P.E.A.R. Park, which stands for Palatlakaha Environmental & Agricultural Reserve, is a decent…read morelittle Park located just off of State Highway 27. There are a few tennis courts, a little walkway oh, and a nice, little dog park. They do pretty good with the space that they are allotted. On the particular morning that I visited P E A.R. Park, it was gray, chilly and dismal, yet the people visiting the park were friendly and only enhanced the experience. All in all, my visit to this park was a nice respite from the highway and stress and strain of modern living and all of the hassles involved with it. If you are cruising through Leesburg on 27 and are looking for a parkto takeabreak, this is a good place to head for. AsI have said, this is a small Park, however, Leesburg it's not a big place. I think this park fix the city of Leesburg quite well. I am giving it four stars overall.

This park runs along the Palatlakaha River and encompasses 318 acres. It's huge...with lots to do…read more The park is divided into two sections. One section is the Passive Wildlife Conservation Area and the other half is the Gateway. The Gateway is a combination of Active Recreation and natural areas. The dog park just off of the parking area and the tennis court/pickleball courts are very popular. Past that there are nice hiking trails, workout areas , pavilions, gardens, soccer field and more. This is a nice area to visit. It's clean, safe and well marked.

Shadow Bay Park is a rare slice of florida's natural landscape. Formerly known as Lake Cane Marsha…read morePark, Shadow Bay Park is a 111 acre natural area preserve and park tucked into Southwest Orlando. Despite being surrounded by busy roads and urban development, the park protects a rare and biologically rich remnant of Florida's ancient sand pine scrub ecosystem, preserving a small piece of old Florida in the middle of the city. The park straddles an ancient shoreline associated with the Lake Wales Ridge, one of Florida's most important areas for rare and native plants and animals. Its diverse landscape includes rosemary scrub, xeric oak scrub, longleaf pine forest, wetlands, and four ponds, creating a variety of habitats for wildlife. It is one of the last remaining urban scrub habitats in Orange County and provides an important refuge for several rare and endangered native species. Shadow Bay Park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 wildlife-viewing sites. The northern portion of the park, especially the trails between Lupine Pond and Woodland Pond, offers some of the best birding opportunities. Depending on the season, visitors may spot Blue-headed Vireos, House Wrens, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-throated Warblers and Indigo Buntings. The ponds attract Limpkins, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Mottled Ducks, while Glossy Ibis and, occasionally, American Bitterns make appearances. Keep an eye on the sky for Ospreys and Cooper's Hawks, both of which nest within the park. I enjoyed exploring the trails throughout the park. A paved walkway and separate unpaved footpaths wind through the landscape. In the sandy trails through the rosemary scrub, you can find rare plants such as scrub lupine and threatened gopher tortoises. During migration season, you may see species such as Magnolia Warblers, Ovenbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees and Baltimore Orioles pass through the oak area of the park. In addition to wildlife watching, the park offers plenty for active visitors and families. These include basketball and pickleball courts, softball fields, a fitness path, fishing areas around Shadow Bay Pond and a playground. The Lake Cane Tennis Center has been part of the park since 1986, when Orange County partnered with MG Tennis to operate the facility. Over the years, it has grown into a major Central Florida tennis destination and tournament hub. What I appreciate most about Shadow Bay Park is that it preserves an important part of Florida's original landscape while the surrounding communities continued to grow. It is a rare ecological refuge hiding in plain sight. Come for the trails, birding, wildlife, recreation or just for a peaceful escape from the surrounding city. This is a park worth exploring.

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.

Rose Place Park is an 18 acre Orange County park that officially opened in 2007. Orange County…read morepurchased the land in 2000, and in 2004 they used it as a yard waste drop off site following Hurricane Charley. In 2007, the property officially opened to the public as Rose Place Park. The park takes its name from nearby Lake Rose and sits in an area that was historically agricultural before being developed. Today, the park offers open green space, walking paths, picnic pavilions, and a playground. In November 2023, Rose Place Park reopened following a complete rebuild of its playground and amenities. The playground is surrounded by a safety fence and has two gated entrances, five benches, and ADA-accessible ramp access. Shade sails to help protect the play area from the Florida sun and the bonded rubber stone surface provides a cushioned foundation.. If there is a drawback to this park it is that it lacks a restroom. Still, the park had a nice community vibe with people walking for exercise, kids playing soccer and enjoying the playground, and others were relaxing at the picnic area. For me, Rose Place Park ended up being a great place to stop, stretch my legs, and take a short break before getting back on the road.

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.

Eagle Nest Park is located on Lake Fran, adjacent to the Lake Fran Urban Wetlands and just east of…read morethe historic rural community of Gotha. The Lake Fran Bike Trail runs through the park, making it a nice stop for walkers and cyclists traveling through the area. Eagle Nest Park also serves as a trailhead for the Shingle Creek Trail, adding another reason to stop and explore. The park was established by the City of Orlando and takes its name from the eagles, ospreys, and other birds of prey frequently seen around the lake and wetlands. It features baseball and softball fields, open grassy areas, paved walking paths, picnic pavilions, charcoal grills, restrooms, a playground, benches, drinking fountains, and bicycle racks. One of the highlights for me was the bird watching. The surrounding wetlands attract a variety of wildlife, and you may spot herons, storks, ospreys, eagles, and other waterfowl and raptors. It's a peaceful setting for enjoying nature, even when the park is busy with the recreational activities. There were quite a few people at the park when I visited for football games, but I still enjoyed taking a leisurely walk around Lake Fran. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much this park had to offer.

