Ollie's Pond Park Reviews

I love Ollie's Pond. It is serene with lots of birds and ducks. There is a nice path the full distance of the pond. There is a small parking lot, and numerous photo ops.

Ollie's pond is surrounded by a one mile hiking path Very easy walking or running. While encircling the path you can see all kinds of birds and waterfowl. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the sights.

Ollie's has the perfect walk path of just about a mile. To see nature's finest birds from ducklings to nests of Osprey's is a great way to start your day! Don't forget to bring your camera!

First time and and only place where I have ever seen Wood Ducks. Every year there are different surprises.

Maybe it was the time of year or time of day but we saw nothing except for a few birds & ducks.
It was a pleasant walk about a mile around (we walk 3 -6 mi. Daily). Only worth it if you are very close in the area in my opinion. Liked Kissimmee Lakefront Park much more.

Such a cute little pond with so much to see. We first discovered this place through Google, and decided to check it out. It's a great family outing opportunity, but watch the little ones. You'll see alligators, birds, lizards & all sorts of Florida wildlife. If you catch it at the right time, the baby gators are so stinkin cute. So much fun!!

Very nice, peaceful walk around large pond/small lake. Great mile long walking trail. Lots of birds to observe.

This is one of my favorite places on earth! Beautiful, untouched Florida nature at it's best.
Man has helped it this lovely pond only by adding a wonderful walking path which is about one mile around the pond...but walk lightly...let's not disturb the magnificent birds, reptiles...including Alligators! This is a dog friendly environment and provides "pick up" bags. Lets be sure to use them and keep this place as it should be.

This is a lovely little walk about 1.5 hr. Saw a few ducks. Very dense undergrowth so hard to see marsh area. Part along a residential street.

This is a great walking path for you and/or your pets. The pond area is really overgrown so most of the path you don’t get a very good view of the pond but other than that it’s a great walking path just over a mile long.

We love Ollie's Pond! We've been there many times and we've always seen a wide variety of wading birds, water fowl, and boreal birds. As a sampling, we've seen purple gallinules, common gallinules (with chicks), great blue herons (two pairs had nests this spring!), great egrets, little blue herons, green herons, anhingas, whistling ducks, and several other kinds of ducks, as well as hawks, red-winged blackbirds, and a variety of warblers. The path is flat, well-maintained, mostly shady, and easy to walk. We always take binoculars and always spend more time than we think we will because we find such interesting things. The only down side is that there are no restrooms. :-( Nonetheless, we'll continue to visit often.

Due to the severe drought in the area Ollie's Pond has been reduced to a few square feet of water surrounded by mud and weeds. Hopefully it was a historic visit and it will be replenished without major impact after the rainy season. There were about 4 stilt with babies and a few flycatchers. If you visit the area frequently it will be an opportunity to compare and contrast for the next visit. If you are an out of town visitor skip it this year.

My wife and I go there on occasion to walk the dog around the pond. Lots of birds to look at around the water especially this time of year.

What a small gem amidst civilization! Ollie's pond is located within a community and is about a 1-mile loop. The trail is flat and wide and is made of crush gravel and shells.

I went a couple of times to look for bird photo opportunities, and I was in luck. I saw the whistling ducks, the very purpose of my visit. I stopped many times while strolling around the pond and observed the egrets, anhingas, etc. So peaceful and quiet, with only a handful of dog walkers and a birder or two out at the time. I ran into a local who walks around the pond everyday and he said it could get busy starting from mid-morning.

If you have not visited Ollies Pond Park and you appreciate nature at its best and walking and peaceful settings then you are missing out. We even say a Alligator sunning on the bank

Ollie's Pond is a great park, right in the midst of a residential area. There is an easy walk all around the pond and a variety of birds & critters to be seen.

April 2020, so yes the water in the pond is very low. But, the birds are still here, so are our locals that come out for a nice walk in this nature setting.
It does not matter if you walk slow or run. Your fellow nature lovers will be friendly, greet you with a smile and possibly even have a small talk with you.

