Avon Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Avon Park offers a less crowded and more serene alternative to larger local playgrounds like Rainbow Lake or Shelby Farms, making it an excellent choice for parents seeking a quieter experience. It features well-maintained play equipment suitable for both toddlers and elementary-aged children, including a unique glide bar, and boasts a 1/3 mile paved walking track for adults. Its atmosphere varies from lively during school hours to peaceful after-school and during off-peak times.
Key Highlights
- ✓Significantly less crowded than popular local alternatives like Rainbow Lake or Shelby Farms.
- ✓Features a unique 'glide bar' that kids love, imitating ziplining.
- ✓Well-kept play equipment with no reported broken swings or unsafe stairs.
- ✓Includes separate, age-appropriate play areas for small kids/toddlers and bigger kids/elementary school age.
- ✓Playground has a rubber-based surface for added safety.
- ✓Paved 1/3 mile walking/running track surrounds the playground and an open field.
- ✓Access to water when school is in session.
- ✓Maintained portapotty on-site.
Standout Features
- ⭐The unique 'glide bar' provides an engaging, zipline-like experience.
- ⭐Separate and well-defined play areas for toddlers and older children.
- ⭐The rubber-based playground surface enhances safety.
- ⭐A 1/3 mile paved track ideal for walking, running, or pushing strollers.
- ⭐An open field adjacent to the playground perfect for soccer or other outdoor games.
- ⭐Conveniently located down the road from Corky's BBQ.
- ⭐Maintained portapotty, a crucial amenity for families.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**For Peace & Quiet:** Visit after school hours, early morning, or late afternoon.
- →**For a Lively Atmosphere:** Come during the day, but be aware that school groups will be present.
- →**Sun Protection:** Bring hats, sunscreen, and possibly portable shade (e.g., an umbrella) if you plan to spend extended time during sunny periods, as the play area lacks natural shade.
- →**Seating:** Due to limited benches (only 3), consider bringing your own blanket or portable chairs if you need more seating near the play area.
- →**Hydration:** Water is available when school is in session, but bringing your own drinks is always a good idea, especially on sunny days.
- →**Dogs:** It's a popular spot for dog walkers, so be aware, but reviewers noted owners are good about leash rules.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No tree coverage directly over the main play area, meaning kids and parents in the play zone will be in direct sunlight.
- ⚠Shaded seating is available but is farther away from the play area, typically located along the walking trail.
- ⚠Only 3 benches are available throughout the park, limiting seating options.
- ⚠No dedicated picnic area.
- ⚠Can be lively and busy during school hours as White Station Elementary classes use the park for recess.
Price & Value
Entry to Avon Park is free. It provides well-maintained play equipment, a walking track, and a maintained portapotty at no cost, offering excellent value for a local public park. No hidden fees or paid activities were mentioned.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The playground features a rubber-based surface, which can offer some accessibility benefits for movement and fall protection. No other specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair-accessible play structures, sensory-friendly hours) were explicitly mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Water is available when school is in session. There is no dedicated picnic area, which implies outside food is permitted but facilities for dining are absent. Reviewers did not mention any restrictions on bringing outside food or drinks.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking was not explicitly mentioned in the reviews, indicating that it is likely free and generally not an issue, possibly street parking or an unhighlighted lot, as no difficulties or costs were reported.
👥Crowd Levels
- •**Quiet/Serene:** After school hours, early morning, and late afternoon are generally described as peaceful.
- •**Lively/Busy:** During the day, particularly when White Station Elementary classes use the park for recess, it can become quite lively.
- •Overall, it is consistently noted as being significantly less crowded than other popular local parks like Rainbow Lake or Shelby Farms.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Play equipment is well-kept, with reviewers specifically noting no broken swings or unsafe stairs.
- •The playground features a rubber-based surface to help mitigate injuries from falls.
- •Dog owners are reportedly good about adhering to leash rules, contributing to a safer environment for children.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Mid-day visits if direct sunlight on the play area is a primary concern for you or your children.
- • During peak school hours/recess if you prefer a very quiet or less busy environment, as it can be lively with school classes.
- • If you require extensive picnic facilities, as there is no dedicated picnic area.
- • If you need abundant shaded seating directly adjacent to the children's play area.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Shayla Lawrence
5 years agoA very nice, quiet small park with a 1/3 mile walking trail. There's a playground with swings, slides and other things for smaller kids and bigger kids. If you want a park that's not as crowded as Rainbow Lake or the Shelby Farms playground, and is pretty much an equal distance from both, this is a great park.
Tatiana Yates
2 years agoSerene location. If you want peace and quiet come after school hours, if you want liveliness come during the day, white station elementary also comes to this park by class for recess. We went here to jist get out some energy for the toddler and she did jist that. The equipment is well kept up, no broken swings or unsafe stairs. There's a glide bar that the kids love. You hold on to it and it imitates ziplining. There's a small kid and big kid play area, plenty of seating for the adults. Only down side for me is that there is no tree coverage over the play area. So if you are sitting there while your kid plays you will be in direct sunlight. There are seats away from the sun but they are farther away from the play area and moreso on the walking trail. People usually walk their dogs here but everyone is good about the leash rule.
Mike Singleton
6 years agoGreat little park! Good rubber based playground for elementary and a section for toddlers. There's water when the school is in session and plenty of trees for shade. There's m a1/3 mile paved track around the playground and the open field next to it. There's a maintained portapotty, too. If there's a downside, it's that there are only 3 benches.
Joel Minto
2 years agoGreat park depending on the time of day. Early morning or late afternoon, seems to be the best time. Down side no picnic area and I do believe it's used by a school. Not from the area. But it is just down the road from Corky's BBQ.
George
a year agoAwesome park and playground for kids with toddler swings. Nice track to walk and field to play soccer.