Before it was incorporated as Miami Gardens, this area was known as Carol City, Norland, and…read moreNorwood. Made up of the neighborhoods of Andover, Bunche Park, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-locka North, and Scott Lake, Miami Gardens was incorporated on May 13, 2003. This park takes its name from the historic name of this area, Norwood. This neatly maintained and landscaped green space has a basketball court, covered playground, community garden, and tennis courts. In 2019 the park swimming pool received a million dollar renovation paid for with the $60 million general obligation bond Miami Gardens residents voted for in 2014. The park community center has a meeting room, computers, and hosts the Future Star's Teen Squad Program and a Black History Month celebration. Other programs include after school, summer camp, and swimming. This park has long been a cultural and recreational touchstone for this community. With the upgrades it is looking better than ever and is ready for a new generation to play, participate in sports, learn to swim, and enjoy the programs offered here.

The Foster Park Plaza is located across the street from Foster Park. Both the park and the plaza…read morewere named in honor of the Hallandale Beach's first mayor, Foster Ingalls. He first served as Hallandale Police Chief from 1938-1943 and as mayor from 1950-1958. When creating this plaza the city asked for community design input. Foster Park Plaza opened on December 16, 2017. This linear park has benches, a stage, walking path, and colorful murals painted on a wall. Other park features include native landscaping, pedestrian lighting, benches, solar trash bins, a water fountain, and a flag pole surrounded by military medallions. My favorite part of this park is the multiple murals which is part of the city Mural Art Project. The murals add a vibrant energy to the park and represent the community that lives here. They also make a great backdrop for pictures.

Before it was incorporated as Miami Gardens on May 13, 2003, this area was known as Carol City…read more That same year this Carol City Park was renamed in honor of one of the greatest high school football coaches in Florida history, Walt Frazier. Several of his former players including Ricky Jean Francois, Aubrey Hill, Santana Moss, Sinorice Moss, Kenny Phillips, Willie Williams, Ethenic Sands and William Roberts went on to the NFL. From 1983 to 2007, Frazier's Carol City Chiefs were one of the premier high school programs in the state and in the nation. They won three Class 6A state championships in 1996,1997 and 2003. The Miami Gardens HBCU High School Sports Camp and Combine also was renamed in Frazier's honor. In January of this year, the Orange Bowl Committee and Miami-Dade County broke ground on a $2.3 million renovation of the park which included a new football field, electronic scoreboard, new press box, shaded seating, and building refurbishments. Other park amenities include a baseball field, basketball court, meeting rooms, multipurpose fields, and a playground. I enjoyed the walking path that runs the perimeter of the park. it is nice to see a local legend honored here as this park is upgraded for future generations of football players.

Walt Frazier Park is a community park in the shadow of Hard Rock stadium in Miami Gardens. Named…read moreafter the iconic youth football coach Walt Frazier. The park includes a football field basketball courts, a walking path, and room rentals. There are many football players at the college and NFL level that have played in this park. The park has recently gone through a tremendous renovation, including artificial turf, and a new electronic scoreboard, ensuring more youth players benefit from this community Park.

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

Miami River Rapids Park is a pocket park across from the Miami River. Pocket parks are generally…read moreless than a half acre in size and can have different amenities for the public. This type of mini park arose from a desire in communities to have places for kids to play instead of another building or wasted vacant land. This small park is located on the north fork of the Miami River which drains out of the Everglades and runs 5.5 miles through downtown Miami before ending at the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay. The park and this area of Miami takes it's name from when the river was in its natural, unaltered state. The river used to have rapids formed by water from the Everglades flowing over a rocky ledge four miles from its mouth. The rapids were removed when the Miami Canal was dredged in an attempt to drain the wetland. The park is just down the street from the $750 million dollar Tides and Moorings at River Rapids, a two building, 593 unit development being built. Next to the park is the Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Miami's only 24 hour/ 7 day a week youth shelter and family crisis center. The park has a basketball hoop, tables and chairs, and a sand volleyball court for use by the children being serviced by the center.

