Turtle River Park — Attraction in Ocho Rios

Pros: There is a clean, beautiful, safe and secured environment. Con: The restroom attendee's nonchalant attitude.

I frequently visit the Turtle River Park on Main Street, Ocho Rios, St. Ann but my most recent visit was on Saturday, August 23, 2014. I was there from around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoyed the manicured lawn, shade from the several large trees and, of course, the turtles and fishes.

Although there is a refreshment counter, I bought lunch across the street and ate in one of the park’s several gazeboes. A homeless man, who was bothering and following me from the street, was prevented from entering the park by one of the guards which helped to make me feel safe. Also, there is affordable parking (JMD50 for an hour, JMD150 for the day) that keeps vehicles safe while the owners enjoy the park’s charms. On my last visit, the person who manned the female restrooms was nowhere in sight when more tissue was needed. When she eventually came to my assistance, no sign of remorse or urgency was evident on her part for keeping me waiting. Perhaps she was coming from another errand at a different section of the park.

Because the park has a few secluded spots, some teenagers take full advantage by being outrageously intimate with each other in those places-sometimes even in the open, but the guards respectfully ask them to desist especially if children are nearby. On the other hand, the colours, plants, ponds and overall well-kept environs lend to beautiful backgrounds for photos. There are boulders, logs, park benches and grassy planes for lounging in a peaceful atmosphere while parents can watch their children in the playground equipped with swings, slides and trampoline.

Overall, the Turtle River Park is perfect for a family day out, friends, nature lovers and anyone wishing for a peaceful break. All this comes at no cost at all except for...

This is an awesome recreational spot. It has something for the whole family and most importantly, its FREE. There is paid secure parking ($50 JMD per hour). For the kids there are slides and swings that are safe and fun. Adults can sit and enjoy the scenery or walk to grounds and look at the fish and turtles. This is truly a calming place where you can get in touch with nature while you are smack in the middle of the town of Ocho Rios. It is a grand meeting place for teens and adults alike the cool pristine ambiance allows for relaxing conversations, late evening strolls or quiet reverence. Even wedding parties find it an awesome spot to take pictures or host a reception. There are a variety of flowering and non flowering plants that will add pizazz to any photo you wish to take. There is a snack bar that boasts reasonably priced goodies. There are gazebos that can accommodate groups with tables for dining if you decided to bring a meal. Students use the area for homework, group assignments and studying. The lawn also lends itself to picnics whether it be early morning, broad daylight or late evening it will prove to be amazing. There are many shaded areas and the vegetation is to die for. There are clean restroom facilities and the presence of security officers in routine patrols. Come on down the...

This is a beautiful nature park where you can take your family to relax and have a picnic and take some beautiful photos. My son was a bit disappointed because there was no pool or falls as we saw in the photos, basically nowhere to swim. There is no restaurant or gift shops. Just a little snack shop. We only saw one turtle in the pond and there is no bird sanctuary. My son was not too happy about that either. There is nothing exciting here. It's really just a nature park with mainly beautiful fishes swimming around in the ponds. If you are looking for somewhere fun to take your kids,...