I usually go right past this park on my way to the zoo or the science museum but I finally had the time to check it out today and see what I have been missing. It turns out that this is a really nice park.
The first thing you notice when you drive into the park is hills. That might not seem weird to people in the rest of the country but here in South Florida we are flat as a pancake. If you see any elevation, you take notice. Normally if you see a hill they are garbage dumps called middens created by the Native People in the area. The hills in the park however were created when earth was dug out to form the North Lake and to increase the storm water drainage capacity of the other three lakes in the area.
In the early part of the 20th century the area that is now Dreher Park was covered in water and was part of the Everglades. In 1917 the governor of Florida had drainage canals built to drain the land for agriculture. A tent city was erected on the land and the lake was called Old Lake Clark. It was owned by the Bunker family who operated a trading post where the Seminoles would come to trade. In 1920 Old Lake Clark was drained which created a new chain of lakes. The Hurricane of 1928 blew away the tent city and Bacon Park was created. In 1929 the City Parks Department used the land to cultivate rare plants. In 1951 City park Director Paul Dreher convinces the city to purchase 108 acres of swamp land for $100. In 1956 Dreher's dream to create a park with a zoo, botanical park, and play space for children comes to fruition. In 1957 the city named the park in honor of Paul Dreher. who would eventually pass away in 1993. In the 70's the park fell into disrepair but in 1977 federal funds were used to improve the park. In 1983 jogging trails, shade canopy trees, and a playground were added. In 2003 the park was closed while infrastructure was improved. The park only to reopen with improvements in 2004.
Park amenities include a Heart Trail, fishing dock, playgrounds, barbecue grills, sand volleyball courts, open play fields and 11 picnic shelters of various sizes. Park amenities include a Heart Trail, fishing dock, playgrounds, barbecue grills, sand volleyball courts, open play fields and 11 picnic shelters of different sizes. There were also a lot of birds enjoying the wetlands. I saw people picnicking, playing with their kids, walking their dogs, exercising, and fishing.
I really enjoyed learning about the history of this area. The lakes are not just ornamental, they serve an important function by keeping the land from being flooded during rain storms. They also serves as a habitat for the birds who visit and live in the park. If there is a downside to this park it is that there a number of homeless people sleeping in the covered picnic pavilions. I don't know if your car is 100 percent safe here. I do however think Paul Dreher would be happy to know that people are still enjoying the park he conceived more than 50 years after he pushed for it's creation. read more