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

We headed up to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this past Saturday. They were having a Party for the…read morePlanet Day. They threw a party for the animals and celebrated Earth Day. There's a lot to see at this little zoo. We saw lemurs, a tree kangaroo, Visayan Pig, squirrel monkeys, gibbons, Caracals, owls, a beautiful bald eagle, Herons, Cranes, Emus, Kookaburras, Gila Monster, tortoises, a Wood Stork and more! Hard to get photos through some of the fences. What a fun time!

Well worth visiting if up in Gainesville for a medical appointment as we were…read more Cleo the caracal was our favorite. Many exhibits with much vacant land awaiting "The Master Plan". Numerous helpful staff who I think are students at the college. Paths are unpaved and leafy, not wheelchair friendly, but fine for walking. Gift shop had minimal adult sized shirts and none featuring caracals. Yellow parrots nice eye candy.

This park rocks! They have these fabulous little houses that the kids love playing in. Added…read morebonus: Starbucks is close by, so you can keep up your energy with some caffeine!!

This park is kinda small with only 2 1/2 slides, but my 2 year old loved playing in the little…read morecrooked houses. There's also 2 regular swings, 2 baby swings and a tire swing, a sandbox, and a see-saw. There's bench seating, 2 picnic tables and a couple port-a-potties with a sink to wash your hands. Since is its only a few minutes off I-75, we stopped here to give the little guy a fun break on our way back to Atlanta.

This indoor children's playground in Gainesville features bounce houses, obstacle courses, and a…read moreseparate soft play area for toddlers. Socks required to play. The kids had a wonderful time. The place did smell slightly like dirty diapers.

loved this place before. but now there's an unwritten policy that you're not allowed in unless they…read morephotograph your child at the front desk. there's a general disclaimer that if there are photos taken they can be used by the owners for any reason as well. but requiring a photo to enter is odd and not done by any other facility (like sun country, o2b, kidstrong, etc). it's just odd. wasn't like this in the past either.

My favorite thing about this park is that I can run laps on the track (which is shaded in the…read moresummer, woohoo!) while my little guy plays on the playground! It sounds silly, but I don't like to just sit and stare at my kids playing, I prefer to *do* something. Since none of the equipment is very tall, I don't feel the need to hover either, which is nice. There is a basketball court in the middle, a smaller tot area under the trees where all the equipment is only waist high, water fountains, restrooms (that are unfortunately only open sporadically), and a covered pavilion with a few picnic tables. This is an accessible playground with a ramp right up from the parking lot. There is always plenty of parking too. Oh and it's sand, not wood chips, which my kids love so they can bring sand toys. One of my biggest factors in rating playgrounds is whether there are friends to play with and this one is hit or miss unfortunately, but I like this one nevertheless because it has something for all ages packed into a small area and it's not directly on a main/busy road. Note: The park is NOT LIGHTED at night, so don't plan on running laps or playing b-ball at night.

This is a great shady location for running and running related events like the summer FTC Junior…read moreCamps that has been 44 years in the community and sponsored by Dr. Robert Cade's wife, Mary. It's safe and also offers great accessibility for handicapped children. What a wonderful community park for our Gainesville citizens. The program begins June 12th and runs through most of July. Your child can attend on a weekly basis, multiple weeks, or the whole program( discount provided) Where else can you get quality running activities for $3.00 per day! Contact ftcjuniorchamps@yahoo.com for registration /information.

This is a park that is well off the beaten path, buried in the back of a small housing development…read moreoff of Newberry Road in Gainesville. There is a small parking area and then a couple of paths that lead into the park. It is but a short walk into the park itself, and I can see it as being a good place to take a dog for a walk. In the park itself there is a small play area for children, as well as a community garden where you will see various food plants being grown. It was a bit overgrown when I was there, but it is towards the end of summer and the way weeds grow right now it isn't all that surprising. The park includes a couple of vita-course implements for exercise, but nothing like some of the other parks in town that have full courses. If you are interested in a park that is well off the beaten path that few people even know of, this should certainly be on your list.

I was beyond pleasantly surprised by this park! Like many other parks, it lists a non-existent…read moreaddress. So we made our way to the neighborhood and just poked around a little until we found the northeast entrance at SW 38th St. There was only parking for one car here. About 50 yards down the paved path from the entrance, there was a fork in the road with a dirt path. The paved path straight ahead leads to private property. Another 50 yards down the dirt path, a clearing in the trees opens to a quaint little playground, a community garden, wide open space, and what appears to be neighborhood sand toys. During our visit, I walked the surrounding paths to discover a small parking lot off SW 40th St. We also had the MOST AMAZING experience with one of the neighbors that participated in the community garden. She invited my kiddos to help pull a turnip, a few carrots, and taste some edible flowers and herbs! It was such a special experience for my family. Wild Spaces Public Places is planning a renovation, closing for 6 weeks beginning March 2019. I hope they are able to keep the special feel of this hidden gem (maybe just add some restrooms)!