We walked around the pond today and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There were many birds to see - I believe I saw a stork which was exciting. The path is unpaved but well maintained. It is a mile around the pond with benches and beautiful scenery along the way. You also see some of the homes in the neighborhood. The parking lot was small - but we found a spot on a Saturday. Nice spot!

Nice quiet nature pond with path to listen to the beautiful sounds of nature and enjoy the sights. Alligators relaxing in the pond, lots of fish to watch swim, many different birds too. Great if you are seeking a quiet, relaxing, nature walk.

A good walk around the pond where you can see a few gators and lots of birds. Free of charge to park and walk.

Loved the tranquility and seeing all those White pelicans, storks, 2 eagles, many herons. Will surely go back. Only saw an alligator drag mark in the mud.

Stumbled upon this place while on vacation in Port Charlotte. A nice break from going to beaches, putt putt, kayaking, etc. A nice little stroll around the pretty large lake/pond. We saw some nice wildlife: turtles, birds, ducks, lizards, fish and we did see a baby gator. It took about an hour and a half for us, but we stopped a lot for exploring/watching/pictures. A nice, free adventure.

Has a nice view of the pond and the trail is very nice that goes around the whole pond. Fun for walking or bike riding.

I had heard about Ollie's Pond and finally made my way over there. It's really tucked back, but not terribly difficult to find. It's a nice, quite park with a variety of flora and fauna. There are different birds at different times of the year. Plenty of benches for contemplating life. It's a great place to just sit and unwind.

Oddly in the middle of a neighborhood, however we were staying close so appreciated the proximity. Enjoyed the walk, wildlife, and view until my son was bit by something (snake?).. strongly recommended staying on path and wearing good shoes. Alligator warnings posted everywhere keep eye on little ones!

We had a Canadian visitor from Toronto looking for birds to add to her record book. Took her to Ollie's pond.
Caroline said it was one of the nicest places in Florida for birders, It had both shallow and deeper areas, so attracted a variety of birds. It also has about a mile trail around the perimeter for easy viewing. There were benches for siting and nice grassy areas to picnic.

The 4 of us went here December 23. I have, to date, never seen so many birds /ducks in one place! Delightful walk around the large pond. Bird and duck heaven. We saw signs about not feeding the alligators but thought it was a joke until we got almost to the end and right there next to the "Do Not Feed the Alligators" was a large alligator!!! Made for a pretty amusing photograph. What a charming wonderful place! Binoculars make it even better.

Excellent place for a morning walk. Saw plenty of birds but no alligators. Very pretty place and not too long a walk.

Actually my daughter and I like to bike to this pond and then enjoy the peace and quiet. Many large tropical birds wade in the shallows.
There are lots of signs warning not to feed the animals and we don't. There are benches to sit by the water and watch the critters. The pathway around is good for walking but a little more challenging for a bicycle due to the rough stone and crushed shell paths. There is a very small parking lot but I have never seen very many cars at this park. Pack a picnic and enjoy nature at it's best! One of the best kept secrets of Port Charlotte!

I was in the area on business and this was one of the parks which looked interesting in the area. I had a nice 1 mile walk and enjoyed the park. I didn't have to walk through water or anything which was great.

We usually cycle around the pond on the roads, but it looked so nice, I decided to walk the trail. It is a nice easy walk, probably about one mile total. There is lots of wildlife, eagles, alligators etc. so walk and watch.

On March 26, 2014 we visited Ollie's Pond with some friends. Just as we started our walk around the pond we spotted a small alligator. Lots of pictures later we continued our walk around the pond. We enjoyed watching lots of birds on our walk. What a great day at the Pond. I recommend this nature walk to anyone that enjoys bird watching.

great place for artists, birders and hikers. not a picnic spot. very quiet and I hope it stays that way.

Nice place to take a walk and enjoy the scenery. We found a few geocaches here too which made it a plus.

Probably a great spot for nature lovers. We saw nothing but birds and bugs, no gators.
No restrooms, no concessions, no nothing. But hey, its free!

