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!

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.

Came here yesterday after it rained and I was actually surprised how well the grass/turf dried…read more This definitely worth a stop with kids if you're in the area. They also have a tennis court next door that was pretty busy. This park has so many different options for the kids to play whether it's slides, climbing rocks, playing with water or musical instruments and more. There's so much to do. Bonus is that they have bathrooms, a water fountain & it's gated!!

Arrived 3:45 on 12/30/25…read more STRENGTHS: - lots of attached tennis courts - there are many different little play areas on the playground. Some areas are great for little kids and some areas are good for bigger kids. - they are cool, tunnels, and artificial turf everywhere which is great for kids to stay clean and not have to deal with Florida ants. - the playground equipment is high-quality and there's a large variety for kids to exercise different body movements. This is the kind of park you can take your kids to every day. CHALLENGES: - parking is small. Not a lot of spots. Only 1 handicap spot - this park was packed, but the park is big enough for that to happen.

What a wonderful, beautifully maintained, park! We were awed on the hiking trail we looped around…read moreon. The wildlife we saw was pure joy. There are interpretive signs, as well as warning signs (alligators, snakes, etc) along the way which was an added bonus. Although there was a huge number of vehicles in the parking lot, we barely ran across other hikers. The pathway we took, about a 2.5 mile loop, had minimal foot traffic. The paths are wide, wide enough for worker or emergency vehicles. We enjoyed this park very much and plan to return, albeit most likely NOT in the dead of the Florida summer heat/humidity. We are not that "adventurous" hahaha. We are very blessed with the County and State parks we have here, that's for sure!

This place is amazing, sometimes a little scary, the alligators will be all around you, but…read moreabsolutely amazing!!!

A friend told us about this park so we decided to check it out. The park itself is a good size they…read morehad lots of stuff to do for the kids. Plenty of shade from the trees which was great and they have pavilions near by for parties and picnics. They also have some walking/ trails as well. It's a great park but if you have kids who like to wander just be aware because it's right next to a HUGE lake.

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 was in town visiting. A day pass is valid for a week between $20-25 per vehicle. There are…read moredifferent beach lots. I visited the first lot. There was parking available, accessible restrooms, trash and recycling bins next to beach ramp. The water was a bit chilly but gorgeous! It was easy to walk on the sand, not many shells. I highly recommend a visit to this beach.

Beautiful, unspoiled beach with a clothing-optional area. I enjoyed spending time here with my gf…read moreduring our trip to Florida

You can't miss this spot when you come to Lakeland. Apparently Queen Elizabeth donated two mute…read moreswans and now the rest is history. It's so peaceful around the lake and a pleasure to commune with nature.

This scenic 40 acre lake is named for John P. Morton who used to own land around the lake. Morton…read morewas the brother-in-law to Lakeland founder, Abraham G. Munn. Both business men came to Florida from Kentucky and Morton was a wealthy publisher. His company, John P. Morton and Co., was one of the largest book publishers in the South, specializing in textbooks and blank books. Morton died just a few years after Lakeland's official founding in 1885. He passed away in 1889 at the age 82 in Louisville but his prolific publishing house continued operation until 1943. Surrounding Lake Morton is a passive park area with benches and picnic tables. Bordering Lake Morton is the South and East Lake Morton Historic District Neighborhoods. Development of these neighborhoods began around 1906 with most of the bungalow and Mediterranean styles houses built during the Florida Boom between 1920 and 1926. In 1926 the City of Lakeland had 20 swans. They became a beloved part of the city and a Swan Department was even created to tend to the birds. By 1954 the last swan passed away leaving Lakeland very sad. Mrs. Robert Pickhardt, a Lakeland native living in England was familiar with the royal flock of swans on the Thames which were descended from the original pair given to Richard, the lion heart. She inquired about purchasing a pair for Lakeland and Queen Elizabeth offered to send swans if the city would pay the cost of capture, crating, and shipping at an estimated $300. The city was able to raise the money and the pair of White Mute Swans from England were released on Lake Morton on February 9, 1957. The swans became treasured celebrities and are the mascot and symbol of the city. The swan is in the city's logo, and in the names of businesses, neighborhoods, streets, and events. The best place to see the black and white swans of Lakeland along with other birds like anhinga, ducks, wood storks, egrets, herons, ibis, and pelicans is on Lake Morton. I loved watching the beautiful swans glide through the water along with all of the other birds on the lake. The only other place I can think of where there are swans like this is on Lake Eola in Orlando. Lake Morton is also home to the Mayfaire by-the-Lake, an art festival which takes place on Mother's Day weekend each year along the shores of the lake. It typically features more than 140 artist booths and is one of the oldest and largest art festivals in Central Florida.

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!

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.

This was the first park in the central Florida area that actually made me feel like I was on a real…read morehike! From the outer appearance, driving into the park, it looks like a typical Florida, flat-surface park. However, once you enter the trails, it's very 'hilly', has extremely challenging bike ramps, fishing areas, views, and be prepared to sweat if you're walking through the biking area/ trails. I'm looking forward to the challenge again and returning to the park for a hike.

Finally had the opportunity to ride the famous Carter Rd. Trails! These are some of the most unique…read moreand epic trails in Florida. The terrain is magical and the trail crews have really used every inch of this place as creatively as one can. The riding is super technical and really fun. Can't wait to come back.