Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, Jacksonville

I thought this park was wonderful! I didn't know it existed until I was searching for a dog park yesterday. It has two fenced in areas (for large and small dogs). There's huge trees in the dog park so it's always shaded. It's very "outdoorsy" which I love! My dog had a great time running around. I do wish they had a hose there to give the dogs water, but there are bowls provided so if you bring a jug of water, you can have somewhere for them to drink. Then, my husband and I strapped our 5 month-old in a sling and took the dog for a walk on the trail. There were other friendly people we ran into (also with a dog). We explored off of the trail a little bit. The tower was closed off (I'm not sure why-maybe maintenance) but it was a nice hike to get there. There's also a historic road from World War 1, so that was fun to learn about and walk on. I saw a good-size playground for kids. Plus, the park is free, so it was a budget-friendly activity I got to do with my family. I'd definitely go again!

Great job COJ! An inner-city park with a watch tower, Dog Park, covered picnic area with BBQ grills, a nature center with live reptiles and insects, playground, mountain bike/hiking trails for FREE!!!! Awesome place!!!

The park was wonderful. It was pretty clean considering, only saw a few pieces of litter. I wish there were more trash cans along the trails. Everything is clearly marked. You can't really get lost. The nature center is great as is the observation deck. It has history in that it was an old camp during WWI. Only remnants are a brick road running through and some random chimneys. The dog park is great. Lots of places for them to explore. Picnic tables nearby. The park was very nice and clean. There is a covered pavilion next to it. The off road bicycle trails is wonderful!! Whenever there is an "experienced" bit like multiple hills there is an "newby" alternative right alongside it. It's very easy to get lost in there. Great place to take rambunctious kids or to lose yourself in nature!

I found out recently that the city completed a "dog park" within this park in May 2011. I waited for days for it to quit raining so I could take my dachshund to the newly built dog park here. We've been to several dog parks before - they are always nice, open spaces with green grass and benches for the owners. Watering stations and sometimes tracks around the grassy area the dogs play in. Don't expect that here. This so called dog park is two fenced in areas stuck in the middle of the woods and I am not kidding. At first I thought it was a blocked off area in the park. Nothing but pine trees, mounds of pine needles and dirt, and ferns and weeds more than a foot tall. It is so neglected it looks like the perfect place to go if you want to get bitten by a snake, get ticks, or maybe dump a body. Unbelievable!

I thought this was a public park. I take my 5 mo. old lab puppy to the park to run. At almost 10 am on a Saturday, March 5th I went to the farthest end of the park because the Falcon 4k race was at the other end. One lady told me I couldn't take my dog on the trail. There was only one man and his son running. He yelled out to the lady that they weren't running the trail. I walked my puppy to the nature center. I was not on the trail yet and this man with his son came running up to me screaming for me to get my dog out of the park. He stood there screaming at me to the point I was embarrassed for his child. I wish I had had my son with me, he would have had a thing or two to say to this man. If this is the way he is to a total stranger I would have to surmise he is abusive to his child. I told him I was sorry he was having such a bad day. I should have told him I hoped he looses, because he is definitely a looser. The city should not let these groups who, because they reserve space in the park, think that they don't own it. I live in Ortega, not far from this park. Its people like him that spoil the whole atmosphere of this nature park. I think this group needs to find somewhere else to hold their event. This group has no right to exclude the public from a public park.

My son thoroughly enjoys being outside. This is a great park for our side of town to go to that's not overly crowded. We can walk, ride bikes or play at the playground. It's a nice atmosphere and we enjoy this park as a family who lives in argyle.