After reading some reviews on TripAdviser my wife and I decided to check it out. First of all somebody claimed it was a 1/4 mile walk. We walk about 3 miles an hour and it took us 30 minutes. Maybe a mile to a mile and a half. Some areas in brush other areas in bright sun. The trail is packed stone and dirt easy to walk on with some areas that are just grass. We did see two gators one 4' or so and another larger. Kind of creepy as they were just feet away and you were in their house! Nice trip.

Nice place to see water birds and others as well.
A pleasant walk around the lake, about 11/2 miles, great parking lot.

This was a really pleasant surprise - a short walk around a little pond, but the birds were amazing. We didn't see any gators, but a ton of heron and osprey. Really enjoyed it!

Nice walk some wild some residential. We walked there last year for the first time took pictures of baby gators we saw the mother but weren't able to get a picture of her. This year we didn't see any gators but many turtles and birds.

great place to dog walk, relaxing and enjoyable. go everyday to get exercise for me and dogs

In the heart of Port Charlotte you will find the three lakes area. Ollies pond is the largest of the three. Well preserved nature park for walking, picture taking and watching all sorts of wildlife. Often you will be privileged to see Gators with their babies. Always an exciting and peaceful place to visit.

A friend took me to this little neighborhood park. Boy, was I blown away by all the wildlife and all the different water plants! There is a walking path around a pond and lots of places to stop and take pictures. You would never suspect you were in a neighborhood! I got some really great shots here! It is a very enjoyable walk too! Its a good spot to bring a chair and a book & just sit

This is a lovely quiet area. You can walk around the pond on a dirt trail in about 30 minutes if you don't stop to enjoy the birds and scenery. Lots of dog walkers and joggers.

Wanted a little exercise with a view. Took my camera and drove to the pond. Took the trail around the pond and stopped off several times to take some great bird/duck pics. There are plenty of open viewing spaces thru the trees. Very good variety of birds/ducks and even a turtle. Not crowded but a few residents walking their dogs. I got some nice photos and easy walking exercise. Would recommend for a quick hour or so visit. I visited later in the day but would try to return earlier next visit.

Birders dream!! Gator signs posted--but we didn't see any. Lots of families walking. This is a good place to find pine cones!

I like to take my dog walking at this park. It is a nice 1 mile walk around a pond that birds love to visit.
The path is very nice to walk and I love seeing the birds.
It is a quiet area and a nice getaway from people and traffic.

Ollie's Pond is located off of Collingswood Blvd on a side street in a residential neighborhood. It is a little hard to find so it remains a location that is generally underutilized by the public. Reported to be a big attraction for visiting water and shore birds and said to be a great place to photograph, draw and paint their activities up close and personal. There is a walking trail around the pond that offers a rather quiet and interesting way to escape life's stresses and get some exercise too. Bench seating at locations around the pond is provided. During our rather infrequent visits to the Pond, we have always seen a few birds, but birdwatchers usually seem to out number our feather friends. The pond suffers at times from an overgrowth of water plants and is very shallow. This act of nature reduces the size of the pond significantly. Good place to just escape the daily hassles for an hour or so. People living in the neighborhood are lucky.

While it's easy to walk most of the residential streets in Port Charlotte, this public park offers a well packed, one mile, gravel loop trail with open views of the pond as well as benches and wooded areas if the sun is too hot. Many different aquatic birds share the park with a limited number of alligators and other urban wild-life. There's a small parking area, but the park is surrounded by public streets without parking restrictions. There are multiple plastic bag dispensers so you don't have to view your pet's leavings. There are no restrooms or water dispensers. But it's a great place to get your daily exercise.

We discovered this park by accident , and returned many times. The first time we were there , we saw an alligator, but never saw it again. Usually saw water birds, many different kinds, by walking the path and looking under the trees.
It would be improved by providing a bench to sit on near the parking lot.
There is a walking path around the pond, which took about 20 minutes to walk around , so I think about a mile.. Lovely! There is a bench on the opposite side from the parking lot, which had been donated and a welcome place to sit. Once you know where it is, you can park near it. This park seems popular in the neighbourhood, as usually there was someone who lives there to go for a walk around the pond. However, never a crowd. Early morning or evening is a good time to see the birds.

