Hometown Tourist Parks

June 8, 2010
by
1 min read
Folio Weekly

by erin thursby
If you’re looking for something free or very cheap to do on the weekends, Jacksonville’s park system is second to none. We’ve got quite a variety of parks for nearly every taste. That shouldn’t be surprising since Jacksonville has the largest urban parks system in the US.
Hanna Park (500 Wonderwood Dr.) is a favorite because it has something for everyone. A kiddie water park, beach access, canoe rental, inland waterways, bike trails for every class of rider and lots of Florida nature are what you’ll find there. Camping, both in tents and in cabins, can be part of the experience or you can just go for the day.
For a more focused experience, there’s Cuba Hunter Park (3620 Bedford Rd.). While it does have nature trails, it’s the skate park portion that’s most popular.
Memorial Park (1620 Riverside Ave.) doesn’t have a lot of amenities, but it’s got a spectacular view of the river, an iconic bronze statue and plenty of room for dog walking, picnicking and get-togethers. Around Valentine’s Day this pretty, open park sees its share of couples.
One of Jacksonville’s largest parks is Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park (7000 Roosevelt Blvd.). It’s got an historic brick trail, a high tower where you can watch owls and other birds, a butterfly garden, wetlands and a nature center.
Jessie Ball duPont Park (1123 Prudential Dr.) is known for the Treaty Oak. At only seven acres, it’s a small park, but it’s known for the gigantic and old oak in the center. The oak is about 150 years old. The name comes from a story told about a treaty between whites and Native Americans under its branches. In all probability, it’s not true, but the name stuck. Even so, it’s a sight to see. JEA uses the acorns from the tree as part of greenscaping throughout the city.
City activities often take place in Metropolitan Park (4110 Gator Bowl Dr.) but it’s also a great place to take the little ones. Kids Kampus features a terrific playground and water splash area.
With over 200 different parks in Jacksonville, we’ve barely scratched the surface. You can find a complete list of parks on coj.net. Activities and accommodations for various sports, boat ramps, swimming and playgrounds can be used to search the site. Jacksonville has surprising little parks, often in places you wouldn’t expect. You can also search for parks in your area, or go alphabetically.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
omaha-steaks-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Folio Weekly
Previous Story

SPLICE movie review

Folio Weekly
Next Story

Savannah drips Southern Charm

Latest from Feature

The South Got Somethin’ to Say 

Words by Carmen Macri  “I’m so proud to be from the South. I think Florida, for whatever reason, gets a bad rap. But to me, this is the best. And I’m so proud to be from Florida and to be in this region of the world — the Southeast.

Anxiety

Words by Amiyah Golden The blue sky, absence of clouds and the frigid breeze that envelops the inside of my car and pushes past my hair is a gentle reminder of the beauty of the present — no sweaty palms, no racing heart, no intrusive thoughts — just a

Combined Minds

What your favorite sex position says about you Words by Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez Carmen: We’ve all been there — a few drinks in, the conversation takes a turn, and suddenly everyone’s sharing a little too much. Maybe it’s with your besties over dinner, maybe it’s a tipsy

Felony Landlords: How Jacksonville’s Rental Market Is the Wild West

Inside Jacksonville’s broken rental market, where the worst landlords operate unchecked and tenants are left to fend for themselves. Words by Carmen Macri  In Jacksonville, a handful of landlords are driving an outsized share of the city’s eviction crisis — and they’re doing it with near-total impunity. Just 100

Left in the Waiting Room: Duval’s Mental Health Divide

Words by Carmen Macri  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s a reminder that mental illness affects more than 50 million adults in the U.S.—that’s over 1 in 5. Even more alarming: more than half of them, around 28 million people, aren’t getting the help or treatment they
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s