Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - Summer Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Enjoyed the peaceful tranquility of the sights and sounds on the dock overlooking the St John's River as the Sunsets. Listening to the water as the wind blows a chilly breeze across creating small ripples, and waves, and seeing the Sun's rays glimmering across the surface. It was breathtakingly beautiful! Another of my Bucket list of things checked ✔️ Off. Truly a place to unwind after a stressful day, clear your mind, and bring yourself back to your center. This is my favorite park in our beautiful city, which I've called home for 61 years now. Thanks to the many volunteers who keep this park and museum open to the public. Your dedication is appreciated!
Dog-friendliness
It's one of my favorite parks to walk my old dog on a leash too. It's almost completely shaded throughout the park. So even during our hottest days in the summer, you and your dog will be comfortable.

I love this little park. Its cute and well taken care of, calm and quiet. I like the informational signs along the path that explain some of the history. It is a nice little spot for walking and picture taking. Frequent sightings of hawks, manatees, rabbits, etc. And the other visitors have always been nice/respectful. A great alternative to the busier parks that are also "playgrounds". Visitors should know There is no play ground equipment and the "boatramp" is for smaller or hand launch vessels. There are restrooms and while they do keep them somewhat clean, be advised there is no changing area for infants so just be prepared to go back to the car for that. All in all, its a nice quiet place to visit.
Restrooms
Usually cleaner than most but no area to change infants/toddlers

A gorgeous, peaceful place - usually very quiet, even if there are a lot of people there. Wide, shady sidewalks that form some loops to make rounds on a walk/run, pet-friendly. Great place for photography - I've spotted some wild rabbits on occasion! Sunset over the dock is lovely too. Buildings are historic and open Saturday mornings, if history is your thing. Good for Pokémon Go as well - a small handful of gyms and a decent number of stops. Mostly Mystic controlled, and the gyms stay up for quite some time. Saturday mornings also allow you to purchase and paint a stone frog to either place within the park or take home with you; a fun couples' activity, or some engagement for the kids (as there are no playgrounds.)

I hadn’t heard of this place until I did a shoot there. I’m not going to lie, this place kind of skeeves me out. It’s a beautiful park. That’s undeniable. It has a wonderful view of the water, and it’s pretty cool that it was Jacksonville’s first historic park. That said, it definitely gives me conflicting feelings being there, battling with gratefulness, guilt and a queasy feeling you can’t quite put your finger on. I don’t think most people feel that way, and I didn’t take a star off for that. SN: it’s kind of crazy how close it is to where I live too...

It was a beautiful getaway out in nature for the family and I. With beautiful plants and plenty of other things to see on the way to the long boardwalk which ended out on the oh so pretty water! Had plenty of benches along the way to where you could just sit and take in all of the scenery plus numerous picnic benches for a perfect picnic out in the middle of nature. My family and I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it! We'll definitely be returning to this beautiful place☺

The grounds aren't very big, but it's covered by trees and has plenty of private picnic areas. The many docks is what i think makes it special. The house is fully stocked and staged for the era, with the lumber machinery in the yard. A few plaques with descriptions along the way. Loved the garden, swinging bench and lots of garbage bins.
Restrooms
Need attention
Dog-friendliness
Allowed while leashed.
Picnic area
Covered, with bbq.

It would have been a great visit.. the landscaping crew was so rude, they blew dirt over my vehicle and also came within a foot or so from my 16 month old son to the point I had to yank him out the way of the mower. The company was called Florida Green landscaping an property management. I almost went to jail that day. August 22, 2023 was the day I visited. Hopefully you can find the crew that worked on this day an give them a talking to..

Informative volunteer run historical park. This cute little park has many buildings and artifacts that date back to the 1800s that both were built on the property and buildings that were transferred to the property. The buildings are open on certain days for viewing (check the website) the park has nice paths and a boardwalk overlooking the river as well as the peir that you can walk out on. Beautiful place for pictures.

Extraordinary place to visit! Like the docks here are WOW! :O As you can see, the city, from here, and I'd definitely (check this area out) for really intriguing history happening here. The swamp area is disgusting & I surely would not want to go in it. But regardless, 4 stars, a must-see for photographers. Especially, being this is a photography area! And I'll definitely be coming back to this area for sure! ;)

We have had 2 birthday parties here. The facilities are clean and orderly. The park is beautiful the boardwalk along the river is peaceful with benches to sit and watch the water. Definitely using this venue in the future
Restrooms
Clean and well stocked each time I have been here.
Picnic area
Plenty of space under the pavilion. 5 or 6 picnic tables with handicap space. There is a grill to use.

