Pamela RobertsParks are a great venue for loved ones to spend time together, especially since many of us are often too glued to our phones. It’s great that the city continues to maintain greenery that anyone can enjoy.
If you’re looking to touch grass again, check out this list. I’ve gathered the best parks in Jacksonville to give you ideas on where to take your friends and family next.
1. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
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Address: 500 Wonderwood Dr, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19042556767
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Early bird entry (6:00am – 8:00am): $4.67 (available in sets of $50)
- Entrance fee (8:00am – closing time): $4.67
- Pedestrians/cyclists: $2.80
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park brings together friends and family in a beautiful oceanfront setting that you could rent out even for special events like weddings.
The park is also dog-friendly in some parts, so you could take your fur baby for an exploratory walk.
Across the 60-acre lake, you could enjoy fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. For land lovers, they have 20 miles of trails, too, where you could hike or bike with varied levels of difficulty – great for the whole family.
The park has almost 300 campsites, too, with provided amenities like electricity, water, coin laundry, and restrooms. With the landscape of Kathryn Abbey, campers will surely have a delightful time.
| Pro tip: Make sure to bring an insect repellent, especially if you’re camping. Don’t forget your sunscreen, too, because you know how the Florida sun can be! |
2. Riverside Park
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Address: 753 Park St, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Riverside Park is an 11-acre public park, which is also the second oldest one in the city.
You’d want to consider visiting the park on weekdays if you want a more solitary experience. You can start off your day with a stroll along Riverside Park’s walking trails that are great for kids, too, apart from their playground.
After your walk, you can explore their picnic tables and benches for a light snack.
Riverside Park creates a space for visitors to bond over activities. If you’re into sports, check out their biking trails and basketball court where you could bring friends along for a fun afternoon.
| Pro tip: Prepare items like binoculars and a notepad for the kids, too, so they can enjoy the wildlife better and turn the park visit into an educational experience. |
3. Memorial Park
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Address: 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 6:00am – 10:00pm
Memorial Park’s main attraction is “Life” by Charles Adrian Pillars that honors Floridians who died in service in World War I. The popular bronze sculpture against the backdrop that is St. Johns River is a great photo opportunity.
The park is designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm also known for designing Central Park in New York.
You’d want to take kids for a picnic and some soccer across the grass expanse. You can also take them fishing which can be an educational experience for young ones.
| Pro tip: Stay for the sunset view, especially against the bronze sculpture. The landscape is a great photo opportunity, and just a generally beautiful scene to experience. |
4. Ed Austin Regional Park
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Address: 11751 McCormick Rd, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 5:00am – 10:00pm
With its lush charm, Ed Austin Regional Park is a haven for friends, family, and dogs!
They have an off-leash dog park where your pup can go for zoomies all day – just schedule a dog grooming (dog grooming Jacksonville) after in case your dog has too much fun!
They have spaces for a wide variety of sports like their basketball court, soccer field, baseball field, disc golf, skate park, and bike trail. Don’t worry, though – they have a walking trail, too!
After a day of being active, you could also chill at the picnic grounds for an afternoon bite.
| Pro tip: Don’t miss out on disc golf if you haven’t tried it before! It’s a fun frisbee sport with rules that are similar to golf, so it’s an interesting combo. |
5. Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
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Website: https://jacksonvillearboretum.org/
Address: 1445 Millcoe Rd, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19043184342
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 8:00am – 7:00pm
Admission costs:
- Regular admission: $3
- Children (3 years and under): Free
Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland that is committed to providing a unique experience for all of its visitors.
The park has seven different hiking trails with over 100 labeled plants, showing the park’s commitment to providing an info-rich visit for everyone.
Complementing the park’s hiking trails are their curated gardens where visitors can take photos against a beautiful backdrop. The park is pet-friendly, too, so you can have photos with your pup.
The park can be booked for special events like weddings but they’re open to educational programs, too, like field trips.
| Pro tip: Make sure to allow young ones to tag along because hiking their trails is a good educational opportunity for kids to engage with and learn about their labeled plants. |
6. Big Talbot Island State Park
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Address: Jimmy Buffett Mem Hwy, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19042512320
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Entrance fee (per vehicle): $3
Big Talbot Island State Park is a great place for sunbathing, surfing, and birdwatching. Situated in a coastal woodland and beach setting, it’s an ideal place for water lovers with a white sand beach as a welcoming treat at the park.
The natural backdrop is perfect for weddings, too.
They have a 4-mile hike where you can possibly spot wild animals like the white-tailed deer, marsh rabbits, raccoons, armadillos, and bobcats. They also have camping grounds if you’re planning on staying a bit longer.
For those looking for high-energy activities, they have bike rentals, horseback riding, and rollerblading at the park, too.
| Pro tip: Try going early in the morning if you’re looking to see wildlife. Animals are more active early in the day, so this can raise your chances of seeing them. |
7. Jessie Ball duPont Park (Treaty Oak Park)
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Address: 1207 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Jessie Ball duPont Park is also known as Treaty Oak Park, as it is home to the Treaty Oak, for which there have been efforts toward preservation since the 1930s.
There is a fictitious story about how white settlers and Indians met under this remarkable tree to sign treaties. Thus, the name was coined.
The park welcomes weddings and small events, too. The tree is a romantic backdrop for your “I do!”
| Pro tip: Prepare a camera for the sunset view. The Treaty Oak casts beautiful shadows, which can be more picturesque against a warm sky. |
8. Castaway Island Preserve
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Address: 2885 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 7:30am – 8:00pm
Castaway Island Preserve is adjacent to an intricate salt marsh, which is an ideal place for seeing marshland wildlife. You can take a kayak to explore the marsh and see wild creatures.
Kids can also enjoy a gentle hike along the nature trail, so be prepared to chaperone the young ones.
What’s great is how the park also has a theater-style education center. Keep an eye out for their schedule, so you could plan your visit accordingly.
| Pro tip: The park welcomes everyone. Don’t worry about convenience because they have wheelchair access, too. |
9. Tilli K. Fowler Regional Park
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Address: 7000 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19045732498
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Free admission
There’s a certain type of magic when visiting parks with friends and family. Tilli K. Fowler Regional Park has both hiking and biking trails that are shaded by tall pine trees, which can be a deeply personal experience if you experience the path with your loved ones.
Don’t forget to bring your dog along to enjoy their dog park, too, while the kids run around in their playground.
A big thing to note for the park is their free admission, so you can go anytime daily!
| Pro tip: During your trek, rest under the shaded trees. The fresh air can refresh your mind and senses. |
10. Stockton Park
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Address: 4021 Ortega Blvd, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours:
- Daily: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Visitors are encouraged to explore the fishing spots at Stockton Park. They provide non-motorized boats like a canoe or a kayak to help you explore the waters.
For those waiting at the dock, Stockton Park provides picnic tables where visitors can enjoy refreshments.
You can also take a waterfront stroll with your loved ones or even alone if you’re feeling sentimental.
| Pro tip: Explore photography among the bodies of water. Water reflections and sunsets can be great subjects for photos. |