If you are looking to catch some rays and get your steps in, this is a great park for long walks…read morewith little to no shade. Wrapping around Lake Fran Urban Wetlands, this park has a lot of beautiful yet peaceful scenery. This would be a great park to visit during colder months due to lack of shade, you can get very hot very quickly doing this trail, yet it's quite easy and enjoyable.

This location is shaded by trees with lots of benches. It is great for people watching, though…read moredoesn't have traditional park play equipment. It reminds me more of a town square, versus park. The benches are old and could be refurbished. Despite that, it is still a great place to relax while shopping the Mount Dora Marketplace.

Christmas Lights Hopping is a must in Mt. Dora…read more Sunset Park is another must stop spot for this. This is where they put their huge Xmas tree. It's pretty nice. It's a block or two away from the Main Street Donnelly. It's also a block away from Lakeside Inn which is the historical inn with Lake Views for days. We go there for the sunset bc they have beach chairs right next to the water. Across the street is also a beautiful house with candy cane lights. I took a pic of tj at one too because u just can't miss it. This is a great central area! Check it out. There are also restrooms here for your convenience. Parking can be a challenge. Be patient or walkover. It's street and lot parking nearby. There are also cute shops around the corner as well!

While driving through Orlo Vista I spotted this park. It looked like a nice place to stop and…read morestretch my legs while I worked out my next destination. The name Orlo Vista is a blending of the city name Orlando and the word vista meaning a view. It was coined during Florida's land boom years when developers laid out the community just west of Orlando in the 1920s in a rural agricultural area. It turns out this park has a bit of a back story. While today it's a welcoming community park, it was once the site of the Orlando Game Club, an illegal cockfighting ring. Thankfully it is now a family friendly outdoor space that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors. Opened in 1974, the 40 acre Orlo Vista Park gave the growing unincorporated Orange County community a much needed place to enjoy the outdoors. The park continued to grow along with the community. In 1995, after support from local residents, Orange County invested in major improvements that expanded the park's facilities and enhanced the landscape. Those upgrades helped transform it into the park so many enjoy today. Now, Orlo Vista Park offers a recreation center, playgrounds, athletic fields, walking paths, picnic pavilions with tables and grills, basketball courts, fishing pier, and a community garden. I had a lovely summer evening stroll through the park where I saw many people enjoying all the park has to offer. It even serves as an official seasonal cooling center during periods of extreme heat. Orlo Vista Park is a great example of how a community can take a site with a terrible past and turn it into something good for the community.

Arlo Vista Park is not far off of Kirkman Road in a quiet residential neighborhood, but it is a…read morepretty large park.) There is a walking trail, tennis courts, a basketball court, a few pavilions, a children's playground, a fishing dock, and more. They even have vending machines here. This is a nice park and a great addition to the Orlo Vista neighborhood. If you are in the area, check this park out.

I stumbled across West Beach Park while exploring around the nearby Winter Park area and decided it…read morewas a good spot to stop and stretch my legs for a bit. I'm glad I did! This free neighborhood park turned out to be a really pleasant place with plenty of open space to relax. One of the highlights for me was seeing all the dogs. Leashed pets are allowed, so I enjoyed stopping to say hello to quite a few friendly pups. Not everyone was following the clearly posted leash rules, however. The park has all the basics you'd expect. There's a handful of benches, lots of shady trees, and covered picnic tables scattered around to protect you from the Florida sun or the notorious thunderstorms. There's also a small playground for kids and a volleyball court, which adds a bit of variety if you're planning to stay longer. The park sits right next to a lake, which really adds to the atmosphere. The water is calm and relaxing, and it draws in plenty of local birds. If you're into casual birdwatching, this is a nice little spot to spend some time. What stood out most to me was how quiet it is. Since it's tucked into a mostly residential area, it feels peaceful and not overly crowded. Lots of free parking, too. Overall, this is a simple but charming park. It's great for a short break, a walk, or just enjoying some fresh air. Bonus: it's open from 8 am to 8 pm during the summer, so there's plenty of time to drop by.

This park is playground paradise for kids!! Theres is multiple playgrounds both covered and…read moreuncovered. Theres als beach volleyball and pickle ball fields!

The park is a pickleball park, with a banquet hall, some benches and a open grass area. Perfect for…read morekiddos to roll down the hill or run around after having ice cream across the street. During Christmas they light up all the trees.

Donnelly park is the perfect place to visit with the family to see Christmas lights. It's quaint…read moreand old school Florida with great spots for pictures everywhere. My favorite was the huge trees in the middle of the park that have lights strung from the trunk up to the top from the outside making it look like fireworks. It truly is a stunning feat of light decorating.