Took dogs to walk around pond. Actually walked around twice because the trail is not that long. There are signs that say there are alligators, but have not seen any so far. Saw plenty of birds and turtles though.

Great time, my wife and I like nature walks or walks In general. While walking we saw a lot of birds and a few alligator heads sticking out of the water

We took our dogs walking around Ollie's Pond. The path is wide and flat, surrounds a large pond with lots of birds, perhaps an alligator. There is parking, no admission fee, small groups of birders and walkers, photographers. It is in a lovely residential neighbourhood. Lovely bench to rest halfway, in memory of the naturalist for whom the pond is named, Oliver Hewitt. Very nice place for a walk with or without your dog, right in town.

Have been here before, water is very low this year. saw Wood Storks this year. And the Heron Nest ! We were here just about every day of our vacation. Nice to meet up with People and talk about birds and let the Dogs visit !

Snowbird. Nice place to take my dog for a walk. Always find a reason to take out the phone and snap some pictures off.

Lovely walk- nice to be close to the water to see all the birds & lucky enough to see a raccoon. Part is in the shade so very pleasant on a hot day

I can see the potential for this being a beautiful pond area for water fowl, shore birds, reptiles, etc, however with the drought right now there is next to no water for them. We did see an eagle overhead, and the following in what little water there was there; roseate spoonbills, Moorhen duck, little blue heron, ring-necked duck and a small turtle. Next trip will be after the rainy season restores it to it's full potential.

Had family from New York down for a visit and they wanted to see an alligator in the wild. Decided to take them to Ollie's Pond in the hopes of seeing one and was not disappointed in the least. Has a nice walking trail going around the entire pond. While walking, we saw birds, turtles and an occasional gator floating far off in the distance. At one point we came upon a gator on the shore sunning itself. They got a close up view (not too close) which was amazing. Just before the end of the trail, we saw some tiny baby gators. It was an amazing experience. One that we won't forget. Will definitely be returning.

My husband and I have gone to this park several times to walk around the pond and take in the wild life. It’s very peaceful and relaxing. You can even bring your dog for some exercise.

Took the dog for a walk a few times...paths are covered in crushed shells, not so good on dog feet. Quiet and serene place to see nature, but only saw birds and squirrels, no gators. I give it a 3.

Nice pleasant short walk, usually we see at least one alligator and a few turtles and many birds. This year the pond was quite low and scummy. Still saw some birds and enjoyed the walk. It's always different and worth while.

Very relaxing walk with alot of wildlife/birds etc. Easy walking paths, good parking. quiet environment, easy location.

This place is very nice. Nice walk around the pond, which is quite large. I always enjoy going although I have to say it’s kind of scary at times, knowing there are alligators nearby. Although I’d love to see one out in the water, I don’t want to see one crossing the path in front of me! Lol

I don't know, I guess it could be nice, but when I was there I saw Corn walking around in the pond. I stopped and talked to him and asked what he was doing. He said he was working but neck deep in the pond. I also know there are a lot of alligators in there.

We read about this park in the newspaper and decided to make a visit. There is a beautiful lake with a walking path around the lake. We saw an alligator and many birds. The walking path is not paved but is a nice walk, especially on a good weather day. It is located in a quiet neighborhood but the walk also goes through a wooded area.

Nice short (less than 1 1/2 miles) nature walk. Saw a bald eagle, herons and many other birds. Saw alligator and babies in the water under the walk in an overflow.

First time bird watching at Ollie’s Pond was a success. Watched a great blue heron feeds it’s young in their nest that was overlooking the pond. Saw a great horned owl not far from the small bridge. According to a local, this is the 3rd year it has built a nest. Also watched a pillared woodpecker dart from tree to tree.
A sign warns about alligators and sure enough we saw one in the lake, probably 6 feet long.
Plenty of birds make this a fun walk for any age.

Most surprised to see so many birds in this location.
There were countless white pelicans, many blue and white herons, several roseate pink spoonbills as well as osprey, coots and wilts.
Whilst walking on the one mile footpath around the pond we came across a huge turtle and then a small 3ft alligator crossed just ahead of us.
The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable as it was so quiet and peaceful .

