They tore it down and are going to build another playground. Not sure when the new one will be…read morecompleted. It was our favorite playground around.

This park is closed. The gates are locked and there is a sign posted that it's closed due to safety…read moreconcerns.

If you've ever been to Orlando, you likely came across the name Dr. Phillips. From roads and…read moreneighborhoods to schools and cultural venues, his legacy is stamped throughout Central Florida. Dr. Philip Phillips (January 27, 1874 - April 18, 1959), known as "Doc," was a pioneering citrus grower, businessman, and philanthropist. During the 1920s and 1930s, he built the world's largest citrus growing and processing operation. At one point, he owned more than 5,000 acres of citrus groves. His former groves and worker housing eventually evolved into today's community of Dr. Phillips. For more than a century, the Dr. Phillips name has been equated with generosity and community investment. Through Dr. Phillips Charities, which includes Dr. Phillips, Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation, the organization has awarded more than $220 million in grants, pledges, and program related investments, supporting countless educational, cultural, health, and community initiatives throughout Central Florida. In 2007 Orange County honored Dr. Phillips philanthropic legacy with Dr. P. Phillips Community Park, a beautiful 43 acre park on Big Sand Lake. Nestled along the scenic Sand Lake Chain of Lakes, the park was developed by Orange County Parks and Recreation to provide green space, recreation, and public lake access to the rapidly growing surrounding communities. Today, the park offers something for everyone. The splash pad looked like an especially inviting place to cool off on this hot summer day. There is also a dog park, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds, and the LongHorn Steakhouse Loop Trail where I hiked a half mile trail through 10 acres of sand pine scrub. Along the way I enjoyed peaceful views of Big Sand Lake. This park is perfect for a family outing, a morning walk, or as a place to enjoy the outdoors. It is a fitting tribute to one of Central Florida's most influential and generous members.

I loved visiting this expansive park with my family! There are a lot of great amenities. First of…read moreall, Dr. Phillips Community Park sits on a small lake so it has a pretty view when you drive up. There is no swimming in the lake allowed however because of wildlife. Near the lake, there is a large playground for kids. It has slides, swings, and climbing structures. It's gated which is nice for the kids' safety (but parents/caregivers should still watch their kids!). They also have a splash pad next to the playground. In addition to the playground, there are lots of sidewalks all around to walk on. It's perfect if you want to get those steps in. There is a basketball court, sand volleyball court, dog park, and picnic tables. I saw a sign for occasional community events as well on the bulletin board near the bathrooms. We would love to come back to this park again when in the Dr. Phillips area of town!

This playground is incredible! A community funded project, this playground is not to be missed - it…read morehas designs and features I haven't seen anywhere else! We love stopping to play here if we are in the Deland area. Freedom Playground has plenty of parking, bathrooms, pavilions with picnic tables, and playground equipment that can be used by a wide range of ages and body abilities. I love that the park has one main entrance gate to keep kids contained and also has the little kid area separate from the big kid area. There are accessibility features like wheelchair accessible ramps for the playground equipment and a ground level merry-go-round. There's plenty of slides, climbing and obstacles, a zip line, pirate ships, pretend play houses, and all the features you would want in a playground. I love the nods to Florida with multiple gators throughout! Freedom Park is a Florida gem!

From what I've read online, DeLand faced the exact same issue that so many municipalities around…read morethe country have faced and continue to face regarding what to do with their playgrounds. At one point in time it was a thing to build these large destination playgrounds made out of wood. While a nice idea on paper, eventually the upkeep proves to be problematic and expensive. Eventually the municipality is faced with the hard choice of costly renovations that will need to be redone in the not too distant future, demolishing the structure or trying to replace it with something more modern/contemporary. Either way it equals a lot of money that usually is nowhere to be found. Thankfully a few years ago DeLand along with residents, area companies, school children and a newly formed non-profit committee figured out how to replace the original wooden structure. Amazingly over 300K in private donations were raised along with DeLand kicking in the rest and what you have today is an amazing structure/facility. In my own area there have a been a few success stories with places like this: www.savekidscastle.org/ But there have also been a few mismanaged disasters with places like this: articles.mcall.com/2004-11-19/news/3571642_1_playground-jungle-gym-time-capsule What works here: * Lots of parking * Solidly clean bathrooms * Lots of shaded areas * Super safe recycled rubber ground which means no tracking mulch into the car * A very needed water fountain * Lots of different structures/play areas/misters that offer a ton of diversity What doesn't work: * At least when we were here the zipline was in sad shape. It needs to be raised up or just gotten rid of it because it was way too low to be enjoyable. I don't want to lay on the hyperbole but honestly aside one other park (Kids Castle in Doylestown, PA) this place is the nicest that I've ever seen and even though my kids are arguably a bit on the too old side to be enjoying a place like this, they still did. Great job DeLand! What an awesome place for the community!

