Ford Park
Rate this placeNearby: Amerige Park Downtown Plaza
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Ford Park is a popular park located in the city of Redlands, California.
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Summary
The park offers various activities and attractions for visitors, making it a great place to visit for families, tourists, and locals alike.
One of the main reasons to visit Ford Park is its beautiful scenery and natural surroundings. The park is home to several large trees, lush greenery, and a duck pond. Visitors can also enjoy a picnic or barbecue with friends and family in the park's designated areas.
Another attraction in Ford Park is the A.K. Smiley Public Library, which is located on the park grounds. The library features a collection of books, manuscripts, and artifacts that showcase the history of the city of Redlands and the surrounding area.
For those interested in history, the Lincoln Shrine Museum is also located within the park. The museum contains exhibits and artifacts related to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, including original documents and rare photographs.
In addition to these points of interest, the park also has a playground, basketball court, and volleyball court for visitors to enjoy.
Interesting facts about Ford Park include its origins as a gift from John and James Ford to the city of Redlands in 1891. The park was designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park.
The best time of year to visit Ford Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and visitors can enjoy its amenities and attractions regardless of the season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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