I was fortunate enough to have a really friendly and knowledgeable volunteer give me a private tour on a day the museum was closed. I live in Texas, but my father grew up in Mandarin. I was there to visit his gravesite and family. I read in an article that farm equipment belonging to my great grandfather was in the 1876 Barn. So, I was given a tour of the place. It was amazing

It was a cool little place. Kind of small, but I love the history. Unfortunately the buildings were locked up when I went, but looking through the windows allowed you to see most of what was inside. It's a shame that the dock next to it is destroyed. That's not part of the park, so that's not reflected in my review. The signs around the park tell some great local history.

This us a great location for local history! The one room schoolhouse is worth a stop. There is a small museum with an art room, several new displays about the black Americans experience and a large area about the Maple Leaf. There is a nice paved trail you can walk down to the dock. On the first Saturday of the month all the buildings are open with docents.

Love coming to Walter Jones Park! The boardwalk has been rebuilt. Nice pathway beside the St. Johns River. Sweet breezes off the river. Azaleas are now blooming. Quiet Strolling park with cement or boardwalk path and a dock that goes out over the river. Picnic tables under cover to study, talk even when it rains. Historic buildings and a small museum.

I really like this park. It is a quiet spot in the middle of a buzzing area in Jacksonville. It is small but provides the perfect place to walk your dog. It is well kept and nice. The view of the st John's river from the boardwalk is beautiful. You would complete the walk in half an hour or so. The historic buildings add a nice touch to the park.

This was a nice quiet place. It would be perfect for a Date and some good chat. The Historic house was closed but looking at all the old stuff from out the windows was definitely awesome. It seemed to be well kept. I enjoyed it, definitely recommend if your trying to get some quiet time or even to rest sit and read a book.

Perfect place for a picnic or relaxing stroll! The boardwalks along the rivers edge provide beautiful views especially at sunset and there are several historic buildings and old Florida agricultural displays on the property as well. The Mandarin Museum is located within the park making for a rather dynamic destination.

Favorite City Park! Dog-friendly, shaded walking paths even on the hottest days. Highly recommend.
Restrooms
Located about 1/2 way into the park.
Dog-friendliness
Paved walking trails and wooden boardwalks are shaded.
Picnic area
Multiple areas with picnic tables. Some are covered.

What an amazing place to come visit and take a stroll around some history! Great place to relive the past and learn from it! Next door is a nice board walk for some good ol' exercising and enjoy fresh air and river breeze! Go join in on the fun and not let this place slip away!

Went here a few weeks ago. It just so happened to be the day they open up the historic buildings. The volunteer docents were so wonderful! They were well informed and personable. It's a great park with many amenities. Highly recommend for a casual date or family outing!

Perfect park to exercise, walk your dog, have a picnic, or play Pokemon Go. No play ground for children. It does have a beautiful board walk along the river where you'll occasionally see manatee. There are covered pavilions with picnic tables and clean restrooms.

Lovely Park, it was pouring rain so need to return to fully experience and enjoy the surroundings. Historic 1800 century buildings in park and a museum at carpark entrance, footpaths and decking are in top class condition. Unfortunately no hens in the hen house.

First and third Saturdays of the month have the buildings open with volunteers there to answer questions. It's a nice clean park with a pier out to the river located on its west end. Fairly small, and nothing really for the little ones (i.e. no playground).

This is a really pleasant park with trails to walk and a little bit of signage describing the history of the place. I especially like the views from the waterfront boardwalk. I am going to go back later this spring when more flowers might be blooming.

A beautiful and clean park to enjoy nearby alongside Saint John’s river in Mandarin. Always nice to seeing families, people walking their dogs and people fishing off the pier. Great views of the water, boats and wildlife throughout the park and water.

I’ve been twice this month and this site is gorgeous. The pavilion can be rented through the jaxparks site and there is a bathhouse. We’re hosting an event for our bookclub here this coming Saturday, so expect another review from me this weekend!!

A really beautiful park nestled amongst old trees with 19th century farmstead buildings. A newly renovated boardwalk runs along the St. Johns River offers some stunning views. Last but not least is the nicely curated museum. We stumbled

What a beautiful park! There are so many picturesque views on this property. The homestead is surrounded by beautiful Spanish moss covered oaks, and the boardwalk has wonderful views of the St. John's River and downtown Jacksonville.

Quaint little park. They have short dock walk on river,paths to explore and some history as well. Love the old buildings and mill. Hunt for the ceramic frog's and turtles and you just might find a surprise. Also public boat ramp

A stroll through this gorgeous, woodsy park makes me feel like I have stepped back in time to the nineteenth century. There are paved walking trails and a wooden promenade along the riverside so it’s easy to commune with nature.

Very beautiful and peaceful place. There's a lot of rich history and culture waiting to be discovered here. Bring your camera, a picnic or just a book. This site dates back to the 1880's and the way of life then in this area.

Beautiful scenery, and serenity as you walk along the river. The pier comes alive with people fishing along a beautiful view of the river and the city. If you want a free little date, this is a cute spot to see the sunset!