This is a fantastic place to roam around and make new friends (both human and otherwise). If you're planning ahead, use Instapark!

The park is small, but a great walk for nature. I like to take my dog for a walk there...YES they are welcome. Bring your camera or binoculars birds and other animals are plenty. BEWARE of gators

Nice walk around a small pond. It was less than a mile all the way around. There's a small parking lot on Avon but it wasn't busy at all when we were there about 3:00. Didn't see many birds. Did see one alligator. I would suggest going earlier in the day. The path around the lake is solid and level, consisting of crushed stone and worn grass in places. There are a few boardwalk bridges

If I could rate this above 5 stars I would! What a gorgeous walking trail around a peaceful pond. I took lots of great pictures of the pond and various birds. My sister is visiting from Ohio next week and loves to walk. We will be bringing her here for sure! A hidden treasure in Port Charlotte!

Didn't see a thing only a swampy pond. Waste of time. I know this is rated highly by other people, but it doesn't offer much.

We bike through or around Ollie's Pond quite often and never tire of enjoying the ambiance of a small neighborhood park. Lots of birds to enjoy and a safe place for a stroll. There are wooded areas with large slash pines bordering the park on several sides to add to the bucolic nature of this little beauty! Nice, recently paved parking lot for those who travel by auto.

We have been to Ollie’s Pond on several occasions to see the wildlife. Unfortunately our last visit was when the water was very low with very few birds around. It is a good place to see wildlife if the pond is full of water.

Lots of wildlife when I visit, usually end of June beginning of July, lots of birds,dragonfly's, frogs, snakes and of course gators.

This is a great park to walk pathway is nice and clear with some wildlife to see. Everyone was friendly and it's safe

Ollie's Pond Park is a small and delightful park in the heart of Port Charlotte. It's a great place to get some exercie, walk the dog or watch the birds.

Nice pleasant walk around Ollie's Pond, with lots and lots of birds to view....very enjoyable short walk....

If you'd like a nice quiet stroll around an area of shallow water and lots of birds, then Ollie's Pond is for you. It's approximately 1/4 mile on a dirt path around the pond. You will see many different kinds of water birds.

This is a very small park, small pond with some wildlife. i don't understand how the police can't catch tthe jerk that bothers people. There is no real place to hide because of the size of the park, Concealed carry is a good choice for this place.

Birding is Big here, but don't be surprised by a Gator sunning himself in the Pond. My 1st trip around the Pond was on bike, as I rode around I could hear critters scurrying through the leaves & brush.. The 2nd trip was a slow walk with my Wife noting Herons & Egrets. It's quiet & peaceful, a great place to relieve stress.

I walk to Ollie’s Pond frequently all year. There are always a variety of birds, ducks, sometimes storks or an alligator. There is a walking path that goes completely around it, and there is a parking lot on one side. It is tranquil and beautiful.

We visited Ollie's pond after we read about on Facebook. It is said to be a bird and Gator sanctuary. It is very pretty there and the walking trails are great. We were there for quite a while and no gators or birds not even flying birds could we see.. If you are in the area it is worth a look see because it is very beautiful there but don't expect to many birds or gators.

This is a very nice pond and walking path. Great to take a leisurely walk for you and your dog friend. Large shade trees and a nature path.

Great little birding spot, got to see a few life birds while there, but I'm only in the hobbie for a few years. Also good to take the pooch along, they have a few posts with poop bags so you can pick up, people met there were friendly

Very nice path, pond could use some cleaning, wildlife
Is average, quiet, except for occasional dogs

Bit off the beaten track, but worth a visit. Lots of various kings of birds. Sometimes it very crowded and might even have pelicans. Problem is that its drying up. Town needs to step up and help restore this gem.

It's just a nice walk around a pond with "Beware of Aligators" posted everywhere. It is in a quiet resdential neighborhood. Some shade, some sun.

This park is hidden off the main drag but provides a quiet chance to stroll around the pond, view birds and geocache.

Easy walking along well marked gravel path, good chance to see native birds, owls and turtles. Much like nearby Kiwanis park.

