New to Jax and Looking for a Good Playground

You already got some really great advise, so I'll just add one of my favorite parks (not too far from you either). Losco Park.

Here's a little park at the corner of Beach Blvd and Forest that not too many people go to. It's got swings for babys and older kids. There are animals that they can crawl through and of course the playground equipment that is not very high. There is a watch tower in the park that is fun to look at (and is fully closed off with no way for kids to get in. There can be broken glass around it at times though.) It's got good shade and a sidewalk that goes around the park for walkers and joggers. People around this area do take pets into this park too. I know I have seen a playgroup in this park but I don't know anything about them. I work during the day.
Good luck and have fun.

Hi A.! Check www.jax4kids.com they always have great stuff on there to do with kids. We just joined a playgroup off there (jacksonville friends with strollers) and they are very active and do lots of park dates and stuff. Might be a good way for you and your little one to get to know the city and make some local connections :) Good luck!!

Hi A.!
Welcome to Jacksonville! First I must ask where in NY you are from? The city or from upstate? I am originally from the Utica area and love finding folks from the same "neck of the woods" as I!! I live in mandarin and my husband and I usually take our 21 month old to the mandarin park. It really pretty, right on the st. johns river with a nice picnic area and a great little playground. It is located on mandarin road off San Jose Blvd just before the Julington creek bridge. The other suggestion that I have is the playground at Palencia....I have not been there yet, however I have driven by it and heard it is absolutely fantastic....that is located on US 1 headed south from Jacksonville to St. Augustine....probably a 20-25 minute drive from Southside. The biggest thing about that playground is that it is not crowded...during the week you would probably have the entire place to yourself! Good Luck and have fun!

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+S...

This website has a lot of different parks and recreation listings. I have also gone to Gonzales Park, Huffman Park, and South Beach Park which are all very nice and if you google them they will pull up maps. Hope you find some fun places to go!

try www.jax4kids.com they list all kinds of activities for kids of all ages. there is also a link to the jax park page!

Hi A....our area is a little hike from the Southside (orange park/oakleaf) but there are several decent parks over here. Take 95 south to 295 toward orange park, cross the bridge and take the 2nd exit (blanding blvd). Turn left and make your 2nd right onto Argyle Forrest Blvd. There is one park about 2.5 miles down w/a pond and a bunch of ducks but if you keep going to the new Town Center and turn left you'll find a couple more and keep exploring back here and you'll have about six more parks. Some are shaded, some are not. Have fun! Feel free to contact me if you want verbal instructions. :-)

If you go to www.jaxparks.com you can find a listing of all the parks Jacksonville has to offer, including information about their amenities. If you don't mind the drive, Kids Campus at Metro Park is fun. So is our Zoo (www.jaxzoo.org). Just make sure you lather on the sunscreen before spending any time outdoors.....and welcome to the south!

Hi! There is a neat park off of Baymeadows near 9A, it's called 9A/ Baymeadows Regional Park.

Anyways, it has some smaller equipment for little legs. It also has a couple of baby swings. PLUS, it is fenced in to keep wanderers away from the water.

You can always check coj.net for more parks.

Have fun!

--P. M.