If someone in Lakeland tells you they are going to walk/ run/ rollerblade/ bike/ set up a hammock…read moreat "the lake", there's 0% chance they are talking about anywhere other than Hollingsworth! (okay, so maybe more like 2%, but you get what I'm saying). Hollingsworth is the lake. It's the place to go anytime you need to get out, need something to do, need to exercise or see some nature or are a bored college student. (especially the college student thing) It's a fantastic lake, and easily one of the largest in Lakeland. There's a lovely walking and running path that wraps around the lake, that adds up to being just shy of 3 miles total. It takes half an hour at a slow jog to get around the lake, or 45-60 minutes to walk. If you watch closely enough, you can spot a few gators, ducks, cranes, egrets, and even the occasional turtle or otter hanging out at Hollingsworth. It's not just a Lakeland local spot for people, it's the animals' choice too! Not to mention the walking paths also have markers indicating how far you've gone, at quarter mile intervals. So if you go here deciding you'll torture yourself with a run, you know how long you've lit your body on fire and how much longer you need to reach full battery drainage. It's really a lovely attribute. There is free parking and a decent amount of spots, but in the evenings it fills up quickly and many will park on the grass right along the path. Brb, I'm gonna go walk the lake!

Came to visit this place with my family and enjoyed the walk very much. I like the fact that the…read morepark offers different types of activities you can do with the family or on your own. If you like the outdoors and like nature walking, this could be a place for you. Come visit this place if you happen to be in Lakeland.

Big appreciation for little spots like this in Lakeland! Peterson Park is a gem that is definitely…read morealso pretty hidden. It's tucked away behind quaint Cleveland Heights neighborhoods and CH golf course. You can enter it by turning between the YMCA and Cleveland Heights animal hospital. I can't even properly word how gorgeous this area is. There are gazebos and grill out spots, baseball fields and a few other activities, along with plenty of parking. And then there's the boardwalk. Holy moly. The boardwalk, as one would expect, criss crosses all over one of the many lakes of LAKEland (yes, the name is actually accurate for the area haha). It's serene, quiet and peaceful but lively and buzzing at the same time (lots of funny bugs, frogs, birds and other flying all around). There are benches to sit on and just enjoy the nature- though do remember you are still in Florida. Some nasty looking spiders love to hang out in areas like this. I am just in love with Peterson Park. It's such a marvelous getaway right in my own backyard. It's the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's also a typically much, much less crowded walking/ running option compared to Lake Hollingsworth down the road. Let's go explore!

Most beautiful park I have found in forever. This park is not one where you may run into a bunch of…read morewild life. What makes this park so beautiful are the boardwalks. They take you on top of the trees. Once you walk them, which is a gradual slope up, your views of the water are breath taking. I never think I'll see elevation, and it definitely was unexpected. This park has a parking lot and once you park, you will see picnic tables, a playground and baseball diamond. You also see short boardwalks. But when you go across the street from where you park there are two more walks. One, you are on the ground and are right beside the lake. The other is the boardwalk that brings you above the trees. Definitely take it. It's amazing beyond words. This park also has a small boat ramp, and it has restrooms. It's definitely a beautiful treasure. It made us so happy to find it!

