In 1921 the Indian River Land Co. deeded Pocahontas Park to Vero Beach. In the 1920's the park had…read morea small zoo that included alligators, a bear, and a bobcat. The tennis courts were added in 1925. The town's first community center was built in the park in 1935. During WWII it served as a club for Navy personnel training at the airport. After the war it was again used as a community center until a new one was built just north of it. The original center is now The Heritage Center with a museum dedicated to the citrus industry. A plaque outside the building commemorates the spot in Pocahontas Park where on July 2, 1925 William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech for the county's inaugural festivities. Today families visiting the historic Vero Beach downtown area can still enjoy this charming park that has delighted generations of families. The park has pickleball courts, a playground, restroom. shuffle board court, and tennis courts. Standing guard at the entrance to the park is Patriot the fiberglass horse. Pocahontas Park is the perfect place to take the kids to play or to enjoy a game of tennis.

Pocahontas Park is a pleasant enough place located in the Main Street Vero Beach section of the…read moretown. It is more designed for kids, however there are plenty of benches out front and it seems to be a popular place for people just to chill for a bit.

Riverside Park is located on a barrier island in Vero Beach. You reach it by crossing over the…read moreMerril P. Barber Bridge. The park dates back to 1944 when Government Lot 2, a 115 acre parcel of land was purchased by the city of Vero Beach for $11,000 for use as a park. Today this park is one of the cultural crown Jewels of Vero Beach. Inside the park is the The Riverside Theater, a 692 seat performance theater that hosts Broadway quality shows throughout the year. The theater also hosts Live in the Loop, free outdoor concerts most weekends. In the middle of the park is the Vero Beach Art Museum. Opened in 1978 it hosts traveling art exhibits throughout the year as well as classes and educational events. It also has an outdoor sculpture garden. It you find yourself hungry, go to the north end of the park under the Merril P. Barber Bridge where you will find a The Riverside Cafe. It is a casual restaurant serving seafood and burgers. In the evenings they often have live music. Also located in this area of the park is the Cole Coppola Memorial Fishing Pier where you can fish and possibly spot dolphins and manatees. The park is also home to the Memorial Island Sanctuary, a beautiful and peaceful Veterans Memorial on an island that you reach by walking over a bridge. Other park amenities include walking and jogging paths, fitness trail, tennis courts, a playground, boat ramps, and picnic tables. Some of the many festivals held throughout the year in the park include the Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Craft Festival, Gardenfest, the Annual Orchid Show, Vero Beach Boat Show, and the upcoming Fourth of July firewoman on the Indian a River. There is so much to see and do here. You could visit several times and have a different experience each time. Whether is a concert, show, exercising, paying tribute to our national heroes, fishing, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking the kids to play, this park has something for everyone in Vero Beach.

A perfect Sweet Sixteen celebration thanks to all of the staff and the fabulous rock & Roll Band!…read moreWe rented a cabana and the service was excellent! Thanks to Mia who served and Linda who helped me plan and Danika who made the delicious food! I can heartily recommend this venue! We had a blast.

We stopped here to breakup our drive to a state park in central Florida, it's a beautiful area! We…read morewalked around a bit, got our feet in the ocean, and noted all of the turtle nests! Want to come back here one day soon for a beach day! The water was gorgeous that day as well! Check out this area/park/beach if you are in the area! They have a board walk as well!

If you're looking to soak up the sun, catch some waves, and maybe beat your own record for the…read morenumber of snacks eaten under an umbrella--Jaycee Park is your new happy place. The beach? Pristine. The water? Perfectly blue with just the right amount of wave action to feel like a surfer (even if you're just boogie boarding like a champ). The park area behind the beach is ideal for taking a break from the heat--plenty of shaded pavilions, a volleyball court, and a playground for the little ones who still somehow have more energy than a triple espresso. What really makes Jaycee Park shine is how family-friendly and chill the vibes are. You've got locals grilling, kids building sandcastles that'll be gone in one tide, and beachgoers just vibing to the sound of waves. Plus, the accessibility and parking make it a no-stress zone from the moment you pull up. So grab your sunscreen, flip-flops, and your most extra beach floatie--Jaycee Park is where it's at!

Tranquil hiking trail with bridges , mangroves, lagoon , and several paths. Didn't see much of…read morewildlife, but enjoyed beautiful scenic walk. Definitely apply bug spray before you venture here.

