Sanford Riverwalk — Attraction in Sanford

Cons... Fishing The City needs to do a much better job at restricting where people can fish along the river so that they're not fishing in the small popular common areas that everyone else uses. I'm also not sure why anyone would fish where "treated" waste water is pumped into the river by the nearby water processing plant. Parking... The city what needs to clamp down and issue summons to those who park on the grass (usually people coming to fish). With all the free parking everywhere all along the river, why would you park on the grass and damage the beautiful landscaping the city has provided for everyone?

Dogs... I think they need to restrict and enfirce where dog owners bring their dogs to relieve themselves so kids playing along the walkway don't have to step in animal waste. We all love animals but no one loves stepping in or having to smell dog poo.

Pros.. The scenery. Beautiful landscaping, a park for kids, grilling areas with that's to just outside birthday parties, a large basketball court, and even solar powered cell phone charging station provided by the city. The best part is the spectacular sunrise and sunsets provided by our Creator .

People... There are so many awesome friendly regulars who jog, walk, skate or bike that you'll get to know. One of my favorite is the singing man who rides his electric bike up and down throughout the day by the riverwalk from 8am till about 7pm. My gf and I affectionately refer to him as "Sinatra".

Events There are many yearly festive events hosted by riverwalk and the nearby downtown area which also offers weekend farmers markets and food truck festivals along with a variety of eateries and bars and small specialty shops to browse and enjoy.

Conclusion I'm hoping to see more entertainment venues open by the river and maybe even electric scooter rentals for those who would like to explore the full riverside and downtown area. Still, Riverwalk is a great local place to enjoy a good weather day outdoors and there's something fun...

Meh. We are pretty serious distance runners and have run on a lot of trails. The good is that the trail is clean and well landscaped (asphalt). And literally right on a huge lake. So what could their possibly be not to like? Well the bad is that there is a lake on one side, and a busy street right on the other -- immediately beside the trail. They need to build a wall or something. Also we happened to be walking a dog for a day from a local shelter. We were disappointed and kinda desperate for water to give him. Most Florida trails have water fountains more frequently. Normally we bring water to new trails but today we didn't bc of the dog (meaning we weren't running so we didn't think we would need much water). We were all very thirsty and feeling sorry for the dog by the time we returned to the one and only water fountain. Biggest negative was the road -- and reason we probably will...

Enjoyed a beautiful ride along the lakefront. It's not a very long trail, so decided to ride downtown and explored the historic district with it's lovely old homes. Felt a little like going back in time.

Updated October 11, 2012 The trail has been extended all the way along the lake, to near the I-4 on-ramp and is beautifully landscaped. There is plenty of parallel parking along most of the trail. They have a pizzeria and a restaurant along the trail near the marina, plus many restaurants just a short ride a couple blocks south in downtown Sanford. Also for the kiddies, they have a great playground and splash park along the trail at Mellon Park. There are many benches and picnic tables along the trail and in Mellon Park, along with a few covered picnic areas and parking on the north side...