This is for sure in our top three favorite parks now!…read more It's tucked back behind Sky Zone, so it's quiet and has plenty of trees to shade it perfectly and allow for a nice breeze. The play structure is huge and offers so much to engage with and use imaginative play. There are multiple slides, as well as a few different areas with plenty of swings. We easily spent a few hours and didn't know the time had passed. Lots of space to run, jump, and climb. It is all very sturdy and safe, as well as clean.

When we moved out this way, I had a friend tell me how wonderful "the big playground behind the…read morechurch" was. Took a year or two to realize this is the place she meant. We've had multiple birthday parties for our kids here and attended others. The covered Pavillion with bathrooms is excellent. They had plugs for the crock pots full of food we brought. It's maintained daily, something I found out the time I arrived at 7am to sweep and blow leaves away and clean the tables. A lady showed up after I was done to do all that and thanked me instead. Oops! Oh yeah, then there's the huge playground. My kids have loved this place and all the wooden things to run around, through, up, and over for ages!

When visiting my boyfriend's mom and step dad in Eustis, we took their boat up to Lake Dora via the…read morecanal from Lake Eustis to have lunch. We took a stroll around this park, and enjoyed the beautiful Florida sun and winter weather. Love the benches and the gazebo as you can take a moment to relax. Definitely return when visiting!

This a unique park- airplanes and wildlife co-exist ..... worth a visit just to see. Planes, tunes…read moreand BBQ this past March was the most recent special event here!

Beautiful park for the kids right in the middle of downtown Sanford…read more Large playground area would swings. Lots of large beautiful oak trees for shade. Pavilion with picnic tables. Bathrooms Free books. Butterfly garden. Large open space for picnic Great place to talk a ball or football. Minutes from downtown Sanford restaurants and shops

No, this park is not gigantic but for the amount of space it's in they have quite a bit of great…read moreplayground equipment. We took our kids here recently after we drove by and saw it. We knew it was a must on our "park tour" that we have going on with our kids. The park is clean and best of all?? There's lots of shade from the trees! Shade at playground should be a requirement in Florida. I have been to far too many unshaded parks and it is BRUTAL. My kids particularly liked the big slide here. It's great! There's a bathroom here too and I didn't go in it but my husband says it's clean. The park is well kept and has a lot of great options for your kids to explore and enjoy.

Inaugural year of Lake County Pride at Ferran Park, Eustis, FL. It's always great to show love and…read moresupport the community. Glad to see that Pride events are still growing and people are still coming out to support despite current government situations. Love is Love and Pride is for EVERYONE!

Ferran Park felt like a calm little refuge on this foggy morning, even if Lake Eustis was mostly a…read moresuggestion somewhere beyond the gray. The Christmas decorations gave the whole place a warm lift, especially the lit tree glowing through the mist. With the bandshell looking sharp and the grounds in excellent shape, it was easy to settle into the rhythm of the wide, smooth walking paths and just enjoy the quiet. You can tell the lake views are usually the star here, and on a clear day the sweep of that massive water must be something to take in. Today wasn't that day, but the park itself carried the moment just fine, offering space, light, and a bit of holiday charm to brighten the morning of my Eustis exploration. [Review 1624 of 2025 - 2201 in Florida - 25172 overall]

Secret Lake Park is one of our favorite parks in Casselberry. My twins always have fun. The…read moreplaygrounds are spacious and fun. They have separate play areas for older and younger kids. The walking trail around the lake is perfect for walks and watching the sunset. Perfect place for a picnic with family.

Secret Lake Park gets its name from the fact that is between Secret Lake, Triplet Lake, and North…read moreLake Triplet. Also nearby are Middle Lake and Lost Lake. This beautiful and well maintained park offers an array of recreational amenities. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the basketball, softball, tennis, and racquetball courts along with a soccer on the multipurpose field. As a nature lover I enjoyed the many boardwalks with views of the lake and the sidewalk which meanders through the entire park. It is perfect for walking for exercise and I saw the cutest marsh rabbit as I made my way through the park. There are also two fishing piers. Kids will spend hours playing and on the two imaginative playgrounds. Secret Lake Park is also home to the recently renovated Casselberry Recreation Center which has a main room, ballroom, billiards room, computer room, outdoor deck area, activity room, and outdoor pavilions. The recreation center offers many programs from youth to senior. They include exercise, yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, and dance classes. The park is also the host of several beloved Casselberry traditions like the HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Walk-a-Thon and Canine Costume Contest, Art & Music in the Park & Food Truck Bazaar, and the Casselberry Easter Egg Hunt. I really enjoyed my visit to Secret Lake Park. It is the perfect outdoor recreation destination for families, fitness seekers, and sports lovers. You can go for peaceful stroll, play basketball, or watch the kids play safely. The scenic lakeside views, comprehensive recreational programs, and variety of amenities add to the charm and versatility of this park.