I often come to this park since it's close by. It's a 21 acre park with a natural spring Grotto…read morewhich is very beautiful and relaxing. It has a playground and children's exercise equipment that adults can use as well. Just a few things but they are fun. There are picnic areas, pavilions, lot's of trails for walking, hiking and even a health trail and a small cave! There is a bike section that include a skills area/jump lines a berm and a skinny ! There are areas where you can fly kites and go for a run. This is a park for the nature lover and for everyone to see. Many families come here but it's never appeared crowded due to how spacious and the variety of activities. There is even a little free outdoor library box at the entrance. Restrooms for everyone and lot's of parking! I need to get more pictures my phone was on 1 percent. I will definitely go and get pictures soon! The park is opened from sunrise to sunset ! Address: 2825 SW 24th Avenue Ocala, Florida 34471 Phone: (352) 368-5517 I hope that you will visit and enjoy the park as much as I do!

Two things set what would be a pretty average park in bland surroundings apart - the scenic grotto…read morewhich it's named after (go ahead and call it a sinkhole and not a springs if you want; it's still cool and unique in my book) and the Jordan Shapot painted panels lending the place a bit of culture and history. The bike trail is smooth but boring. It just circles the big field with picnic tables and playground equipment without even a small diversion into some woods. I had my dad's janky garage sale bought bike so I wasn't about to attempt the ramps and obstacles they have set up for mountain bikes. The deck next to the grotto could be bigger but there was no one down there when I went so that wasn't an issue. I could see how it could be though. It's a nice little spot of serenity. So if you get sick of the rat race come hang here with the turtles. (I didn't see any but I hear they got em.)

Wow! WoW! Wow! I think this park is profoundly under the radar and simply not well known enough…read more This isn't just some playground with a path. In fact, there is no playground equipment at all. What it does offer, though, is everything one could want in a natural setting. You can walk for a little while or lose yourself in it for much longer. The paths are easy, accessible, and thoughtfully laid out, with enough variation to keep things interesting from start to finish. It never feels repetitive, which is rare. The labyrinth was genuinely enjoyable, with multiple points of interest throughout. Subtle shifts in sound and visual texture keep you engaged, yet everything remains grounded in simple nature, shaped by the hands of men.. nothing artificial or forced, just an intentional design that draws you in. The crowning glory moment for me was the Zen garden. I cannot remember the last time I felt that level of calm and stillness. It has a way of centering you almost immediately. I would have stayed longer, but I needed a restroom, which unfortunately was closed at the time. This is a place I will return to without hesitation. My mother has yet to see it, and I already know she is going to love it.

What an astoundingly beautiful park near On top of the world in Ocala…read more The long, winding drive to the parking area is absolutely beautiful. And the parking area is the hub. Theres a gated park that has a fountain, walking thru that, you get to walk the labyrinth in contemplation. It truly is a spiritually refreshing walk. The Zen garden is simply a work of art. They maintain it as a meditation garden, so its a quiet zone. There is a large open space, perfect for gatherings and picnics. Theres a great big walking trail with shady benches ever 20 feet or so. The pomd with the koi is nice, the fish are large, but the water is stagnant and smells bad. Those fish are HUGE! I LOVE THIS PARK

Jervey Gantt Park as a multitude of athletic fields upon its property. It also has a nice paved…read morewalking area that allows you to walk in a quiet area and, at least when I was here, it appears to be a pretty safe place. I would say that the multitude of athletic fields are probably why most people come here. They all appear very well maintained and overall this was a pretty positive experience. While I would not recommend coming here if you are looking more for a park type environments, these sport fields I am sure are very well received by the community. Again, if you're looking more for a park where you can hang out and chill, this is probably not the place. However, this serves the community well with all these sport fields and I'm sure that the neighbors and community love it. For that I am giving it five stars.

I come here (almost) everyday. It's peaceful and has lots of space. There's about two miles of…read morepaved trail. I tend to weave around the park multiple times. The park will stay lit till around 10pm; so you can run after dark.

