Playground – Gilchrist Park

One of the better-kept playgrounds in Punta Gorda, this fully fenced and gated spot right along the water gives parents a little peace of mind while the kids run loose. There’s a solid mix of equipment — slides, swings, a tire swing, climbing structure, even a sandbox and musical equipment — so kids from toddlers up through the grade school crowd can usually find something worth fighting over. The water views are genuinely nice, and the shaded seating means you can actually sit and enjoy them instead of melting in the Florida sun. Covered picnic tables make it easy to stretch a visit into a full afternoon, and the restrooms and parking situation are both way less stressful than a lot of comparable spots in the area.