Lagoon Greenway is a fun hiking trail close to McKee Botanical gardens and the Alma Lee Loy…read morecauseway. You can hike the shorter hike to the Indian River Lagoon or take the longer hike over the dike past all the mangroves, and you might see (a) small gator(s) that sometimes hang out near the spillways. The area has been cleared of all invasive plants and if you see any, they are working on it. We have seen gators, otters and birds at Lagoon Greenway. And walking the boardwalk to the Indian River lagoon, you might see dolphins. Take mosquito repellent with you!

Humiston Beach Park is one of those places that just works…read more Ocean views, tons of palm trees, clean grass, and plenty of shade so you're not getting cooked by the Florida sun. The covered pavilions are perfect for a quick break, a picnic, or post-run cooldown. Always a good mix of families, runners, cyclists, and beachgoers without feeling overcrowded. Best part? You're steps from the beach, food, and ice cream. Easy to park, easy to enjoy, hard to leave. Simple, scenic, and exactly what a beach park should be.

This is a great park with a little bit of everything -a play area with swings several covered…read moreareas for gatherings, seating options with sidewalks and grass options for walking around .There are bathrooms with changing rooms , sinks, soap, mirrors, hand dryers and usually they are kept clean and stocked to use. The covered areas and open areas have lots of seating and entertain with frequent festivals sometimes in mornings and others in the evenings with free parking. There are always extra toys and beach items left for others to use .I come here at least biweekly and it's a great place to enjoy!!

I was so impressed with this park. It's located on the Indian River with stunning views of the…read morewater. There is a fountain for the kids to play in that opened in 2001 and I gather that when it is on there is a $1 entrance fee but no one was around when I visited. Other park amenities include restrooms, art, benches, and a fishing pier. In March of this year a historical marker was placed in the east part of the park relating the history of the three bridges connecting the Vero Beach mainland and beaches. Vero Beach was the first community to have a bridge to Orchid Island when one opened on Labor Day of 1920. The first cars to cross it were Model T's. In 1951 the concrete Merrill P. Barber bridge was opened and replaced by a concrete arch bridge in 1995. The marker in this park is one of twenty two in Indian County. This park also has beautiful art. There are four large mosaic pillars that represent the natural setting of Vero Beach, the ocean, the Indian River Lagoon, the upland hammock, and the wetlands. Each side of the pillar depicts a different time of day and the animals that live in each habitat. Usually water front property is taken up by million dollar mansions. It is so nice to see that Vero Beach preserved this prime piece of property so that everyone can enjoy it. You can come here to take the kids to cool off, fish, picnic, or just drink in the the glorious view of the Indian River.

Amazing pier like a lot better than I expected I came here to have a picnic with my man before…read moregoing to McKee botanical garden and it was so well kept together and very clean. I had a lot of fun walking around . Looks like fishing is available and lots of space for relaxing . Lots of seating too!

Troy Moody Park is located on Victory Boulevard and Cordova Avenue in the McAnsh Park neighborhood…read morein northwest Vero. Park amenities include a water fountain, playground, benches, large open space for play, and paved walkway. Along the path are signs giving suggestions of different activities kids can do as they go along. Some of the activities are to tell a story, jump, clap, skip, move, and read. I have never seen anything like this and it is a really cool feature of the park that sparks family interaction. The park's namesake, Troy E. Moody Jr. was born in 1925. His father, Troy Moody Sr., served as Indian River County's tax collector from 1932 to 1969. Troy graduated from Vero Beach High School class of 1943. He then spent three years in the Navy before going to a state college. After graduation he joined the Army and became a paratrooper. He was stationed in Japan before being deployed to Korea. He was serving as First lieutenant with the 27th Infantry Regiment when he died at 25 in a battle at the Naktong River crossing in South Korea on Aug. 11, 1950. A memorial plaque in his honor was installed in the park in 2012. An earlier memorial plaque was installed on the water fountain.

Troy Moody Park is more of an open field with a small playground and a few benches than what I…read morewould call a park. I am sure that the neighborhood appreciates it, but if you are looking for something where you can walk around and enjoy a bit of nature, this is not the place.

A botanical garden visit in early March can be a dicey proposition... unless that garden is McKee…read more The combination of a jungle, plenty of water features, and the whimsy of colorful art make this garden a great place to visit even before many of the plants are blooming. Last year's (2025) whimsy was florals made from Lego bricks. This year it's sculpture mimicking origami. They call it "florigami," and there are lots of imaginative examples throughout the gardens. If you are hungry or thirsty during your visit, the garden café is delightful. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit of about 2 hours. The admission price is a bit steep, but they do accept entry using the AHS reciprocal membership... so if you're a member of another botanical garden (that's far enough away) you will get in for free.

