Home › Florida › Lakeland › Peterson Park
Peterson Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 517 Google reviews · Running trail in Lakeland, Florida · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Peterson Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Popular park with boardwalks along a scenic lake, plus a baseball diamond & picnic pavilion.
What runners say about Peterson Park
“The walking paths are wide, clean, and surrounded by beautiful scenery — from the open fields to the lake views that make the whole place feel calm and inviting.”
“The walking paths are wide, clean, and surrounded by beautiful scenery — from the open fields to the lake views that make the whole place feel calm and inviting.”
“It’s serene, quiet and peaceful but lively and buzzing at the same time (lots of funny bugs, frogs, birds and other flying all around).”
Very nice park that's centrally located. The 1st drive way is for the ball fields, the 2nd is for the main park. There' so much to offer here - playground, covered picnic tables, grills, restrooms, walking path, boardwalk, and even a small boat ramp.
Big appreciation for little spots like this in Lakeland! Peterson Park is a gem that is definitely also pretty hidden. It’s tucked away behind quaint Cleveland Heights neighborhoods and CH golf course. You can enter it by turning between the YMCA and Cleveland Heights animal hospital.
Playground, shelters, boardwalks, boat dock, bank fishing. What more could you ask for? Not a huge park for those on land but with a couple of hours. Part of the Three Parks Trail, too. (I think that's what it is called.)
Really enjoyed the walking trails they are well done. There are picnic tables and boat ramp also. We enjoy kayaking here as there is a lot of area that you can get to and wildlife to see from a kayak.
Trail conditions & character
“The walking paths are wide, clean, and surrounded by beautiful scenery — from the open fields to the lake views that make the whole place feel calm and inviting.”
“There' so much to offer here - playground, covered picnic tables, grills, restrooms, walking path, boardwalk, and even a small boat ramp.”
“It’s serene, quiet and peaceful but lively and buzzing at the same time (lots of funny bugs, frogs, birds and other flying all around).”
“The bathroom also needed to be pressure washed, everything, I don't know why it looks so dirty, or why the hand dryer did not want to dry my hands”
“There is not a sidewalk from the parking area to the walking path, so you either have to walk thru the grass from the pavillion or along the road a few steps.”
Plan your run at Peterson Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Phone(863) 834-2280
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–6 PM |
Running trails near Lakeland
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Born Learning Trail
4.3 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews
Lake Hollingsworth Lakeland FL
4.9 ★★★★★ 48 reviews
Popular park featuring a lake that's suitable for walking, biking, and boating.
Holloway Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 609 reviews
This 362-acre recreational area & nature preserve features cross-country trails & wildlife viewing.
Dobbins Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 807 reviews
This 10-acre park features a playground, a bike-repair station, picnic tables & benches.
Fort Fraser Trail Lakeland Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 13 reviews
Lakeland Highlands Scrub
4.6 ★★★★★ 283 reviews
Nature area with a boardwalk trail over marshes, pavilions for wildlife-viewing & a picnic spot.