I've lived on this beautiful little lake for years as my condo community has quite a bit of…read morefrontage. I know it very well so let's get started. Size & Location- Most folks think it's a small to medium lake at about 280 acres. It has a maximum depth of about 15 feet. The water is usually very clear and has no tannin. What a surprise! It's on Lake Damon Drive Which is immediately off US Route 27. You turn off Route 27 and you are pointing directly at the boat ramp less than fifty yards away! It's a good thing there is a sharp turn in the road, or your car could experience the boat ramp which I definitely do not recommend! This is the only public boat ramp on the lake. Shoreline- The shore is about one half developed. The remainder is still pretty wild. There is no public swimming here! Fishing- This is the primary activity at this lake. Bass and panfish are where it's at. Trophy bass have been taken here. Recreational Boating- Other than fishing, very little. A couple of my neighbors have pontoon boats which they take out from time to time. A few of my neighbors also have fishing boats. Exploring the undeveloped shore by kayak or canoe is popular for some. There is one jet ski which is rarely seen. Facilities- Bathrooms = nope. Ditto purchasing snacks or drinks. Do both elsewhere. Pro Tip- The closest restaurant is Market 27, two minutes away and it's excellent! You can also purchase drinks & snacks here. Check Yelp! Wildlife- It tends to congregate near the undeveloped shore and is most easily seen by boat. However, there have been lots of exceptions in the developed areas. Lots and lots of gators. Please don't feed them and especially don't feed them little dogs! The little pups really hate that so keep them on a leash and away from the water. One "Chomp" and it's over! Most of the time they don't even yip! An abundance of birds and snakes. Watch out for water moccasins! Lots of turtles. I love to see racoons, especially babies! Fox are pretty common. At least one family of otters lives here, and it is a true treat to see them! Black bears have been seen but it's rare. As you can tell this is not Orlando! Highlands County is an agricultural county and represents Central Florida that's not Disneyfied! I love living here. Let's go for four stars!

Lake Wailes Park takes it's name from Lake Wailes on whose shore it lies. The land that makes up…read moreLake Wales was first surveyed in 1879 by Sidney Irving Wailes. He changed the name of Watts Lake to Lake Wailes after himself. The city of Lake Wales was established near the lake in 1911-12 by the Lake Wales Land Company. The spelling Wales was used for the city, although the lake is still spelled Lake Wailes. The park is visually stunning. Under old oak trees dripping in Spanish moss sit picnic tables. On the north side of the lake is a boat ramp. There is a fishing pier on the west side of the lake with an observation gazebo that offers a beautiful view of the lake. The 2.5 mile Lake Wailes Trail, a lighted and paved hike/bike path winds through the park for exercise enthusiasts. It leads around the lake from the south side to Kiwanis Park on the northeast corner at N. Lake Shore Blvd. and Cephia St. It should be noted that there are no restrooms in the park. This passive park that is perfect for a stroll or a picnic lunch. It is also a great place for bird watchers. Migrating song birds can be spotted in the trees in spring and fall. Around the edge of the lake are Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. On the shore are Least Bitterns, White Ibises, Anhingas, Florida Sandhill Cranes and winter ducks. Common Loons inhabit the area in winter. The stately trees add to the old Florida look of the area and it easy to see why Mr. Wailes fell in love with the lake and view.

Lake Wailes Park is a peaceful and older park with picnic areas and a 2.5 mile hike along the lake…read more It also has a pier, boat ramp, basketball court, play ground, soccer field and more. It is open from 7am to 7 pm daily and is dog friendly. During my visit there was a large festival going on with lots of family fun activities.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read two reviews. Read Ariel W's and especially…read moreperuse her photos. As a five-year resident of this teeny tiny town, I'll add to hers and here are my additions- * The pavilions are a big draw as they have nice big canopies for shade and sturdy picnic tables. Each has its own trash bin a few feet away. That's nice but they are fly and hornet magnets! Just sayin- * Because of the adjacent playground, birthday parties are common. Expect a bunch of rug rats to be running around. * This is a no pets park except for service animals of course. There is minimal chance you will step in something horrendous with your bare feet. * It's nicely lit at night so it's a nice place to enjoy the cool of the evening. * If you enjoy alcohol, as long as you wrap your can, you know what I mean, nobody with bother you. * This is rural Florida and everyone with half a brain knows every lake has gators! The beach is nice and if you swim during the day the chances of even seeing one is minuscule! If you decide to take a swim at night with an open wound, well, you didn't really need four appendages, did you?

