Located at the top of the Lake Mirror Amphitheater, Barnett Family Park was cutting edge when it…read moreopened in 2004. The $2 million park was a gift to the City of Lakeland from Carol Jenkins Barnett and Barney Barnett. Carol Jenkins Barnett (September 30, 1956 - December 7, 2021) was a Lakeland resident and the daughter of George W. Jenkins, the founder of Publix Super Markets. She served as president of Publix Super Markets Charities and as a member of the board of directors of Publix Super Markets. The Barnett Family Park playground features a whimsical nature themed playground with climbing net and an interactive fountain and splash pad that spouts columns of water into the air at random intervals to encourage children to play. The park also has the Sunflower Preschool Playground designed for ages 2 to 5, a labyrinth, a covered picnic area, restrooms, and a multipurpose field. I really enjoyed all of the public art surrounding the play area. If you have children this is a must stop in downtown Lakeland. Whether you're looking for a place to relax, take the kids to play, enjoy a picnic, or engage in sports activities, this park provides a little something for everyone.

Barnett family park is my families favorite park we have gone to in Lakeland. There is a huge…read moreparking lot, as well as street parking which provides plenty of places to park. The location is situated on a beautiful lake that has several walkways for a lovely stroll. The park itself is centered around a humongous shade tree that has a ton of picnic table seating. Each playground is separated by age and is gated, which is a huge relief for parents with runners! There is an infants area, toddlers age 2-5 and big kids area. On the opposite side of the playground is the splash pad which is spread out nicely so parents can keep a good eye on their children as they run and cool down. This park has something for everyone and is a must go to!

This park is amazing that is how I can describe it,not only it is huge but it is also beautiful and…read morehas so much for the kids to do while enjoying the outdoors there is also a kids museum close by. There is plenty of parking here but we aware you will be walking a lot thru this park even if you park close or not. For the kids I recommend bringing a bathing suite as there is a little river where the kids can play and get wet also bring snacks and drinks it gets very hot and there isn't to many places here to buy food or drinks. If there is an event like there was when we visited, be ready to park on the far side of the park and walk also you can bring bikes,scooters and skates to this park. This is truly a hidden gem in Lakeland,Fl and we enjoyed visiting here.

Always a five star experience…read more There is so much parking and depending on what you want to do you can park close to where you want to be. We always park close to the main playground and start there. It's actually a giant circle when you think about it, so we start at that playground then we move on to where there's the owl playground and the spinning carousels. Then we continue onwards to the treehouse, from the treehouse we go to where there's the main building where they had shaved ice and you can get food if you want then it's an easy walk back to the car. We always bring the kids scooters because the walk is a little far for them, they are five and seven. I did learn this time around that if you are older like my in-laws this park may be a little too spaced out, especially when it's hot outside. However, there is a tram that will bring you from place to place so we did end up taking the tram from the main building back to where we parked. We spent about an hour racing around just giant park. There is a lot of shade, but also you do need sunscreen. It is a majority outside and everyone knows how hot Florida gets. I think it is brilliant that at the main building they have shaved ice. Also, at the treehouse they sell drinks, a water bottle was three dollars, which was actually pretty reasonable so I got the kids water. Even though it's hot in Florida I really like the kids spending time outside so this is a fantastic place to spend a couple hours. I'm sure we could spend even more time here if we ever decide to check out rooftop bar or the food place, but for now we've only experienced the multitude of playgrounds. It never feels crazy, busy, but that's probably because it is so spread out that families can be all over this huge park.

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!

Trailhead Park is named for its location on the Chain of Lakes Trail. Opened in 2011, this well…read moreappointed and clean park offers inexpensive fun for the children of Winter Haven. I happened upon Trailhead Park during a recent visit to Winter Haven. Close to downtown, it was the perfect place to take a break and stretch my legs after the long drive. The park is a short walk from Lake Silver across the street. While walking through the park I admired the extensive playground being enjoyed by a number of children on the swings, slides, and climbing areas. The playground area has rubber flooring for safety. and the play equipment is color coded, green for ages 2-5, and purple for ages 5-12. Surrounding the play area are wrought iron benches where parents can sit and keep an eye on their kids as they play. Trailhead Park also has a splash pad that opened in 2016 and restrooms. This lively, family-friendly park has great amenities. While geared for kids, it is a relaxing park for all who visit.

This is such a cute little park to bring children. It is right across from the tennis center and…read morenext to city hall.

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.

What's better than cheap? FREE, all access water park INCLUDED in your Grove Resort stay. Enjoy…read morewater slides, relax in the (heated) lazy River, fire water canons, swim in their centralized (heated) pool, and splash in an aquatic playground area targeted for younger kids. Perfect for families and vacationers of ALL ages. Our fam of 6 never had an issue scoring complimentary towels, reclining sun chairs, tables, and/or umbrellas. You can even pay $30 for 30m or $55 for 1 hr to tackle the Flow Rider, a super cool surf simulator. In addition to a bar/grill onsite, they pipe in cool, upbeat tunes to enjoy throughout the park. At times, this includes COVID/CDC safety announcements.

The Grove in Orlando is the best family hotel that I have been to. The staff and customer service…read moreare amazing here. Always smiling and willing to help. This hotel is like a home away from Home . Very spacious for big families and big groups. They have two and three bedroom suites, amazing restaurants, pools, and a market on site. Rates start from $200 a night during the off season and up to $400 during the high season. Access to the waterpark is included with your stay. And truly the waterpark is the best park. They have poolside service, a lazy river and lots of lifeguards standing by. The only downfall I see of this property is that is so big so there's a lot of walking. But overall it's an amazing hotel. Very close to the Disney parks and plenty of room for families. You can even do groceries and cook and if you want to. This is my go to resort when in the area. I highly recommend it.

The playground is nice overall. It has two sides: for kids 5…read more& up. And 2-5. It can be fun seeing the train go by. But also a bit too loud/close for some kids. Restrooms were smelly when we went. Wondering if it's always the same. Parking is great and so it's the shade of trees

Downtown City Park was created as a town square with the businesses of…read more Auburndale downtown built around it. The charming downtown area contains many restaurants and shops in historic buildings. Today the park still serves as a gathering place for the community. In 2007, Downtown City Park was redesigned to enhance its recreation and beauty for residents and visitors to the city of Auburndale. In the eastern corner of the park is a number of umbrella shaded picnic tables and an engaging playground that is fenced in for safety. The playground area has an artificial turf, cushioning surface to protect little knees and bottoms. The playground has a multilevel tower with climbing structures and two slides. There is also a play train which is a nod to Auburndale's history as a railroad town. Civil engineer Louis Randolph Mclain, who was working for the railroad on the extension of the system between Lake Alfred and Saddle Creek, is credited with founding Auburndale. The historic 1927 Seaboard Air Line Rail Depot is in the northern part of the park. The park also has restrooms and a historic bandstand with a stage for community events like the annual CityFest music festival and other events throughout the year. In the western part of the park is the Rotary Butterfly Garden with butterfly attracting native Florida plants. This well maintained and family friendly park offers a great place to spend time with family. Whether coming for exercise, play, or a special event, this wonderful spot capture the spirit of historic Auburndale.

The dinosaur playground is not really a dinosaur pray ground it is a minion playground and it's…read morestill very nice for the kids. It's very hot and there's a lot of walking around for the parents to keep track of the kids but all in all it's a good way to wear their little butts out.

My kids absolutely LOVE Dinosaur Playground Bounce House at Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales!…read moreFriendly staff, great prices, comfy seating for parents, and lots of slides and bounce houses for the kids to play and climb on - including one that's a climbing wall style volcano! Highly recommended!