Where is Rapunzel? Can you see the cut out hearts? This gem is called Coral Gables Wayside Park…read moreand is located in Coral Gables. Talk about Mediterranean Revival. It consists of 8 towers and a park at the western entrance to Coral Gables. Coral Gables Waterway passes right through this park. A pair of 13-foot square towers form the entrance with additional smaller towers that flank SW 34th and 35th street. On January 19, 1989, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

This park looks like something out of a fairy tale. Located at the western edge of Coral Gables…read morethis park has eight Mediterranean Revival style towers that were built in 1925. Two thirteen foot tall towers form the entrance while the smaller towers are on 34th and 35th street. The Coral Gables waterway passes through the park and it is filled with ducks and wading birds. This park was added to the US National Register of Historic places on January 19, 1989. It is a lovely spot to have a picnic under one of the large shade trees as you take in the charming view.

Baywood Park is located in Miami's Bayside Historic District. This historic district represents the…read moredevelopment of Miami from the early 1900's until the mid 1940's when this was part of the pioneer settlement of Lemon City. This community contains one of the last bayfront estates. The Bayside historic district contains the architectural styles of frame vernacular, Mediterranean revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne and it was the home of many prominent residents of early Miami including the Honorable Arthur Patrick Cannon served as a U.S. Representative from 1939 to 1947. Baywood Park won Miami New Times Best View award. This linear park has a stunning view of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline. If you are lucky you may even spot a dolphin or manatee. Throughout the park is a paved walkway and benches. Free parking is available along the street. This peaceful passive park is perfect for strollers, bikers, joggers, and dog walkers as well as anyone who just enjoys a great water view.

I love this little hidden neighborhood gem! It's such a nice little spot to just go walking and sit…read moreand watch the Bay. There are fantastic views of Biscayne Bay, the various bridges, and downtown Miami skyline. Jumping fish, pelicans, sea hawks, and occasional dolphin sightings are always entertaining. People fish off the concrete edge and have their dogs off-leash, but it never seems to be an issue to enjoying the park. Great spot when there's a nice breeze and sunny to just lay on a blanket and cloudwatch or have a quiet little picnic.

J. Fritz and Frances Gordon Park was designed in the 1920's by renowned landscape architect Donald…read moreRoss. Its lush gardens, rustic fountain plaza and stone and wood-covered walkway give visitors the allusion of walking through a palace garden in the south of Spain. The J. Fritz and Frances Gordon Park contains the historic 1927 Coral Gables Prado Entrance. Coral Gables was planned by George Merrick as one of the first communities in the United States. He started selling lots for it in 1921. Merrick designed the city to have four entry arches. This archway is located at the NW corner of the City of Coral Gables at S.W. 8th Street Tamiami Trail and S.W. 57th Avenue Red Road. In his early planning stages of the city of Coral Gables George Merrick had planned on developing the Country Club Prado section as the city's downtown. In the end he decided to move it east to be closer to the already established towns of Miami, Coconut Grove, and Brickell. This entrance to the city was built by Denman Fink, uncle to Gables founder George Merrick. The archway was designed to look like a Mediterranean plaza. There are two walkways made of brick and stucco with wood trellises covered in bougainvillea. In between the walkways there used to be a reflection pool but it no longer holds waster. There also used to be a waterfall. At each end of the plaza are pedestal water fountains that also no longer hold water. Arches divide the city's grand boulevard and large oak trees stand guard over the park. The fairytale gateway to the city is very popular as a backdrop for photographers. On the day I visited the area was flooded with kids taking their prom pictures. Although parts of the structure are decaying it adds to the Mediterranean charm of the city.

The 96th Street Park in Surfside is the town's main recreational area. It is now an inviting…read moreoutdoor destination thanks to a new design by architect William Lane who prioritized creating a space for both activity and leisure. After significant construction, the park reopened to the public on December 15, 2024. 96th Street Park is located on Indian Creek so there is scenic water views. During the upgrades to the park, a multipurpose field, state-of-the-art playground equipment, and a full-size basketball court were added. There is also a new LEED Silver-certified multi story municipal community center, Thrive 250 fitness equipment, and a kayak launch. Shade structures, fencing, advanced lighting solutions, landscaping, and comprehensive irrigation systems were also added to the park. The city holds many of its resident events here like a Winter Wonderland and Spring Egg Hunt. With its fresh design and new features, this park is a premier gathering space for the community. Whether you're looking to engage in sports, enjoy water activities, or simply relax in a beautiful setting, this modern park has something for everyone.

We've been visiting this park since we moved here four years ago. This is not our favorite park,…read moreas it tends to get very crowded at times. But the tree shade is a rare plus. We usually stop by when we're walking to or from Surfside. We visited midday on a Saturday when I took these photos and there was only one other family there, so it was a very pleasant experience. The shade under the trees gives you a breezy and cool feel on a hot summer day. The equipment at this park is a bit outdated and needs an upgrade, in my opinion. Our son loves the basketball courts and they also have a very large soccer field (grassy area) to play on. The Surfside community has many events here for residents only, which we are unable to attend since we live across the bridge. :-P

This is a small and pleasant park in Coral Gables on the canal. You can launch a kayak here and…read moretravel to the Biltmore! A pleasant little spot to be at one with nature. The park is named after Ruth. Here is some information regarding this historical woman. https://gablesinsider.com/opinion-once-upon-a-time-in-coral-gables-there-lived-a-significant-figure-in-womens-history/

This is a small but quaint park. I spans about 1.25 acres. There was no parking lot. I just pulled…read morein and made my own spot. In addition to ducks, I saw some decent sized iguanas there. The park has signs posted warning of animals attacking. There is a nice decks that overlooks the water. There are a few benches and picnic tables around the park. The grass is screaming for some maintenance..."cut me, cut me..." I do not know how good (or legal) it is, but someone was fishing while I was there. It is a peaceful spot minus the busy intersection that it sits off of. This is a simple, what you see is what you get park. It has so much potential. With a little investment and time it could be so much better.