The botanical garden at night feels less like a stroll and more like wandering into a living…read morestorybook. Lights tucked into trees, glowing sculptures appearing out of the darkness, reflections in the water that look too intentional to be accidental. At one point I genuinely felt like I walked through a portal, took a few photos as proof, and got politely sent back to reality. The installations were the highlight for me. Birds glowing in the dark like forest guardians, glassy light columns that felt more spell than sculpture, and paths that made you slow down without realizing it. Even the massive tree stump felt ancient, like it had seen some things and wasn't in the mood to explain. It's worth noting this is a separate seasonal event, not standard daytime admission. Tickets are priced higher than regular entry, which makes sense given the lighting, installations, and overall production. Just something to be aware of when planning your visit. It does get crowded, especially in popular spots, so patience is required. This isn't a rush-through kind of experience anyway. It rewards wandering, pausing, and letting your eyes adjust. Also worth noting, this is prime territory for phone photography. Low light, rich colors, and reflections everywhere. If you like capturing atmosphere, you'll leave happy. If you're looking for something peaceful, immersive, and just a little bit magical, this is absolutely worth it. Just don't be surprised if you lose track of where you are for a moment. That might be the point.

Charles Park is named in honor of Charles Parks. I love that his last name was Parks! Mr. Parks…read morebecame the city's director of recreation after moving to Vero Beach in 1958. He retired from the post in 1982. This neighborhood park was named in his honor after his successor, Vero Beach-Indian River County Recreation Department Director Pat Callahan approached then-City Manager John Little five years later with a proposal to name a new park after her mentor. The city decided to drop the s from Parks name and the park was called Charles Park. The amenities at Charles Park include a popular walking trail through a nature area, restrooms, picnic pavilion, tennis courts and volleyball court. The playground area is currently closed but there are plans to build a new playground this year. The wooden fitness equipment is in really terrible condition too. I enjoyed the fitness trail which is the best part of the park while it is under construction. Once this park receives upgrades it should be really nice.

It's hidden but the playground is big for the little ones to burn off steam. I enjoyed watching the…read moresquirrels burry things and they have small trails for runny and fitness. So if you want a free activity for your young one I'd say check it out.

If you're looking for a place in Vero Beach that humbles the soul and lifts the heart, Veteran's…read moreMemorial Island Sanctuary is it. This isn't just a park--it's sacred ground dressed in serenity and sunshine. As I walked under a bright sky and the slow rustle of trees, I was greeted by engraved stone pillars marked with words like Honor, Devotion, Sacrifice. You don't just read them--you feel them. Every step here carries meaning. The American flag stands tall at the end of a peaceful, tree-lined brick path, swaying like it's saluting every visitor who comes to remember. Sculptures and monuments dot the landscape, each one dedicated to those who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. The "Lest We Forget" stone from 1963 hit especially hard--simple, bold, and eternal. But what struck me the most was how beautiful it all is. The landscaping is pristine, the layout intentional, and the silence... powerful. You hear birds, maybe your own footsteps, and nothing else. It's as if the whole place whispers: "They mattered. Don't forget." This is more than a park. It's a living tribute--one that doesn't ask for applause, just presence. I came to reflect, to walk, to breathe--and left with gratitude in my chest. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this island sanctuary deserves your time, your silence, and your thanks.

veterans park is a memorable visit. free of charge:-) always reminds me, one if the reasons why i'm…read moreso grateful & blessed to be in nation!! views of the beautiful waterways greet you on the roads to get here. from walking paths, picnic covered pavilions most with bbq to grill your anytime of year favorites. parking is free. -*** bring your fur baby on a leash of course:-) and please dont forget the infamous poopie bags. pick up & make a deposit in the multiple g cans throughout the park. so many areas to visit inside the park. heart warming memorials practically everywhere you walk. paying tribute and respect to all those who have selflessly sacrificed for the freedom we live. i thank everyday all the men and women tgat give me the peace of mind and spirit for no worries. when i lay my head to sleep the sound of an attack of our land. on a a happier note:-)) may you & your family & friends enjoy this thanksgiving holiday. christmas, chanukah or any holiday we are ***free to celebrate.