Liza Jackson Park
Liza Jackson Park
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
55 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
19
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
2
maxona
Fort Walton Beach, FL557 contributions
Nov 2013 • Solo
If you live in the area, you have had to pass Liza Jackson park at some time and are probably familiar with this. If you are new here, or visiting you may want to know what this park has. It is not a large park. It is heavily used by the area. Mainly for large picnic gatherings and to launch a boat.
There are several Picnic pavillions and you may want to check with the city on reservations in case you want to plan an outing around a holiday or on the weekend to make sure you get a spot.Although I do not believe that reservations are required, because most days there will be an area available. There is playground equipment for the young ones. Bathroom facilities availale. There is not a nature trail, but there are sidewalks throughout the park that you can take a few laps on for exercise.
This park is often used for the boat ramp. In the summer, it can get very busy certain times of the day. There is also a short dock, that is often occupied by people fishing. Sometimes, you may just see people sitting on the bench, overlooking the sound. If you are not familiar with the area, if you launch from here and go towards downtown FWB, you will end up in Choctawhatchee Bay. There are several inlets that you an fish in, or you can continue through the bay to the Gulf. And just an FYI, if you are visiting, I have seen a few boats on occasion go into the water and the captain steers the boat directly (towards Pensacola) west. The area can be shallow there, depending on the tide, and I have watched them have to get out of the boat and push it into deeper water, so just be on the watch for that.
This park is right on the water. It is called The Sound. There is not swimming in the area. But you can walk along the waters edge and enjoy the scenery. Across the sound is Okaloosa Island.
Parking is free. You will see parking in the very front of the park, but there is also parking (if you are facing the park) to the left. But you cannot access it from the main parking. You have to access it from hwy 98. Also new here is a dog park. You should park in this side parking lot to access the dog park.
If you are looking for food to bring on a picnic here, the closest grocery stores will be on Mary Esther Cutoff, not far from the park. As well as fast food stores. There are a few places you could walk to from the park, but they are iHop, Waffle House and Red lobster. All good, but perhaps not picnic food. There is gas station a short way up from the Red Lobster, if you are needing some soft drink, snacks or ice.
Once again, this is not an amusement park. More a family oriented city park. Because the park is fairly open to hwy 98, I think it is fairly safe. But as with any city, just be cautious.
There are several Picnic pavillions and you may want to check with the city on reservations in case you want to plan an outing around a holiday or on the weekend to make sure you get a spot.Although I do not believe that reservations are required, because most days there will be an area available. There is playground equipment for the young ones. Bathroom facilities availale. There is not a nature trail, but there are sidewalks throughout the park that you can take a few laps on for exercise.
This park is often used for the boat ramp. In the summer, it can get very busy certain times of the day. There is also a short dock, that is often occupied by people fishing. Sometimes, you may just see people sitting on the bench, overlooking the sound. If you are not familiar with the area, if you launch from here and go towards downtown FWB, you will end up in Choctawhatchee Bay. There are several inlets that you an fish in, or you can continue through the bay to the Gulf. And just an FYI, if you are visiting, I have seen a few boats on occasion go into the water and the captain steers the boat directly (towards Pensacola) west. The area can be shallow there, depending on the tide, and I have watched them have to get out of the boat and push it into deeper water, so just be on the watch for that.
This park is right on the water. It is called The Sound. There is not swimming in the area. But you can walk along the waters edge and enjoy the scenery. Across the sound is Okaloosa Island.
Parking is free. You will see parking in the very front of the park, but there is also parking (if you are facing the park) to the left. But you cannot access it from the main parking. You have to access it from hwy 98. Also new here is a dog park. You should park in this side parking lot to access the dog park.
If you are looking for food to bring on a picnic here, the closest grocery stores will be on Mary Esther Cutoff, not far from the park. As well as fast food stores. There are a few places you could walk to from the park, but they are iHop, Waffle House and Red lobster. All good, but perhaps not picnic food. There is gas station a short way up from the Red Lobster, if you are needing some soft drink, snacks or ice.
Once again, this is not an amusement park. More a family oriented city park. Because the park is fairly open to hwy 98, I think it is fairly safe. But as with any city, just be cautious.
Written January 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess
Fort Walton Beach, FL46 contributions
Nov 2018
I love seeing big dogs, small dogs , furry dogs frolicking . However this place is know for homeless people. And I have nothing against homeless people . If I have anything I give , but I do not like to be harassed and followed. Just because my dog and I are small we will not be bully into giving money when I say I don't have any. With that said . This place is super nice to walk your dog . They do have fence in area for dogs that are vaccinated and neutered and does have water front for those water puppers.
Recap
Great place for puppers, but watch out for the homeless people
Recap
Great place for puppers, but watch out for the homeless people
Written October 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donae S
7 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
This park is beautiful. It is a great place to bring your children... during the day. We went right before dawn and we have a 7 year old and 4 year old. Right as we were letting the kids play on the playground, a drunk man approached us and asked us if he could take our son off of our hands for us for a little while. He said he was going to the water about waist deep and wouldn't mind taking him off our hands. I walked to my son and told him to grab my hand and the guy was watching him the entire time. He started to walk towards me and my son and I walked in the opposite direction of him towards my husband who was getting my daughter. We left immediately. There was also two people in the restroom that went in stumbling over eachother and scratching that never came out the entire time we were at the playground... I spoke with the front desk personnel at our hotel to call the local authorities and he said, "It's a big homeless park and they (the police) really can't do anything about them." He advised me to only go during the day. Needless to say, we won't be going anymore period, which is a shame because the park is beautiful.
Written July 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeachBummer2015
Lexington, KY29 contributions
May 2020
Unfortunate that a few people have to ruin it for others. There are dog runs where one is supposed to let their dog off leash. We were having fun running our dog on leash in the little beach area, but someone had to let their big dog off leash and it came after our little dog. too bad! There's a place to wash your dog off and a picnic area, but we had to leave. I guess if you have a big dog that is not bothered by other big dogs it would be ok. There is just no one to monitor this.
Written June 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stork65
Fort Walton Beach, FL43 contributions
Sep 2014 • Friends
Day of fishing on the dock, water was fairly clean but not much action by the fish. I have fished here many times before always caught something. Bathrooms and the rest of the park is very clean, small walking trail.
Written July 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TudyBug
Oklahoma City, OK16 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
Love to park here to launch the boat or just have a family picnic. The bathrooms are clean and the location is perfect...far away from the beach crowds!
Written August 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RavenATB
Niceville, FL1,510 contributions
May 2013 • Family
Wonderful little park. Great location. There is a boat landing and dock, and a bulk ice shack there as well. Great place to launch for a day of fishing...or even a weekend of camping on one of the islands in the channel.
I highly recommend.
I highly recommend.
Written January 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nessie B
Birmingham, Alabama, United States8 contributions
Sep 2018
Every time we go here we always get creeped out by some other ppl there. Wont be going back. Theyve also taken away the cool hammock that was there. Shame
Written March 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina G
Indiana21 contributions
Feb 2018
Nice clean park. Has two play areas for children. And a large fenced area for dogs. Many pavilion so to have a picnic.
Written October 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LSUgreat
Houston135 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
We rented the pavillion by the dog park....when we arrived at 10 AM, we had to chase out some people who tried to squat our rented pavillion....then these rude people kept walking through it, as we were having a B-Day party for a 1 yr old grand-child....the facility was awesome...but, the people who used the park were totally rude!
Written April 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm not sure what war at the park means, but yes you can cook there.
Written July 17, 2019
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