Discover These Great Walking Parks in Florence, Alabama!

After the crazy winter we experienced in northwest Alabama, it's time to venture outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather of spring. It's also time to shed those extra pounds added during the Shoals 2024 snowpocalypse! Walking outdoors is a great way to get some excericise and get back to nature, too. Florence has some great public walking parks! Check out the list below and tell us which one is your favorite in the comments!

*This list is for walking parks in Florence, only. Look for a list of walking parks in Colbert County, such as the TVA nature trails, coming soon! Follow so you don't miss it!

Deibert Park, Florence, AlabamaPhoto bySheila Hill Colston

Deibert Park

Deibert Park is definitely the "showplace" park of Florence. It's one of the most picturesque walking parks in the south. It also has an interesting history. According to the Visitflorenceal website:

This acreage was once a part of a large antebellum plantation owned by Judge Sidney Cherry Posey. In 1875 his heirs sold his farm to Charles Posey who had worked these same fields as a slave. Later, Charles and his wife, Amcy, began dividing the land among their heirs and this settlement became known as Posey. According to tradition, Charles Posey built a schoolhouse here for his children and others in the neighborhood. This park was donated to the people of Florence by Dr. Kirk R. and Lillian Cook-Diebert who initially acquired this property in 1952. It was officially dedicated on May 25, 2000.

The park is beautifully maintained with spacious trails that wind through open areas with bridges and ponds and small wooded areas. The trails are paved, very smooth, and relatively flat - perfect for walking, running, biking, or pushing a stroller! The park is also accessible in all areas for the handicapped, including the trails and public restrooms. Deibert Park's amazing playground always makes it a favorite with the kiddos! Located at Darby Drive and Cox Creek Parkway. For park hours and info, visit their website here.

Martin Park

This park is a hidden gem! Convenient to downtown and both East and North Florence, the park is located at 420 N. Royal Avenue across from Tom Braly Stadium. It sits on the hill behind the public tennis courts and the Royal Avenue swimming pool - so, it's easy to miss! The park recently recieved a grant for an outdoor fitness court that opened last spring. The fitness court is designed to give a full body workout in seven minutes. There is even a Fitness Court app! The park also features a paved walking trail loop that is just short of a mile. The track is not flat - it has a couple of inclines that'll get your heart pumping! The park also has a large playground. For more info, visit their website here.

Wildwood Park

Wildwood Park is a great place to get back to nature in the Shoals. The park showcases Cypress Creek - a local favorite for kayaking, tubing, fishing and playing. The park also has an abundance of trails to explore that are very popular with runners and mountain bikers. The trails are not paved. They're fairly rugged and cover a lot of hills. If you're looking for more of a challenging hike than an easy walk, Wildwood Park is a great place to go - just be aware of the mountain bikes that share the trails. The park is a stone's throw from the UNA campus and downtown Florence at 1175 Waterloo Road. For more information, check out the park website here.

St. Florian Park

Another hidden gem! This charming little park is located in the St. Florian community just a mile or two north of Florence. The park features a short, flat, easy to walk loop through a well maintained, shaded area. The park is always clean and well cared for, and it's obvious that the community takes pride in the park. A small playground with a rentable picnic shelter is available by the trail, and each fall the park is the center of the town's Octoberfest celebration. The park is just past the local senior center at 81 St. Florian Rd. For more info, see their website here.

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