This is a nice place to go for a picnic. There are at least 8 picnic tables, 5 of them are covered. Nice, clean restrooms on site. The views of Jacksonville from the boardwalk and boat dock/ pier are incredible.

We come here quite often walk around and look at the historic house. I like to come at sunsets, they have a small wooden bridge that extends over the water. Pretty nice area not huge but it's relaxing

Beautiful park in Mandarin. Nice user wheelchair concrete path, historical buildings which are now open. Learn historical events in Mandarin. Continue and walk in an amazing pier with beautiful views

Love walking though this park nice shade and bathrooms and a view of the water and even picnic tables. Nice quiet place to relax and enjoy walking with lots of PokéStops to play Pokémon go too.

Hidden little secret on the water. Held our gender reveal party here and it was a blast! Pavilion was $10 to rent through COJ. Didn't get to visit Museum but will be taking my girls back.

Awesome park tucked away in historic Mandarin. Public pier and kayak/canoe launch. (No motorized boats) Paved walking trails are an excellent place to rewind and get away from the crowds.

Small but it has a beautiful view, well maintained park, new walking boards, a small boat launching are, and a long pier for those who want to do some fishing. This place is a hidden gem.

What an amazing Historical park by the river! Close to a public dock that extends out into the river. Historical buildings that have been kept in excellent shape ..... Very nice!!!

I nice park with a little bit of history and great views of the St John's. It's on the smaller side, so don't expect to spend all day here hiking/walking. Nice getaway though.

This is a cute little park. It has a museum and lots of history. We enjoyed walking around and learning about the family that user to live there. My husband fished a little.

Went for a family photo session, and it was great, calm, and, at the same time, beautiful surroundings, great for walking and interacting with historic buildings and plants

Always a beautiful place to take prom, Senior, or family portraits. Love the different scenery within one park. The barns, homes, parks, and river make beautiful backdrops.

It's beautiful! The water views are very serene and peaceful. For gamers, there's quite a few gyms and pokestops to keep you busy and a nice path to get those steps.

Beautiful and historical. Old buildings with plaques of historical information and trails. Docks to walk out on the river. A Boardwalk along the river

Well maintained property other than restrooms. Great opportunity to see a piece historic Florida and enjoy and walk through aged oaks and azaleas.

This might be the most important AND the most beautiful place in Mandarin!! Lovely place to walk and find some peace beside the St. John's. More

Enjoyed a picnic at the pavillion with friends...plenty of space to spread out with 4 tables. Scenic view of St Johns River from the boardwalk.

Love this place, the dock is great to walk out on. Seen a couple manatees in the water. Great for a short walk through the historic part too.

Beautiful park for a Valentine's Day picnic, or a family day, or just a run. I loved it and will definitely go back to see the museum!

Always a nice place to go for a short walk along the river. Right next door is the County dock - great place for watching sunsets.

Neat little getaway. We'll maintained concrete pathways with some historical buildings and a great view of the Saint Johns River.

Fantastic place to have a walk in the park with a loved one watching the sunset over the deck or as a family learning history.

This historic park is very beautiful. It is an ideal park for relaxing during sunsets. The vistas from this park are awesome.

Walking through the park, beautiful scenery and location, further back on the property is the James River. Beautiful view.

Neat little park with lots of historical buildings and walking paths. Includes picnic areas and St Johns River views.

Very beautiful to clear your mind and a sit and read a book and read up on History beautiful and very clean ❤️

Love this place very peaceful very clean and awesome historical stuff you can explore an awesome view on the river

I enjoyed a wonderful walk and learned about the plantation. Nice history of the farm and the butterfly gardens.

Great park but the landscaping isn’t as kept up with as it used to be. Very messy sidewalks and unkept bushes

Beautiful park outlining Mandarin's history. Has a pier and hand launch kayak ramp
Picnic area…
More

Great place to admire the river, walk and enjoy a relaxing short walk in a well kept historic farm.

What a beautiful place to enjoy some family time, nice walking trails, plants, picnic tables etc

Beautiful park! Took photos of my grandson for his senior prom and loved the way they came out!

Very nice park. Great views of the water and historical.
Restrooms
Restrooms on property

Beautiful, spacious park, boat ramp close by for dropping kayaks in too. Love this place!❤️

a cute little park w old structures it’s big enough to walk around and has a boat launch

Beautiful spot to decompress after work. Or take the family out for a quick day trip.

A nice and quiet walk through the woods and out to the pier on the St. John's river

Very beautiful park with little stone frogs on a trail, shady, clean.

Great fishing spot, a little crowded but plenty of amenities around!

Nice historic park. Beautiful reconstruction of school house!

very clean, quiet and beautiful. right next to the water.

Beautiful place. Great for all ages and pet friendly.

Beautiful park and pier. Great fishing and sunsets.

Very nice park, scenic and quiet when I visited.

Beautiful environment, great location

Beautiful and Peaceful.