a great spot to hang out and drink and eat with friends! Overall, it is well designed, with themed materials throughout and high quality facilities. I will be coming here often! read more

This place is great for kids and adults alike! Kids park Splash bad Lake with walking path *Clean restrooms* You can rent a pavilion for $65 or less for 4 hours. There is a pop a top corner store with fresh and pre packaged food. Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages One negative - parking can really be a pain in the butt...sometimes. For now they are having live music and free kids arts projects every sunday from 3-5 Normally humble Pies is here making fresh, brick oven pizza right next to where you can buy a lovely draft beer and enjoy Florida's gorgeous weather. Bring the kids For a day of playing outside or meet a group of friends for a beer. Also, a great place for studying. read more