Parks and Recreation

This oceanfront city park located between Atlantic Beach and the historic Mayport Village is a haven for outdoor lovers. Hanna Park is formerly known as Manhattan Beach and was the first African American beach resort in Florida.
There are biking trails ranging in difficulty, camping grounds and cabins, hiking trails, lake and ocean kayaking, great surfing and 1.5 miles of white-sandy beaches.

The Talbot Islands State Parks are an intriguing mixture of beach setting and coastal woodland. An area filled with endless natural beauty and some of the most unique eco-systems in the world! It offers a four-mile hike through dune covered woodlands made up of ferns, moss-covered live oaks and tall pine trees. It’s elevation changes are shocking coming from the flat lands of Jacksonville.

Located just west of Mayport Road, visitors can capture views of unique wildlife at this park along the Intracoastal Waterway.

This is a perfect getaway for an afternoon adventure, you won’t believe you are still in the city. Bring your furry friends along for the day! Located just east of the heart of downtown and in the middle of the St. Johns River, Exchange Club Island sits on 34 acres of land. Visitors can access the island by boat, paddle board or kayak and tie up on the newly finished dock.

Memorial Park is a beautiful, riverfront park found in the 5 Points area of Riverside. The park has a rich history, it was designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers firm who are famous for parks like Central Park in New York.

Venture out to Jacksonville’s North side, where some of the city’s most impressive State Parks can be found and explore the more than 4,000 acres that make up Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. This unique park provides one of the last unaltered views within the City of Jacksonville of the creeks, salt marshes and uplands.

Escape from the world through the miles and miles of trails that connect the Jacksonville Equestrian Center and the Cecil Recreation Complex.
The land was previously a part of Naval Air Station Cecil Field. It was the home of their aircraft armament storage.

Drive down the busy Roosevelt Boulevard on Jacksonville’s West side and you will find the very peaceful natural oasis that is Tillie Fowler. Easy to spot from the road with its clearly marked signage and a beautiful brick entrance.

The park is home to the Mandarin Museum, the St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children, and other historical structures, including the 1875 Webb Farmhouse, the 1876 barn, the Losco Winery, and the Wheeler Sawmill. The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society has furnished the house to reflect family life during the late 1890’s and early 1900’s.