Tom Petty Park

Stephen Alford· 4 months ago

I wanted to share some reflections on my recent visit to Tom Petty Park (formerly Northeast Park). This park holds so many memories for me, dating back nearly 58 years to my childhood. Growing up as one of nine children near the DNA bridge on South 13th Street, this park was a staple of our lives. While Westside Park was our go-to for swimming, this was our playground. I have vivid memories of our family picnics and the old stainless steel slide that felt 20 feet high. It is wonderful to see the updates being made. The old equipment has been replaced with exciting new slides, catwalks, and adventurous options for children. It was a beautiful place when I was a child, and it is even nicer now as an adult. I am actually considering taking up pickleball there to "rule the playground" once again. I plan to provide further updates as more features are added, but for now, it is great to see the park continuing to serve the community so well.

leo nash· 4 months ago

Nature is always five stars! And ID’ed some new trees :)

Justin· a month ago

The park is great! They have done a good job! I've been going to that park for 30 years, It was pretty rough. So I understand the war with drug addicts and homeless that try to sleep there. But I am neither. Today I just got to the park, there's a dumbbell I found at the edge of the park where people work out and do yoga and mid evil ceromonies and kids play, people walk there dogs that If no ones there I like to workout. 3 cops showed up today told me I'm camping out, I pointed out I have a fresh drink loaded with ice, I'm wearing nice clothes, expensive shoes, an apple smart watch, I'm clean my nails are clean, I'm solid muscle you can tell I work out, I'm pretty clean cut. I'm 46 I'm have no history of crimes since I was very young. I have nothing but the clothes I have on and a small backpack I just bought it has creatine, a charger, cool water cologne, and deodorant can't fit anything else in it. I'm standing up I have a 35 pound dumbbell next to me. I pointed out there's a tent with a bunch of garbage around that can be seen from the pickleball court that was 50ft away and they never went over there messing with that person but told me I'm band for camping out. I don't know how a person is camping that was just in St. Augustine 3 hours prior. I was just at the park at 10:30 in the morning working out. I gave them my driver's license, my address is st Augustine beach I tried to explain that I come back and forth often, but tonight I'll be in the villages. They never messed with the guy in the tent or the 3 people drinking beer by the pickleball courts. So be careful if your alone working out, jogging, running, walking your dog and definitely don't picnic or the police will ignore answer you give them and tell you your a bum pretty much and tell you your not allowed at the park at 10:30 because I don't live in Gainesville but I don't think it would of mattered either way I think they had their prejuces before they ever seen me and minds were made up before they even asked me a question. They are obviously not detective material but it was a humiliating experience for me. I have friends wanting me to play pickleball and I now I feel like the swat team might pop out on me.

Dylan R Demers· a year ago

Nice park with baseball fields, tennis courts, playground for kids, dog park, pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms, Community board for info :)

GERALD ESTEP JR (Jerry)· a year ago

Have visited this park since '65,always beautiful. Plenty of space. Ball fields that have hosted softball,flag football,a visit from the King and his Court(a softball fast pitch 4 man team)",etc. Racquetball courts at one time and tennis courts. Personally, I enjoy picking up burgers at Macs on 10th Ave. and enjoying them here(a tradition). Equipment for the kids. I would consider this park a historic place and not only because of it's name but also because of it's name.