Mullikin Park in Dania Beach is a neighborhood park named after John Mullikin, a prominent early…read more20th-century pioneer and farmer. John Mullikin arrived in South Florida in the late 1800's and established a 45-acre farm that produced tomatoes and citrus in the early town of Modello, now named Dania Beach. Mullikin constructed early access roads in the area, contributing to the development of what is now known as Stirling Road. He was also an instrumental part of the city's incorporation in 1904, the same year he was elected the new city's first mayor. Mullikin owned several buildings in downtown Dania, including the ice cream parlor and soda fountain which were social hubs. Mullikin later settled into a residence in southeastern Dania and moved into the lumber, stone, and concrete businesses. He was also renowned as an author. The land around the park area was historically used for farming. Today it is a densely populated neighborhood between Stirling Road and Federal Highway. Mulllikin Park was a recent recipient of the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant. The FRDAP grant program is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide financial assistance for purchasing or development of land for public outdoor recreation. Mullikin Park has been around since the 1990's and was in need of refurbishment. It reopened on April 23, 2025 with a newly renovated playground with inclusive play equipment, a new basketball court, outdoor fitness stations, pavilion with picnic tables, solar powered lights, and benches. I enjoyed walking the paved exercise path that encircles the park. Kids were having a great time on the playground and the basketball court was in use. I love that Dania Beach is improving their parks and investing in the community.

A really nice park with an entrance to the beach. There is an expanse of green that people were…read morelaying out on reading/enjoying the weather, then a small playground further up the way. This park has a nice little pavilion with picnic tables and a public bathroom. There were also showers and a changing stall. These amenities are kept nicely and are really convenient for enjoying the beach.

Samson Oceanfront Park is a gorgeous 2.1 acre beach park in Sunny Isles Beach. It opened in 2000 as…read morethe city's first park and it was named in honor of Gilbert Samson, the first mayor of Sunny Isles Beach. The land for the park was acquired with grant funding from the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 Program and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's, Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Note that this park does not have its own lot but you can park at one of two nearby public lots, then cross the street. Park amenities at Samson Oceanfront Park include beach access, shower, benches, boardwalk, pavilion with tables, restrooms, water fountains, playground, public art, sand volleyball court on the beach, vending machines, and life guard. From the park, you can take a short walk down the wide beach to see the Newport Pier where there is a restaurant and it is a fun place to take in all the beach, water, and fishing activities. I normally head north to go to the beach but Samson Oceanfront Park is so nice it could make a girl head south.

This is a small corner park named in honor of John B Kooser. John served as the City of Hollywood's…read moreDeputy City Manager from 1976 until 1984 when he passed away at the age of 38. Today there is a small playground with artificial turf surface that was being enjoyed by several children during my visit. The park sits alongside the historic Hollywood Beach Golf and Country Club. The founder of Hollywood Florida, Joseph Young, made the creation of a golf course a priority when he created his new town. The Hollywood Beach Golf Resort was designed by Wally Nelson and noted golf course builder Charles Olsen. Olsen was in charge of the construction of the golf course which was built on what used to be tomatoes fields. The first nine holes were completed by winter 1922. In early 1924, Lee and his brother Chic Nelson, who served as the assistant golf professional, oversaw the opening of the 18 hole golf course and hotel. Later in 1924, Ralph Young of Indiana was brought in to oversee the course and update it. Running next to the golf course is an exercise path. People were strolling, walking their dogs, and parents and young children were safely biking. You have the carefully manicured golf course on one side of the path and the areas historic homes on the other side across the street. One of the most prominent historic homes is the 1935 Hammerstein House once owned by Vera and Clarence Hammerstein and now cared for by the Hollywood Historical Society. It is open on the weekend for tours. I really enjoyed my walk along the path. You just have to be careful of some low hanging branches and uneven patches on the path due to tree roots. This is a wonderful spot to take in the nature and history of Hollywood, Florida.