Splash pad closed / out of order in the middle of summer. Would be great if the commissioner…read moreaddressed this for the community

Juan Pablo Duarte (January 26, 1813 - July 15, 1876) was one of the founding fathers of the…read moreDominican Republic. He was a Dominican military leader, writer, activist, and nationalist politician. He joined forces with military general Ramon Matias Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez. The trio organized and promoted the Trinitario movement which eventually led to the Dominican revolt and independence from Haitian rule in 1844. Duarte paid a heavy price for his patriotism and he lost his wealth and was forced into exile, living in Venezuela until his death. Today Duarte's birth is commemorated by Dominicans every January 26. This park is located in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, known for its large Dominican population.. The settlement of the Dominican community in Miami started in the 1960s and strengthened in the 1990's. Allapattah became the go to area for Dominican food items and culture. To honor the Dominican community Comstock Park and NW 17th Avenue were renamed in the 1990's to honor Juan Pablo Duarte. In 2003 the City of Miami named a portion of Allapattah "Little Santo Domingo." Today Pablo Duarte Park is one of Allapattah's favorite hangouts. In the park there is a memorial to its namesake. There is a community center that offers programs for after school, youth basketball, and camps. There are large trees and open space to play. A small outdoor gym is available for exercise and a jogging trail circles the park. There is also a basketball court, children's playground, and splash pad. The park was filled with families enjoying the Sunday afternoon. Just outside the gate was an ice cream truck and a fresh tropical fruit vendor. If you want to experience the culture of Allapattah, all you need to do is pay a visit to this beloved community retreat.

A rare bit of greenery in what is rapidly becoming an over-developed neighborhood- great spot to…read moreread a book from the nearby library or take a lunch break if you're an employee of South Miami Hospital

This park is named in honor of the city's first woman commissioner, Jean Willis. Willis served on…read morethe South Miami City Council from 1956 to 1978. She is remembered for focusing her political career on South Miami beautification. Jean Willis passed away in August of 2001. Jean Willis Park is 3/4 of an acre and located next to the South Miami Police Department. In 1991 the Flowering Tree Society donated more than 60 flowering trees including crape myrtle, butterfly tree, China doll, firecracker plant, bell flower and white candles along with labor and planting materials. It was the organization's first public landscaping project and the first passive park in South Miami dedicated to flowering trees. Today the park features a gazebo, picnic benches and a variety of native flowering trees which attract birds. South Miami Senior High School students constructed a pair of trellises to anchor both ends of the park in 2013. I enjoyed checking out the unusual trees like the colvillea, cordia sebestena, and the silk-floss tree. Jean Willis Park is the perfect place to relax, enjoy a picnic, and bask in nature.

This park is located in Wynwood and was originally named Wynwood Park. In 1974 Miami renamed the…read morepark, Roberto Clemente Park to honor the Puerto Rican Baseball legend. Wynwood has a rich Puerto Rican Heritage and was once known as Little San Juan. Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) was a right fielder with the Pittsburg Pirates for 18 seasons and an All Star for 13 of those seasons. Some of Roberto Clemente's records with the Pirates include most triples in a single game (three) and hits in two consecutive games. He won 12 Gold Glove Awards and shares the record of most won among outfielders with Willie Mays. Clemente was the first player from the Caribbean and Latin America to win a World Series as a starting position player (1960), to receive an NL MVP Award (1966), and to receive a World Series MVP Award (1971). Although Roberto Clemente is primarily remembered as a gifted baseball player he considered his charity work to be his most important legacy. Clemente was deeply involved in helping Latin American and Caribbean countries and he called the creation of a sports center for disadvantaged youth in Puerto Rico his greatest achievement. Clemente told reporters "The biggest thing I want to do is for the youths... for the kids. When I am ready to quit baseball I will have my sports center... to me it will be the most important thing in the world." Many professional Puerto Rican players have trained at the center. Roberto Clemente passed away at the age of 38 during a plane crash when he was attempting to bring relief supplies to victims of a earthquake in Nicaragua. His body was never recovered. His children carry on his humanitarian legacy through the Clemente Foundation. This gated three acre park includes a parking lot, playground, baseball fields, basketball court, picnic tables, and a community center with computers. It serves as a community hub hosting numerous community events, after school programs, winter camp, youth programs, sports leagues, fitness classes, and cultural celebrations throughout the year. The park is about to get several improvements which include an artificial turf baseball/soccer field, batting cage, LED lights, and drainage improvements which will make the park a more enjoyable recreational space for those who use it. It was a beautiful day to walk around the park and learn about Roberto Clemente. His passion for baseball and helping people has long outlived his short time on earth. I think he would be pleased to know that a park in his honor is still helping children and an entire community today.