This park is right by my daughter in law and son's apartment and in the downtown district…read more There is a small lake that you can take a nice walk , admire some of the wildlife or fish ( catch and release )It's very beautiful and nice anytime of year. There is a playground for the kids the Discovery Center which is a science museum for kids. There is lighted tennis and basketball courts to enjoy. There's even a baseball field and a racquetball court! Quite a lot for this park which is really a nice treat. It is also known as having rotating sculptures or art installations at Tuscawilla's Art Park as it is located in the park. Many people come here daily it's downtown and really a lovely place to enjoy. The main address: 800 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, Florida 34470 Tuscawilla Art Park address : 213 NE 5th st. Ocala, Florida 34470 Tuscawilla Playground Address: 836 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, Florida 34470 The Discovery Center Address: 701 NE Sanchez Avenue Ocala, Florida 34470 Ocala Parks and recreation phone number: 352) 368-5517. Discovery Center phone number: (352) 401-3900 Pavillion Rental phone number: { Booking space for events } (352)368-5509 Park Ranger phone Number: (352)789-1133 Enjoy your visit !

A nice smaller park, with a walking area around the pond. Ducks, egrets, turtles, lots of anhinga,…read moreand a few other waterfowl. Fishing is allowed but catch and release only. There are some interesting sculptures and beautiful trees. There is a playground, some benches, and a few picnic tables.

This park is such a peaceful, scenic escape. The walking trails are beautifully maintained, and the…read moreboardwalks give you the perfect view of the wetlands, birds, and wildlife. It's a great spot for a relaxing walk, photography, or just sitting quietly to soak in the view. There's educational signage throughout the park, which I loved, it's fascinating to learn how this place is helping the environment while also being so beautiful. It's super clean, safe, and free to visit. I would love if they had planted some flowers around and some plants so it has a better landscape. For a bit of the walk it felt like a desert land and like that had ripped out a lot of the plants and natural flowers but that's just my assumption. Whether you want a mindful stroll or just some fresh air and a gorgeous sunset, this place is a must-see. I'm already planning my next visit!

No entrance fee. So much to read and learn in this interesting 60 acre park. Plus there are photo…read moreops galore...have your camera handy. Tom and I spent the morning at this very interesting park. We walked a lot of the 2 & 1/2 miles of paved trails and boardwalks with occasional stops at different look-outs. There are many displays with information that are dotted thru out the park plus a huge tube-shaped structure that explains the logistics of what you'll encounter during your adventure. There are endless photo ops of interesting scenery, birds, ducks, turtles and colorful flowers. Huge trees draped with Spanish moss swaying in the welcome breeze...what a sweet way to spend a Florida morning.

Walking the trails was peaceful and scenic, with lots of shade and chances to spot wildlife (we saw…read morea few monkeys in the distance, which was wild!). The whole park is well-maintained, and the staff were helpful and friendly. Whether you're kayaking, hiking, or just relaxing by the springs, it's a great day trip that feels like a little escape into old Florida.

I liked this state park enough to buy a handsome t-shirt in the gift shop. The shirt doesn't say…read moreFlorida on it anywhere which is pretty funny to me and actually makes me like it more. The waters here are absolutely lovely but even on a weekday in late December they were pretty heavily traveled. It might not be fair but the place being clogged with so many of my fellow pesky humans is the only thing that keeps me from putting SSSP in the vaunted five star category. I kayaked the river and saw birds and a gator. Bout time I saw a Florida gator in the wild! Only took five visits. I also got right over a manatee. I thought they were a big rock til they started moving. I could have clubbed em with my oar if I wanted to though it seems like that would be not just cruel but stupid, too. At any rate, no wonder they're endangered. Poor sluggish, dumb creatures. There were quite a lot of other kayakers and canoeers on the water. The guy dressed like Santa was pretty hilarious but for most of the trip I was denied the splendid isolation I longed for. Needless to say, the glass bottom boat tour didn't appeal to me, even with the clear view down. Beautiful scenery, though. Checking in and out was quick and painless even if the separate entrance briefly threw me for a loop. Afterwards I hiked a shorter trail and it was pretty mid, nothing special. For a while it ran too close to a road which kind of ruins the whole thing for me. And there was the aforementioned gift shop, chock full of wares. There was another t-shirt I liked a lot and had trouble choosing between the two, always a good problem to have. It's the end of the review here and I probably should have said this at the beginning but the entrance sign is just lovely, very classy and retro. I can see why this is a local icon but as an out of state visitor I don't know if this place has the staying power for many repeat visits for the locals. I was glad I came here once though. Funny to think this park is what Stevie Nicks wanted Lindsey Buckingham to be. Jk.