The GPS took us to one side of the park but the parking was on the other side. There are no restrooms or areas to sit, so keep that in mind. However, it is a true immersion with nature. The walk around the pond is not very long, we had just played disc golf so plenty long for us, however you might want to make more then one lap otherwise. We saw anihinga sunning itself with it's wings wide spread. We saw several other birds and heard the constant grunting of alligators however no real sightings. The pond is about 50% covered in lily pads with beautiful yellow blossoms. Unfortunately we forgot our binoculars, but all the more reason to return.

Great park, close in but feels like country. Lots of birds to watch and peace and quiet to savor. We love it.

Just a short walk but over half of it is right by the lake where it is so peaceful to watch the many varieties of birds. Spoonbills, ospreys , anhingas & herons to name just a few.

It's nice to see the pond with lots of water again. Sunny warm day turtles were sunbathing. Water fowl every where. About two thirds of the way around the pond I said to Vicki I'm disappointed we haven't seen any alligators, wasn't disappointed long laying in the path was a very large alligator sunbathing, unfortunately there wasn't enough room to go around it, we walked back the way we came, but it was neat to see.

We visited here at 10.30 and were surprised at how varied the wildlife was. We saw baby alligators in the pond, a roseate spoonbill , various herons, a golden eagle, woodpeckers, and many more. A great place to amble around at your own speed in a perfect setting.

Part shade, part sunny path. Walk around the pond takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. Lots of wildlife.

This 2017 winter was so dry the pond dried up. Lots of weeds grew up and now that the rains are back it is flooded again but the weeds are still there and block the view. Fortunately, there were still lots of duck with their chicks this fall. Hopefully we can get the county to dredge the pond more so that we have enough water saved to weather the winter droughts

There is a circle trail around the lake which is full of various birds herons, ergots
and spoonbills. The trees are unique and you can find woodpeckers in them. There are beautiful butterflies. The place in right in Port Charlotte and worth a visit.

My husband and I went here once last year to walk around. A friend of mine has walked all the way around the lake several times which takes quite a while. We spend about 20 minutes walking the path and it was very peaceful and we saw many birds. May sure you bring mosquito repellant with you.

Parking was good. Alligator habitat signs up.... From Texas this was news! Lots of native birds here.... Trails wide and nice to walk around . Not good for fishing water seemed low.nbut very quiet area.

Couldn't believe all the white pelicans, blue herons, woodstorks and other species (which I can't remember all of them). Also have a great walking path which some of the group went on but my husband had foot surgery so we were not able to participate. Everyone enjoyed it. As many year as I had been to Port Charlotte did not know this was there. Bring tennis shoes.

We walked right round the pond and it took about an hour, There were lots of squirrels, birds and beautiful views of the pond between trees. We went early morning and didn't notice any bugs,.

About a mile walk in a circle. Very quiet neighborhood. It is an Audubon society area around a man-made pond that is beautiful. Nice gravel walk around the pond. We saw alligators and many different birds. Glad we are close by so we can go again and again.

This place is out of the way but makes for a great 1-3 hour break into nature. Take Collingswood South from 776/El Jobean Road and then left on Bly to get there. Plenty of parking. There is often an abundance of birds, reptiles and animals. Bring your bike and ride around the neighborhood. There isn't much traffic.

We love Ollie's pond, always go there when we are in PC. You see lots of birds, turtles and almost every time we saw Alligators, lots of baby ones. Walk around is nice in the morning or evenings, sadly this spring due to the drought almost all the water was gone, we hope it gets back to life during the rainy season

We did a lovely 2 lap walk of the pond during March Break! Quiet and peaceful accept for meeting Mr. Gator who likes to sunbathe by the parking lot, but harmless. Great for our first gator encounter, glad for the Gator warnings around the pond. Many dog walkers and birdwatchers there with binoculars. FREE, which is great! Wear running shoes and bring a camera.

This park is a hidden gem. It is nestled in the trees around a huge lake. There is a walking path around the lake so you can observe the many birds and ducks that migrate through this area. We've also spotted alligators in the lake. It is a beautiful area, definitely worth finding.