Donaldson Park is located on East Main Street close to downtown. There are shady oaks, picnic…read morepavilions with tables, and a playground. During my visit there was birthday party in one of the pavilions. Donaldson Park sits on the shores of Lake Verona and there is a beach for swimming. I have always heard that if you swim in lakes in Florida you can get the brain eating Naegleria fowleri amoeba. When water gets up your nose it travels to your brain which is almost always fatal. There have been 37 reported cases in Florida since 1962. Peak times to get it are July through September. I am not sure if they test the water here or if people are just careful not to submerge their heads in the water. Although I grew up swimming in lakes in New Jersey, this is the first time I have seen a swimming beach on a Florida lake. Also noteworthy is the dinosaur skeleton on the beach. It features heavily in promotional pictures for Avon Park. The park is used by the City of Avon Park for events like the Blueberry Festival and Christmas in the Park. The beach looked inviting but I am just not sure how safe it is to swim here.

Large lake that has clearly been set up for scuba training. There is a large parking lot and a…read morelarge concrete pad with many picnic tables that classes can use to set up gear, brief their dives, etc. The path from the pad to the lake has been cleared and is easy to traverse in full gear. They recently put up "sails" over the picnic tables to keep most of the sun off, which is really helpful. Every time I go, I can see some new improvement to the facilities. The lake itself is laid out with many lines and markers to facilitate underwater navigation. They have set up some "fun" things to see, such as mounting bicycles or creating a "gnome garden," sinking a boat with skeletons on board, etc. There are platforms that can be used for skills. The lake is good for Open Water and for Advanced classes. The bottom is fairly silty and it's easy to kick up a "storm" of silt and screw up visibility. The viz is between 10 and 20 feet (on a good day), and mostly greenish, so make sure you're sticking together. There are two port-a-potties and a small changing room...and that's it. Bring lots of water and snacks in a cooler. Waivers and reservations are done online. If you're a scuba instructor, register with the management of the lake (free) to get an instructor ID number. Use that number when you make reservations for your classes. Instructors are free, students pay $20 plus $1.20 in tax. Well worth it. When I have the time and students are willing to make the drive (it's 2 hours from my home and scuba shop), I prefer to do training here because I can take my time and not worry about the tides at Blue Heron Bridge.

So, sue me! My teeny tiny town Of Avon Park in Central Florida is lousy with lakes. You can't throw…read morea stick without hitting a lake. Of course, the stick would clunk a gator on the snout first! I finally got around to visiting this particular lake. Do your homework- If you are not from the area and looking for a place to swim & picnic, this isn't it! This lake has a lot of private homes surrounding it, but it has a big reputation for SCUBA divers. There is a divers parking lot with a few picnic tables where they lay out their gear. Local organizations hold diving classes here. There is also an adjacent boat ramp, but there is NO public swimming! Pro Tip- If you are traveling with little munchkins and looking for swimming & picnicking, I recommend Donaldson Park in downtown Avon Park. It's just minutes away. Nice beach. Divers love this place because the water is so clear and it's up to 50ft deep. If SCUBA is your thing, this is a four star stop.

Beautiful park with a big lake. They have a pavilion you can rent for events, a playground for kids…read more5-12 years of age and another one for younger children. They also have basketball & tennis/pickleball courts, and a pool/splashpad you can pay for during the hot months. They hold the 4th of July fireworks here and it's a beautiful display.

BBQ & Brews Ribs on the Ridge Haines City set up Lake Eva Park, something for all ages. Pit Masters…read morefills the air with sweet smell of bbq smoke drifting via air. There's foods, games, music, right off the lake. People gathering to view, see, partake in this event that's been so long in the making, Kids playing with frisbee, balls, laughter enjoying a good family day. @miracle Toyota giving away, free frisbees to each kid to enjoy the relaxing day. There's Mac & cheese, corn on cob, greens, icees, bbq even the @Budweiser car was present to take pics ask questions. There was variety of food trucks. The bands had windows each played music then another band came set up and the music lived on. The weather was Absolutely gorgeous. Plenty of free parking, sitting, wonderful community event.