A small oasis in an industrial area of Ocala. It is not a big park by any means, but it offers a…read morepeaceful getaway from the day to day stress and let's you exhale the stress of the daily ground and relax. The trees here are a stunning canopy over the property, allowing the sun to peak through and let's visitors choose to bask in the sun or revel in the shade. There is a small lake, a children's playground, and clean restrooms. I was happy that I stumbled across this little park. Sometimes a wrong turn can prove to be a blessing and this was certainly one of those times.

Built about 15 years ago with the "pennies for parks" campaign you can see how the citizens of…read moreOcala's pennies can really add up!!! This is the perfect secluded, off the beaten path park without going into the gompass. It was named after Seminole Chief Coehadjoe as the Seminoles were not only prominent in the 1800's in the state but particularly here also. There is still a small tribe left today. The pavilions are perfect for a special event to cook out at and can be rented out in advance. I've been to several reunions here. Tall whispering pines surround you and make every part of the park serene and breezy. Tennis, racquetball, basketball and volleyball are some of the activities here. I really love coming out on the large grassy picnic area to just chillax with a sandwich and take in all the fresh air. You're still in the city but you'd never know it. Big brother is always watching as the Sheriff has a trailer here, which is always a good thing!

While we were touring around the city of Ocala, the hubs and I stumbled upon this oddly named park…read more There are courts for everything; basketball, tennis, racquet ball and more. None were busy at the time of my visit. Nice clean area too

I drove through here on the way home from the Panhandle. It reminded me of what I thought Florida…read morewas like when I was a child growing up in Massachusetts. Forrests and springs, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and yes, gators. There are over 400,000 acres in the Ocala National Forest. It needs more than one visit to fully explore this wonder. There are many opportunities for camping and backpacking. I want to come back soon to go on a nature hike. Like Dave O. says, this is the wilderness so don't be naive. You must go in prepared with water, protein snacks, and emergency supplies. This is not Disney, this is the real Florida adventure.

Another spot of beautiful nature in Wild Florida…read more I love going on nature hikes, and this trail has plenty of wildlife and plants to see. Even with the paths seeming wild and free, they're easy to follow and I wasn't afraid of getting lost.

Kicking off the new year on a new trail - and it was a great one! This trail is part of the Majorie…read moreHarris Carr Cross Florida Greenway that stretches from the Gulf to the St Johns River, the Greenway is a Florida State Park. This address takes you to the Landbridge Trailhead (approximately 1.4 miles NE of the actual I-75 Landbridge) and has separate parking and trails for equestrians -vs- hikers and bikers which is nice. There are bathrooms, a water bottle filler, a bike wash station, a few picnic tables, a bike tool station (although the air hose was cut) and all of it very well maintained given the impressive number of acres. The mountain bike trail intersected the paved trail so when we had enough bumps (hello, beginner here?!) we could take the paved trail a little while longer and all the back, thank goodness.

Came here for the first time this past weekend and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming…read moreback. At this trailhead, there is PLENTY of parking (when you pull in go to the right - it goes around a corner and there is where you'll see a couple of parking lots). There are bathrooms, a water fountain, and trail map here at the trailhead. You can choose a couple different trails - going to the right is a 3.5 mile hike (one way - so there and back is 7 total) that goes over to the 49th ave trailhead or to the left goes to Santos (7 mile one way). We went with Santos. Things were pretty clearly marked; however we somehow ended up on the bike trail at some point (there were 4 of us and we were busy in conversation so ya know, it happens lol), but was easy enough to make our way back so our 7 miles turned in to about 8-8.5. Worked out great because we ended up coming out where Santos Bike Shop is and took a Lyft/Uber back to our car at the trailhead. The bike shop was great, super nice people, plenty of knowledge in there. The trail itself is shaded for the most part, sun creeps in, but it's definitely shaded with all the trees. We saw a LOT of cool looking trees. I'm a big fan of being able to explore Florida (free is even better) so it's nice to be able to go out on the trails without having to pay to get in to parks or for parking or what not. If you have bikes, this is a GREAT trail to come to - the trails are separate as far as bike friendly and people hiking friendly which is nice for both parties. We really enjoyed and can't wait to visit again.