Celebration is a planned community developed near Orlando by The Walt Disney Company in the 1990s…read more Designed according to the principles of New Urbanism, it blends traditional early 20th-century American architecture with a walkable network of interconnected streets, parks, and a vibrant downtown district. Master planners Robert A.M. Stern and Jaquelin T. Robertson organized the town into distinct neighborhoods centered around parks and communal squares, with the goal of recreating the charm and sense of community associated with classic American small towns. One of the community's most popular green spaces is Founders Park, a hub for recreation and local activities. The park features a large athletic field used for soccer, football, and other sports, as well as tennis courts and a playground. Unfortunately, during my visit, the fields had recently been fertilized, and the overwhelming smell of horse manure quickly drove me out of the park. Before leaving, I stopped by my favorite part of Founders Park: the Veterans Memorial. The memorial was initiated by Eagle Scout Simon Sharp, who raised $15,000 for the project and created its original design. Tragically, Simon was diagnosed with leukemia during the effort. He received his Eagle Scout award for the project the day before he passed away from the disease. Volunteers completed the memorial in his honor. Today, the memorial stands as both a tribute to America's veterans and to Simon's service to the community. The park also contains a plaque honoring Simon's contributions, along with another commemorating Revolutionary War patriots. A popular spot for pictures is the large circle on the ground that says Celebration Florida with its founding date, 1994.

It's a park. With a flag pole. It's spacious, and has benches. Great place to see grass.read more

Ferndale Preserve is located in what feels like the middle of nowhere. The park opens at 6:30 am…read moreand closes at 6pm. There are two trails currently open. One is .5 mile up to a high point and the other is a 1.6 loop. No dogs are allowed in the park or in the trails for their safety. Bathrooms are available at the entrance. The playground area is separated into two sections. The sections are age appropriate and super challenging and fun for children. The equipment is clean and has the appearance of being well maintained. The park is not shaded so I don't recommend coming in the middle of the summer. Fall, winter and spring will provide lots of fun.

I'm a sucker for a good nature preserve and this place is no different. I loved my experience here…read morethe trails were fantastic and the wildlife and trees were incredible. This place has a good trail system encompassing about two and a half miles with multiple cutbacks and side trails and they've even got a water access for fishing. The scrub forest was fantastic and this park is at a higher elevation than most area around it so the views were pretty cool especially looking down onto Lake Apopka. I loved my experience here, and they've got nice clean bathrooms in the parking lot available for your use.

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.

Did you know that one of Orlando's best outdoor recreational areas was once a thriving orange…read moregrove? Today, Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a 183 acre park where families, fishermen, campers, bird watchers, and nature lovers can enjoy a break outdoors that makes you feel a world away from the nearby tourist attractions. This property once contained more than 2,000 citrus trees before the City of Orlando purchased the land in the 1970s under Mayor Carl Langford. It officially opened as Turkey Lake Park in 1978 with the mission of conserving land in its natural state for residents as Orlando's tourism industry rapidly expanded. In 1981, many of the remaining orange trees were relocated to make room for a campground featuring RV sites and cabins. The park was renamed Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake in 2004 to honor former Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick for his commitment to preserving Orlando's natural spaces. Along with former Mayor Glenda E. Hood, he helped ensure the beauty of this park would be preserved for future generations. Today, the park is the City of Orlando's largest community park. Turkey Lake is considered one of Florida's top rated fishing lakes, making it a popular destination for anglers. Beyond the lake, there are miles of walking and biking trails, shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, fitness stations, sand volleyball courts, a seasonal swimming pool, boat rentals, a dedicated drone flying area, disc golf, and numerous pavilions for gatherings. The campground offers RV sites and cabins for overnight excursions surrounded by nature. Admission is a nominal $5 per vehicle or $2 for a single occupant, making it one of the best recreational values in Orlando. Come for a picnic, to swim, cast a line, visit the rescue animals, or hike the trails as I enjoyed doing. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a reminder that Orlando offers more than just theme parks. I am so glad that the former mayors of Orlando had he foresight to preserve this slice of Florida's natural landscape where you never know what you might discover.

This is a really nice park and would be actually a great place if it wasn't right next to the…read moreturnpike. It is a large multi-functional, family-friendly park. There are several facilities available including pavilions, grills, disc golf volleyball, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, and even a drone course. There's a bike path, a nature path and a small animal farm where you can see a turkey, chickens, and maybe a variety of other animals. There are cabins (assuming for rent) and a spot for small RVs and trailers. The park includes several restrooms which are very clean. The disc golf course is extensive and likely a bit difficult as it meanders through several wooded areas and even one hole across the water. The park has several pavilions varying in size. Most have parking nearby, however several will require you to hoof your goods a little distance. This is a great place for a family or larger gathering. Two dollar entry fee. Dogs allowed on leash and there are several pet sanitary stations.

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!

Orlando Veterans Memorial Park is a small park located on the northern part of Lake Baldwin and is…read morenot far from Semoran Boulevard (State Road 436). Parking is a bit limited, but I was able to get a parking spot as it was not too crowded. There are a few smaller monuments, but the focal point in this park is the monument for the Vietnam War. It is an impressive monument depicting two soldiers. This is a great park to visit and to remember and pay respect to those who fought for our country and for the basic concept that we are born with the right to live a life where we exist in freedom. This is why we must remember those who fought so that we may live free. Orlando Veterans Memorial Park is a great park in Baldwin Park and I would definitely recommend a visit here. I.give it five stars overall.

Located on the north shore of Baldwin Lake, the four acre Orlando Veteran's Memorial Park was…read morecreated to honor the contributions of military veterans. The park has a large green space, shade trees, benches, a gazebo. In the park there are 9 unique memorials for groups including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnamese-American Memorial Committee, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, United States Marine Corps., and the Fleet Reserve Association. The park has a walk/jogging/bike path that connects this park to Blue Jacket Park, Harbor Park, and Fleet Peoples Park. On the day I visited there were many people taking advantage of this great opportunity to exercise along picturesque Baldwin Lake. The park is open every day 5 AM to sunset.

If you have ever been to celebration then you know everything has to be top notch here, and that's…read morenot different for the parks. This parks along water is year long perfectly landscaped with lots of flowers. My favorites are all the tulips. There's a little waterfall and lots of ducks and birds. Dog poop bags provided too.

My favorite park and neighborhood ! I love waking up and…read morestarting my day with a great jog or walk to reset and get my cardio in. Neighbors are so friendly and welcoming and there are beautiful butterflies, flying around, birds and cute duckies . I love the trail and sometimes I'll stop at the gastrobar and grab lunch before heading home. Such a perfect family friendly neighborhood.

I love Baldwin Park! I regularly drive here from about 20 minutes away because it's such an…read moreenjoyable walk. Obviously during the hotter months you might wanna sit this out or only come in the early or late hours of the day to avoid the scorching heat. The path around the lake is about 2.5 miles, and you will see walkers, joggers, and bikers of all ages. Walking in this neighborhood reinforces a strong sense of community, because you will see people sitting on benches, enjoying nature, bunny rabbits hopping around, wildflowers, and families taking photos in some of the more picturesque locations! Parking can be a bear, but if you have a little patience, you can usually find street parking or lot parking. And when you're done, you have the enjoyment of being in a walkable downtown area with lots of restaurants and shops.