The Best Playgrounds in Orlando

1. Bill Frederick Park At Turkey Lake — Orlando

This 183-acre park is worth the admission fee of $5 per car. There are several amenities for families, including two playground areas, multiple walking trails, including one with interactive activities and games, a fishing pier, sand volleyball, a dedicated drone flying area, disc golf, a swimming pool, and more.

2. Dr. P. Phillips Community Park — Orlando

Complete with a playground with climbing structures, a splash pad, dog park, walking trails, basketball court, sand volleyball courts, baseball field, and soccer field, Dr. P Phillips Community Park offers something for everyone. Several locals have named this the best splash pad in the area with lots of room for the kids to run around and shaded areas for adults to sit.

3. Lake Lorna Doone Park — Orlando

This sweet little urban park, next to Camping World Stadium, underwent an $8 million renovation. Now visitors can take a break from the city and play at the shady playground, stop by the splash pad on a hot day, and even take part in the nature walks and other events that take place here. The park also hosts a garden, walking path, putting green, art garden, and more.

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Phelps Park Playground is filled with natural wood swings and climbing structures. Photo courtesy of the park

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4. Barber Park — South Orlando

There are enough amenities at Barber Park for a full day of family fun. This park has two playgrounds, including an inclusive playground for kids of all abilities. It also offers sand volleyball, an outdoor roller hockey rink, a skate park, basketball courts, soccer fields, and two dog parks. Visitors enjoy a splash pad and multipurpose fields.

5. Boxi Park — Lake Nona 

Boxi Park combines food and family fun with outdoor counter-serve restaurants, a kids playground area, “Barxi” dog park, and sand volleyball courts. This is a great weekend option, where kids can expel energy, the family can enjoy the outdoors along with a great meal, and you can even bring your four-legged family member along. The park is open Thursdays through Sundays, and vendors only accept credit and debit cards (no cash). 

6. Community Playground — Winter Park

Known to locals as "Castle Park," this large wooden play structure features multiple climbing features, swings, and slides. There is also a pavilion that can be rented for parties; restrooms are nearby, along with a walking/jogging trail, and a small lake where families can fish.

7. Phelps Park Playground — Winter Park

Redesigned in 2020, Phelps Park Playground offers natural wood swings and shaded climbing structures, with a fully fenced-in playground. The park also has basketball courts, tennis courts, and pavilions available for rental—which makes this a great place for birthday parties.

8. Tucker Ranch Nature Preserve —Winter Garden

This nature preserve in Winter Garden features a fun, wooden play structure with a treehouse feel, surrounded by beautiful shade trees. Visitors can enjoy nature trails, picnic areas, a canoe/kayak launch area, and lots of open green space.

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9. Big Tree Park — Longwood

This 11-acre park is located within the Spring Hammock Preserve. Central Florida natives might remember visiting “The Senator” here, a huge 3,500-year-old cypress tree that was sadly lost in a fire in 2012. There is a playground piece built to resemble the stump of the Senator that kids can enjoy climbing on, as well as swings and other climbing structures. The playground is fenced in, great for containing little ones who might wander off, and has a covered pavilion next to it. Families can walk along the boardwalk to see the Senator’s sister tree “Lady Liberty,” a 2,000-year-old bald cypress tree.

10. Center Lake Park — Oviedo

This park is the center of the development Oviedo on the Park. It features a large outdoor amphitheater, swan paddle boats, splash pad, playground, lawn games, and dog park. The city hosts several events here throughout the year, including outdoor movie nights, food truck nights, and more. 

11. Fort Mellon Park — Sanford

This lakefront park has a large playground with swings, slides, and several climbing features, plus a splash pad, basketball courts, tennis courts, pavilions, and green space. Families can enjoy a day at the park and walk to downtown Sanford for lunch, or take a stroll along the Riverwalk overlooking Lake Monroe. There is no shade over the playground or splash pad, so be sure to bring sunscreen.

12. Trailblazer Park — Lake Mary

Located at the Lake Mary Sports Complex, this park has a playground with several climbing features and swings, a picnic pavilion, and a splash pad (open seasonally with a $2-per-person daily admission fee). The sports complex includes basketball courts, baseball fields, batting tunnels and cages, a tennis center, and soccer and kickball fields, so there is something for all ages to enjoy.

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Right by the playground at Kissimmee Lakefront Park is the splash pad. Photo courtesy of the park

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13. Godwin Park — St. Cloud

The playground at Godwin Park features a netplex play system, similar to a ninja warrior course. There is also a playground for smaller kids with a slide, swings, and a small manual "merry-go-round." Older kids can enjoy two lighted tennis courts, a racquetball court, and open space for relaxing or kicking a ball around. 

14. Kissimmee Lakefront Park — Kissimmee

This large lakeside park has two playgrounds, a splash pad with a Florida theme, a fishing pier, paved walking/biking trails, and lots of open space. The City of Kissimmee hosts several community events here throughout the year, including outdoor movie nights, festivals, and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

15. Veteran's Park — St. Cloud

This park features several military vehicles on display as a tribute to veterans, as well as a playground area with climbing structures and slides, a bandshell, and lots of green space to run around.

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16. Gilbert Park - Mount Dora

This shaded lakeside playground has beautiful views of Lake Dora and the Mount Dora lighthouse, and includes a pirate ship play structure with climbing features and slides. There is also a wooden toddler playground, a rope jungle gym, hammocks, and several swings. There are multiple pavilions available for party rentals, green space, and bathroom facilities. Just a short walk away is Palm Island Park, with boardwalks over Lake Dora and nature trails.

17. Lake Idamere Park — Tavares

This 45-acre park includes a large, all-inclusive playground with swings, slides, sand areas with diggers, a stage area for imaginative play, and misters to stay cool. There is also a dog park, fishing pier, nature trails, and a Miracle League field, where kids of all abilities can enjoy baseball and track. The park is fully shaded so it’s great for hot summer days.

18. Lake Hiawatha Preserve — Clermont

This 220-acre nature park extends the Lake Minneola-Clermont Scenic Trail and has loads of amenities including two dog parks, a playground, hiking and biking trails, a fishing pier, a top-rated Disc Golf Course, and a picnic pavilion. But the best thing about it is the playground that features a working old-fashioned water tower —the playground was designed to evoke Old Florida.

19. Waterfront Park — Clermont

Situated along the shoreline of Lake Minneola, this park features a small playground, splash pad, sandy beach area, sand volleyball, basketball, fishing piers, and a paved fitness trail. The splash pad is open seasonally, with an admission fee of $2 per person. The City of Clermont hosts several events here, including a Dragon Boat Festival and the famous Pig on the Pond festival.