This public county park in Gainesville has a nice playground for the children. It also has exercise…read moreareas and a picnic table. It is probably more popular as an active dog park with big open grass areas and also a separate fenced area. It is well maintained but there are no bathrooms.

My mom and I were wandering around town, going to different parks as part of our exercise routine…read more We both need the exercise, so going out to a park that we have never been to simply to walk around the park and see what it has to offer is a good thing. Situated on the South side of Gainesville, Squirrel Ridge Park has a long history dating back to the 1850's when it was a plantation for cotton, sugar cane, and corn. After slavery was abolished the owner started selling off the land, some to Andrew Carnegie and at least 250 acres worth to former slaves. Today, the area is memorialized by Squirrel Ridge Park, which is best known for its open area dog park and the only city park that holds rugby games. Walking around the park, we were also impressed by the children's play area, which is substantial and has a lot of features for kids to enjoy.

This is a very tranquil place. The entrance is on a fast curve, so you have to be careful turning…read morein!! If you are on foot, or bike, you can enter from the sidewalk on 16th Ave, as you go down the hill past Colony Park. Colony Park is the subdivision with the curvy brick wall. As you go down the hill, on the right, you will see a small grassy area. There is no sign, so you'll have to be sharp!! This park is so very peaceful. There is a lazy creek that snakes though it. There are at least ten man-made bridges and decks that let you enjoy a nice stroll through nature. Lots and lots of birds will be sounding out, especially in the morning. You can walk your dog, bring some hot coffee, binoculars, camera, etc. You won't believe that you are in the middle of the city!! The word "enclave" comes to mind, as the mood in this park is almost magical and surprisingly isolated. You feel safe and peaceful. I am definitely going back. They even have doggy bag dispensers!!

Alfred A Ring Park is very close to town; it's a nice walk getting here :-)…read more Tip: The funds to preserve this small bit of greenery were donated by Mr. Alfred A. Ring, which is why the park bears his name There's bridge from the parking lot into the park proper which very much reminds me of Costa Rica; there are some pretty nice views to take in when you cross it.

This park is so relaxing! Even on a cloudy, overcast, windy day, it's still warm enough to take a…read morebike 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!

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

I am so glad this park is here! There are two names. Tom Petty Park is the baseball field and the…read morerest of it is Northeast Park....I think! Either way, this is where I come to do my birding! So many species of bird flit( warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, and bluebirds, mostly) around here, ignoring all the construction that is going on near the baseball diamonds. It is a dog park, picnic area, or tai chi spot. You could have food under one of the pavilions, or just spread a blanket on the flat ground and ingest your deliciousness! Either way, it is a peaceful place to hang out in, walk through or enjoy activities with your dog or signif other! I come here at least three times a week!

Tom Petty Park is a cool park named for Gainesville, Florida's favorite son. Tom Petty is probably…read morethe most famous person to come out of Gainesville and it is fitting to have a park named after him. The park itself is pretty nice. It offers plenty of parking, has a nice walking path, tennis courts, a baseball field and more. It was a nice place to spend a bit of time on a Tuesday mid to late afternoon. I enjoyed walking the trail and just chilling. There was a decent amount of people in the park and they all seemed to be enjoying Tom Petty Park, as well. Tom Petty was an iconic rock and roller with a string of hits including "Listen to Her Heart," "Running Down a Dream," "American Girl," "Don't Do Me Like That," "Here Comes My Girl,"Free Falling," and more. It is fitting that Gainesville, Florida remembers Tom Petty and honor him with a park.

Gainesville is so lucky to have such a wonderful shaded enviroment to visit, free of charge. The…read moretall trees with moss blowing in the breeze are a beautiful example of what North Florida has to offer. The boardwalks are fairly new and are still in pristine condition. My favorite place to park the car is over at Westside Park and walk over, carefully dodging the traffic that blasts down 8th Avenue. If you enter the boardwalk on the North side of 8th Avenue there are breaks in the boardwalk to wonder the footpath trails and streams and sometimes you will end up on standing in people's backyards.