Patterson Park was a welcome break on my northbound drive today. After so many miles of rural…read moreFlorida roads, it felt good to step into a well kept space with open water views in every direction. The small bridges were lovely and gave the walk a gentle rhythm, each one offering a slightly different angle on the shoreline. On a cool but not cold late autumn day, the air had just enough crispness to make the walk feel refreshing without pushing me back to the car. What I appreciated most was how easy it was to settle into the quiet of the place. The path along the water encouraged an unhurried pace, and the calm made it simple to shake off the road for a few minutes. Nothing flashy, just a clean, peaceful park with graceful crossings, steady water views and a chance to reset before heading onward. [Review 1610 of 2025 - 2187 in Florida - 25158 overall]

We stopped in at Patterson park when getting my flat tire fixed across the street. The park had a…read morelot of potential but was a bit unkept with some Transient people hanging around it. The lake was very green and had some garbage in it but there was some nice wild life in it as well. I walked my dog through the park, overall it felt safe during the day, but I would not recommend it at night.

This park is beautiful! It is one of the most fun parks that I have been to since moving here…read more The trails are all so lovely and picturesque! The views, lakes, springs, trees, and vines are all just so beautiful. You can spend a whole day walking all of these beautiful trails! If you are a photographer looking for a great photo shoot, then this would be the place!

Was here last week. Totally forgot to catalog my first Catfish! It's crazy how many years i cone…read morehere n never catch one. Always come home with like bluegills n a random tilapia. You can see the catfish all over the lake just swimming by your bait n just testing you lol there's a crap ton of them near the pier but you gotta be careful cuz there's tons of alligators there to. I pulled out a nice size Catfish n then lost my second one to a damn alligator! Im happy the line broke cuz if i had lost my Shakespeare rod to i would've been more pissed! I got lucky n the couple nearby gave their bluegills. Went home happy with 1 catfish n 4 bluegills. Shared tips n bait store locations with a family camping there to. I wish the park entrance dude sold worms. It would be extra money for the park. I kept the catfish for a couple days in my aquarium, but he wouldn't take to it. I fillet his ass with the other fish. Doing fish tacos later. I used night crawlers from bass pro n sprayed them with-garlic sent to amplify the smell. I will try my homemade punch bait next tome. I found something tasty for them. Oh yeah, i caught some ghost shrimps in a cup but let them go. They look like glass at first then they moved around nicely. They are at grass edge, i do not recommend you get close to the edge!! Use a fishing rod n tie a water bottle or cup at the end with bait in it. I use catfish punch. Please don't let your pets get near the edge either. Gattor follow u when you are near water. Keep track of your kids!

Beautiful park with great trails and tons to do! We had a…read morewonderful day at Lake Parker Park in Lakeland. It's a lovely spot with so many amenities for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. We came mainly for hiking in the early afternoon; even though it was a hot, breezy day, the trails were comfortable-b I sy enough to feel lively but never crowded. We walked all three trails (green, red, and blue), and each one was well-marked, peaceful, and shaded, with beautiful views of the lake. There are plenty of spots along the way to rest, stretch, or get in a little extra exercise. The grounds throughout the park are very well maintained, and the scenery is gorgeous. Beyond the trails, there is a huge variety of amenities: boat docking, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, a soccer field, shaded picnic areas, pavilions for private events, and lots of parking. Overall, Lake Parker Park is a clean, well-kept, and truly enjoyable place with something for everyone. We are looking forward to coming back.

I've been going to this park ever since I was as a kid. During the summer, we would come here…read moreafter watching a movie and use up all of our stored energy. Thankfully, nothing much has changed, besides an upgrade to the jungle gym area. The park is very well maintained, and there is an abundance of free parking. There's plenty to do out here. Walk/run, rollerblade, play soccer, horseshoes, volleyball, fishing, etc. Dog parents also love this park. Some of the paved trail is shaded, which is very much appreciated. I would be a little cautious about rollerblading, because of all of the pine needles. Pavillions are locked. However, they are available for rent thru the city. Plus, each pavillion also has a bbq next to it. This park is great for kids and for someone a little older that would like a change of scenery while they do their daily walks. I hope Lake Parker Park remains preserved for the next generations to come.