Must-See City Parks

Venture to the Capital City’s captivating parks

A.J. Henry Park
2701 A.J. Henry Drive

This 72-acre gem amid Killearn’s seven northeast neighborhoods offers a playground, four picnic shelters, a large picnic pavilion, a boardwalk, trails, and plenty of shade. It can be accessed from Gardenview Way or Whitney Drive East.

Cascades Park
1001 South Gadsden Street
This is the crown jewel of Tallahassee’s urban parks. Cascades is a green, spacious gathering place for pedestrians, picnickers, festivalgoers, and concert fans. At the center of its rolling hills and water features is the Adderley Amphitheater, hosting national and local bands. The park, just blocks from the Capitol, also includes a lake, monuments, a splash pad, fountains, a playground, shaded coves, multi-use trails, and the Smokey Hollow commemorative site.

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park
4000 North Meridian Road
Located on the east side of Lake Jackson, this wild, 670-acre tract is one of the largest outdoor recreation sites in Tallahassee, with room for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Fred George Greenway and Park
3043 Capital Circle NW
In northwest Leon County are 170 acres of woodlands, knee-high grass patches, waterways, and trails. Ten open acres are dedicated to multipurpose fields for Pop Warner football, regulation baseball, soccer, tennis, disc golf, and a dog park.

Governor’s Park 

700 North Blair Stone Road
Hidden in plain sight, Governor’s Park is between Mahan Drive and East Park Avenue. Its gently sloping fields, scattered trees, and woodsy trails make it ideal for tossing Frisbees and balls to friends or pets.

Jack McLean Jr. Park, Center and Pool
700 Paul Russell Road
There are 52 acres of fun at Jack McLean Park.
The park features a swimming pool, picnic shelters, a playground, courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, horseshoe pits, and a 24-hole disc golf course.

Lafayette Heritage Trail Park
4900 South Heritage Park Boulevard
This once continuous wet prairie was parsed by a dam into three sections: Upper Lafayette, Piney Z Lake, and Lower Lafayette. It is a wonderful place to fish, bike, run, walk, and paddle. 

Park Avenue Chain of Parks
Park Avenue
The Chain of Parks is actually a series of seven small urban parks in Tallahassee’s historic Park Avenue district. An April art festival and weekly arts and crafts and food market are held here. It’s a great place to be in the spring, when the rose bushes and azaleas are in bloom.

San Luis Mission Park
1313 San Luis Road
Adjacent to the 17th-century museum Mission San Luis, the park features covered picnic pavilions, lots of shade trees, trails around Lake Esther, and a playground. Feel free to walk your pooch here.

Tom Brown Park
443-557 Easterwood Drive
This is one of Tallahassee’s favorite outdoor playgrounds and hosts the annual Fourth of July fireworks show. It has fields for softball, baseball, and soccer as well as a disc golf course, a dog park, tennis courts, and lots of other open spaces.

Community Recreation Centers

Dorothy B. Oven
Park and House
3205 Thomasville Road
(850) 891-3915

Jack L. McLean Jr.
Community Center
700 Paul Russell Road
(850) 891-2505

Jake Gaither
Community Center
801 Bragg Drive
(850) 891-3940

Lafayette Park Arts
and Crafts Center
501 Ingleside Avenue
(850) 891-3945

Lawrence-Gregory
Community Center
1115 Dade Street
(850) 891-3910

LeVerne Payne
Community Center
450 West 4th Avenue
(850) 891-3930

Lincoln Neighborhood
Service Center
438 West Brevard Street
(850) 891-4180

Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute (OLLI)
FSU Campus
636 West Call Street
(850) 644-7947

Palmer Munroe Teen Center
1900 Jackson Bluff Road
(850) 891-2569

Senior Center
1400 North Monroe Street
(850) 891-4000

Smith-Williams
Services Center
2295 Pasco Street
(850) 891-1860

Sue Herndon McCollum Community Center
at Lafayette Park
501 Ingleside Avenue
(850) 891-3946

Walker-Ford
Community Center
2301 Pasco Street
(850) 891-3970

For more information about parks, historic sites, and public play spaces, please contact the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department at (850) 891-3866 or talgov.com/parks/parks and the Leon County Parks & Recreation Department at (850) 606-1470 or visit leoncountyfl.gov/parks.

Photo by Dave Barfield courtesy of Visit Tallahassee