Hogtown Creek Greenway is one of my favorite smaller wild areas in Alachua County and, what is…read moremore, it is close enough to the UF campus and several neighborhoods to make it easy enough to get to without a car. In fact, its trails--while not that long and sometimes flooded out in wet weather--are awesome for mountain biking. The Greenway came about because Hogtown Creek and its various tributaries flow through this lowland area of Gainesville and while there is a lot of development surrounding what has become the Greenway, the lands that compose the Greenway itself would not be suited to development and, more importantly, are essential to not develop given the fragile and unique ecosystems they provide. The City of Gainesville should be praised for its efforts not only protect these lands but to make them open to the public. Just controlling the flow of water in this area-brokering its ability to remain true to the natural course of these creeks while also ensuring that flooding in nearby neighborhoods isn't likely-must have been a huge challenge. To the south-west of the Greenway off of University Avenue, Hogtown Creek is directed through a grouping of canals and other engineered mechanisms to regulate its flow but when it emerges in the Greenway, it returns to its pristine natural status. The Hogtown Greenway, if you enter it via the Loblolly Facility, provides a broad trail that is adept for hiking or mountain biking. A boardwalk has been built to continue this trail over places that are normally (or at least very often) wet and it's a short hike through this area to the 8th Avenue entrance to the Greenway across from Westside Park. The stretch of 8th Avenue here is where the Gainesville Planet Monuments-one obelisk for each of the solar system's planets including Pluto and the Sun-are located so these are a nice diversion to examine up close if you've only driven by them before in a hurry. Within the woods of the Loblolly section, there's a lot to notice if you wish to take the time. An informative sign at the 8th Avenue side of the path notes that a diverse variety of wildlife from river otters to various birds to the rough green snake are found in this environment: You will have to be patient to see them, though. Mostly, like elsewhere in the region, you'll spot squirrels, birds, and perhaps a black racer or other snake. Lizards and insects are also omnipresent and on account of the latter, insect spay is a good idea as to keep the pesky ones off of your body and discouraged from sucking your blood. The boardwalk trail has a smaller off-shoot which leads down to the creek bed itself and makes for a great oppurtunity to examine a creek of this sort up close. The sandy banks, muddy yet peaceful waters of the creek, and canopy of trees above make for a very serene experience. If you continue across 8th Avenue to the opposite side of the street and walk a ways east, you will encounter another boardwalk that runs all the way from 8th Avenue to 16th Avenue, south to north. This boardwalk is a minor yet grand feat of engineering, having been perfectly crafted and took, I can only guess, a fair amount of cash to complete. For that reason if no other (and there are plenty of others) I hope that it's used by a lot of people. When I've been out on the boardwalk with my bike, I have nearly always encountered people walking their dogs or running here, so it seems I am not by far its only fan or user. The magic of the boardwalk is that it runs through a wetland environment which would be very hard to access otherwise and affords a pleasent walk with a great view of what much of this region's natural areas are like if you got right into the thick of them. One can, in theory, continue on 16th Avenue eastward to the Alfred A. Ring Park entrance and there explore even more of Gainesville's diverse ecosystems, depsite being a stone's throw from subdivisions and houses with swimming pools. The boardwalk therefore not only makes for a great means of getting from 16th Avenue over to 8th Avenue (or of course, the other way around) but also a nice diversion into the woods to just get away from your busy life for a moment or two.

I had been coming to this park since middle school and since moving back, I wanted to switch up my…read moregym routine with some outdoor walks on a trail. When driving into the parking lot, the parking lot is sufficient especially if you go in the early morning or afternoon. In the last 10 years, they have done some renovations where they have added these beautiful memorial plaques dedicated to fallen soldiers. What I thought was super cool is that I walked up to the World War II plaque and saw my great uncle's name! It was definitely a heartwarming touch and just proud moment. The plaques range from the American Revolutionary War to more recent times. I'm a huge history buff, so for me it's a plus for me. The park has a walking trail that's paved and smooth to walk on, that starts from the parking lot and has different workout station areas along the trail. There's a playground area and multiple pavilions with grills which are great for parties and cookouts/family gatherings. Also, there's a softball field, basketball courts, soccer fields, and also a roller hockey rink. I think this park is great for everyone, singles and families as there's something to do or just enjoy the great outdoor area.

Very civilized park that caters to many local groups and the Gainesville community. It's a perfect…read moreplace to go for exercise without having to pay the gym memberships all while enjoying the great outdoors. They have basketball courts, volleyball, BBQ grills and covered tables for parties, a playground, hiking trails, and more all surrounded by wild animals and nature. The amenities offered at Kanapaha Park are free and great for neighboring communities to enjoy. FYI, there are peak times usually in the summer. The hours are: Mon - Wed: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Fri - Sun: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

Smokey Bear Park is an attractive enough park with a very cool name. I had to pull in just because…read moreof the name, to be honest. It is a nice enough park just off of a main road. I was here in the middle of the day, and so I cannot comment on the one lady saying that it was not safe. I did not find it to be, but I am not saying that she is necessarily wrong. I just I did not say it.

I usually go to forest or possum park, but decided to give Smokey bear a try. They don't separate…read morebig dogs from small ones, so skip this one and forest if that concerns you. If you want to keep all your pups together then you might consider Smokey bear. The trees provide great shade in warmer weather than possum that has hot sand.

While waiting for our dog at UF small animal hospital, we decided to spend some time touring around…read moreand we happen to cross Millhopper State Park. And we noticed that there was a sink hole that promised a beautiful view. It was a long way down in a long way up, but the scenery. The view was very beautiful, clean fresh air, and it seemed to be a very popular place. If you haven't been here I would highly recommend you give it a look. It's very well worth a walk and the exercise and fresh air is good for you. The only thing that kind of bothered me was the honor system for people to go down and visit the sinkhole. It's only two dollars per person or four dollars a car load. People were not donating or picking up after their dogs. The park is beautiful but I bet it would be stunning during spring.

Such a great attraction and landmark to visit! You really feel one with nature and history standing…read moreat the bottom of this sinkhole! Low cost and safe! There are a lot of stairs so unfortunately not accessible for those who cannot climb up and down stairs but the nature park is still pretty!

My review here is for Westside Park, not the recreation center…read more I have always loved this well shaded park. Growing up in Gainesville, it has always been a central location for picnics and outdoor Birthday parties. They have recently updated all of the playground equipment. But, my favorite are the old swings in the central portion of the park because they can withstand adults swinging on them*. There is nothing better than swinging on a hot day to cool off. The enclosed pool with high-dive platforms and water slide are also located withing the area and parking spaces for your car are plentiful during daytime hours on weekdays and early morning on weekends. You can also enter the Hogtown trails on 8th Avenue near here. I posted the address of the recreation center to give you an idea of where the park is located if using GPS. * The underside of the swing notes that they are made for children only, but they have been holding my weight for many years.

Awesome park, everything you would want. Tennis courts,…read morelarge playground area, basketball, baseball fields, etc. Big pool, lots of shade, one big water slide. Cheap rates, residence and nonresidence, same price for the pool, around $2.50. You can buy a season pass. Across from a nice trail with creek, we found some people looking for shark teeth. Yes, you read right. Dogs allowed but must be leashed.