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    Squirrel Ridge Park

    4.1 (33 reviews)

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    Open Parks, fun dogs
    Cam L.

    My dogs love coming here! Excellent place to bring your furry friends. Open space,plenty of places to sit and very peaceful.

    Obstacles and Doggie Play Area
    Matthew W.

    Squirrel Ridge Park is the first Gainesville exit coming from 75 South. Great Location and usually a lot college age kids there. Medium sized Dog Park with Plenty of area to roam. Lots of obstacles and playground area for dogs! Lots of large trees with Spanish moss hanging on them for SHADE is it is too Hot or Rainy... Free Park and fresh water is always available for the Dogs.

    With dogs like this at the park why not stop by? She's cute.
    Laur R.

    Squirrel Ridge is a decent free dog park to bring the family to. There is a huge area to run and play in. If you are looking for other dogs to play with be sure to bring them during the weekend. The rules are pretty typical to other parks in Gainesville. Be sure to clean up after your dog and everyone can enjoy it.

    Melanie O.

    Fantastic huge park with a lot of shade perfect for both doggos and humans! There is also ample parking! I love that there's a lot of space to spend quality time with your doggo or let them roam free and be as social as they want to be! I will definitely be returning soon!

    Ipso about to enter the dog park!
    Brent B.

    A great park with lots of space and a good atmosphere. I came to this park after trying the complete disaster that is Haisley Lynch Park. Squirrel Ridge Park is a couple miles down the road in a relatively nice area (though being by a mental health facility was a little concerning). There is a good deal of parking. Ipso and I got out of the car and went towards the park. The regular park is very pretty and well-maintained, but you actually need to go down a small long path to get to the enclosed dog park area. Once we reached the park, I unhooked my dog and let him race into the big open (yet enclosed) field. There were about 5-10 other people there with their dogs, so Ipso was able to play and have lots of fun. A big positive is there weren't any stray or dropped off dogs, which is a pet peeve of mine (pun not intended). Unfortunately, an aggressive dog came and caused a ruckus for a bit and scared off some of the other dogs and their owners, but everyone there was quick to act and keep the fights contained. The dogs were able to keep playing, so Ipso was able to burn off energy for more than an hour. While there isn't much in terms of things to do, there is a hose and containers for water, some fun chairs where you can sit and relax, and some old tennis balls. The people going to the park were all students or young professionals, so it was easy to have some good conversations while the dogs romped around. I will warn though that it had rained the day before, so while most of it had dried, there were still some mud patches that a couple of dogs (luckily not mine) jumped into and ensured car seats would soon be destroyed. Overall, this was an excellent dog park. While there weren't many squirrels as the name implies, the well-kept areas and nice people make this an excellent place to take your dog if you are visiting Gainesville.

    Memorial Garden in SRP
    Carol L.

    Its a memorial park for those that have lost their lives to senseless acts of violence. It is maintained by volunteers that have respect for what the park represents. The dog park is actually behind the memorial garden, although small dogs are allowed in the park,however,,,most people appear to think that great Danes and bull dogs are small. ;) When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Help keep this park clean...pick up when you leave. Thanks for doing your part. :)

    Entrance to the park is down the walking road between the board privacy fence and the wire field fence.

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    5 years ago

    Great please let your dogs run wild and jump in the pond! What's the best is the little bathtubs they have to spray your dogs off

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

    My dog loves that kiddy pool they have there unfortunately. Lots and lots of space for the dogs to run free and play.

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    9 years ago

    Great park for dogs large and small. Plenty of room for dogs to run around and meet other dogs.

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    9 years ago

    This dog park is terrible. Do not waste your time. The water buckets are not clean. Lots of aggressive, poorly socialized dogs.

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    14 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Squirrel Ridge Park

    Review Highlights - Squirrel Ridge Park

    There are no fees, tons of room and water/hose stations with buckets and kiddie pools!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Kanapaha Park

    Kanapaha Park

    (7 reviews)

    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

    Tom Petty Park - She was pecking and pecking, and then she jumped right into the tree to her nest! Cool!

    Tom Petty Park

    (14 reviews)

    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.

    Hogtown Creek Greenway - Boardwalk through Hogtown Creek Greenway.

    Hogtown Creek Greenway

    (7 reviews)

    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.

    Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Bald eagle!

    Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

    (62 reviews)

    A great place to start your adventure and exploration of the Prarie…read more I recently stopped by the Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park Visitor Center in Micanopy, Florida, and it was a fantastic experience! Yes, you do pay the $6 per vehicle entrance fee to enter the state park, and it's a bit of a drive from the main gate along the park road to reach the parking lot. From there, you walk a short distance to the center itself. But once you arrive, it's absolutely worth it. The Visitor Center is very nice and modern building with large floor-to-ceiling windows directly across from teh entrance offering great views of the prairie itself. The staff, specifically Brad, was very helpful, The sets of displays provide an good overview of the prairie's natural and cultural history through interactive exhibits. There is also a short film in the theater room about the location. I really liked the observation area and spotting scopes. One scope was perfectly trained on a bald eagle perched about two miles away. I thought that was an incredible sight! It made the whole prairie feel alive and gave us a real sense of the wildlife that calls this special place home (wild horses and bison live here too). There is a small gift shop, restrooms, and the building provides easy access to trails and an observation tower nearby. It's a perfect starting point to understand and appreciate this unique place. If you're in the Gainesville area, make time for Payne's Prairie. The Visitor Center is a hidden gem that turns a simple stop into a memorable visit. I highly recommended it.

    We took advantage of our Florida State Park Pass (saved us the $6 entrance fee) and took a drive to…read morethe park. This is a beautiful park to drive or hike. The drive in and to the visitor center is so pretty! The trees make a nice, shady canopy. You can see various animals from the observation tower, open range or hiking. It was late afternoon and hot when we were there so we didn't see much (one deer!) and I'm sure the animals were in the shade somewhere.

    Bivens Arm Nature - The same hawk flies to the post near the exit to let me get a better photo! Wow!!

    Bivens Arm Nature

    (8 reviews)

    Biven's Arm Nature Park is all the way down at the very end of South Main St. People speed down in…read morethis section, so be extra careful in coming and going! Once you get in the park, there is plenty of parking along with restrooms and a water fountain, as well. The picnic area, where you can rest or have a meal with friends and family, also has a large swing for recreation. This park feels somewhat isolated because of its location, and that adds a nice feeling of privacy. There is a large, covered deck with seating for about 50 people to have meetings, gatherings or even a wedding, if so inclined! The deck seems to have an overlook towards the end, but there is no view because of the overgrowth of vegetation. There is a lake there, but you have to go on the trails to get a good look at it. Bring a water bottle and fill it up, before you go hiking, as it gets pretty hot, depending on the season. It's not an amazing place, but it is quite peaceful and well-kept. If you are lucky, you might see a hawk or large woodpecker, as well as smaller birds.

    I have driven by this park countless times over the years and today, I finally took the time to…read morecheck this park out. Overall, this park is a nice enough place and while not a huge park, it was a nice enough respite from the day to day grind and hustle of the modern world. I enjoyed the nature trail and the overall feel of the place. It also had adequate parking. I would definitely recommend here and I will give it five stars overall. Go check it out for yourself if you find yourself in Gainesville, Florida.

    Squirrel Ridge Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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