Lakeland is lucky to have so many great parks and playgrounds for kids. My kids have swung, spun, and raced through many of them ... and definitely have their favorites! Here’s a list of our family’s top five favorite parks and playgrounds in Lakeland and the reasons we love them:
Park name: Barnett Family Park
Location:730 E Orange street. Lakeland Fl, 33801
Features: This is really a one stop shop playground. Barnett family park has water features, a play ground (including the Sunflower Preschool Playground), labyrinth, covered picnic area, restrooms, and a multipurpose field. You could make this a quick trip to the park or spend all day here!!
What my kids love: My kids enjoy anything with water, so that was their favorite. They also really enjoyed the multi-purpose field so we could play catch and Frisbee!
What I love: The covered picnic area! We could get out of the sun and refresh with a yummy snack!
Park name: Common Ground Playground
Location:1000 E. Edgewood Dr. Lakeland, FL, 33803
Features: Common Ground was Polk County's first "inclusive play experience," a term used to describe non-traditional play areas. Children of varying abilities and disabilities are able to play together side-by-side!
What my kids love: They loved all of the different options for climbing and my girls had a blast on the seesaw.
What I love: My youngest has Mild Cerebral Palsy, I love that no matter what difficulties he may face, we will have a wonderful to go to where all of our kids will have a blast!
Park name: Lake Parker Park
Location: 910 E Granada Street Lakeland, FL, 33805
Features: Rotary Playground, boat ramp, Picnic pavilions, fishing, fitness, soccer fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, shuffle board and lawn bowling.
What my kids love: Throwing their pole in the water! My son even caught a baby fish!
What I love: My husband actually enjoyed this one! He will do anything involving fishing.
Park name: Dobbins Park
Location: 514 Ariana St. Lakeland, FL, 33803
Features: This playground has multiple climbing features, swings for all abilities and a ZIP LINE
What my kids love: By far, the zip line
What I love: I actually really enjoyed the zip line as well!
Park name: Handley Park
Location: 1419 Phyllis St. Lakeland, FL, 33803
Features: Large play ground, swings and large grassy area.
What my kids love: My rascals enjoyed the large playground and sliding on the slides!
What I love: We went in the morning, so we had decent shade, and I enjoyed the picnic we shared in the grassy field.
That’s our family’s top 5 list for favorite parks and playgrounds in Lakeland, but I bet your kids have their own favorites! Let me know what’s on your family’s list for Lakeland's best parks and playgrounds by emailing me at Juliaw@macaronikid.com. I’ll be doing more Lakeland playground and park reviews in the future, so I would love to have your input!
