Park History

What used to be an early 1970s-era land mine, the idea for the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens was initiated by area locals who saw potential for this space to be something more. They petitioned the City of Jacksonville to transform the site into a park for all to revel in Jacksonville’s natural beauty. In 2008, the park opened as a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Today, the park is privately managed by a 501c3 non-profit organization and dependent on donations from visitors. The staff is continually improving park amenities with help from the local community, such as building more boardwalks to make the trails accessible for all adventure seekers. There are hundreds of volunteers who help keep the park up and running. On the second Saturday of every month, locals lend a hand in on-site trail maintenance and grounds improvements. They do a great job of keeping the trails free from debris and the gardens looking pristine.

Lake Loop Trail

To the left of the main entrance are five picnic tables shaded by a canopy of oaks weeping with Spanish moss. Winding around the 0.3-mile Lake Loop Trail, a variety of flowers stand tall in raised beds. Live oaks are surrounded by acorns and cast iron plants at their roots with resurrection fern wrapped around their limbs. Florida has 14 native species of oak trees. You’ll find live oak, laurel oak, water oak, turkey oak, and myrtle oak at the Jacksonville Arboretum.

Bees buzz about hibiscus and camellia. Camellias bloom in fall and winter, presenting bright pink and fuchsia roses set against evergreen, glossy foliage.

We follow a loop of herbs meticulously labeled like all other flora inside this park – ginger, curry, turmeric, and other detox remedies. Some fun plants to check out are the devil’s walking stick and Mexican weeping bamboo.

A short boardwalk to the left extends to the National Champion Loblolly Bay Tree, which is part of the magnolia family and looks like two trees but is really one split at the base. The champion is surrounded by his friends – boundless royal fern, longleaf pines, and sweet bay magnolia.

There are numerous seating areas overlooking Lake Ray, a 2-acre man-made lake blanketed with giant green lily pads and home to alligators, turtles, fish, and insects. Wooden amenity features maintain the natural atmosphere and sense of serenity. A gentle breeze gives flight to a great blue heron circling around the lake overhead. Sounds of other waterbirds sing their praises to the lake that is outlined by cedar, magnolia, and bald cypress, protecting it from pedestrians above on the Lake Loop Trail. This vegetation also helps keep the banks from eroding. Alligators have been spotted pushing aside the spatterdock (aquatic vegetation) to create wallows for sleeping. The Lake Loop Trail serves as a starting point for both South Woods and North Woods Trail systems.

Trail Systems

• Lake Loop Trail – 0.3 miles

• *South Woods Trails:

  • Jones Creek Trail - 0.3 miles

  • Aralia Trail - 0.3 miles

  • Upper Ravine Trail - 0.2 miles

  • Lower Ravine Trail - 0.1 miles

  *frequent flooding after rain

• North Woods Trails:

  • Live Oak Trail - 0.5 miles

  • Sand Ridge Trail - 1.0 miles

  • Rosemary Scrub Vista (no dogs allowed)

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