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.

At not even a full acre, this is a pocket park. In 1998 Robert and Marian Fewell donated a .75 acre…read moreplot on the SE corner of Coral Way and Granada Boulevard. To thank the couple for their gift, Fewell Park was created in their honor. A resident of Coral Gables for over 70 years, Robert Fewell served in the Navy during WWII. He graduated from the law school at the University of Miami and opened his first offices on Miracle Mile. As his business grew Mr. Fewell donated money to athletics at U of M and to it's school of medicine. He also donated money to the Douglas Road and Miracle Mile Archways and he gave 2 million dollars for the construction of The Robert and Marian Fewell wing at the Coral Gables Museum. For all of his contributions to Coral Gables, Robert J. Fewell was the recipient of the 6th Annual George E. Merrick Award of Excellence. Although this park is small, a respite of nature is always appreciated. Park amenities include pathways, benches, and a bike rack. I imagine that you could have an epic Easter egg hunt here. The park is surrounded by a coral limestone wall with a fountain and a secret green door that leads into the park. Like all of the parks in the City Beautiful, it feels magical.

The word park is used her loosely. It is a cool shaded area with a couple of benches. The area is a…read morelittle over a half an acre and not very well maintained. It does have a bike rack and a sidewalk/paved trails go through the park. There is no formal parking or any other amenities for the park. It is more of a area for people from the neighboring homes to come hang out.

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. Andover Park takes its name from the Andover neighborhood of Miami Gardens. This 2.87 acre park was recently renovated with a new basketball court, covered sensory playground, and a video surveillance system. There is also a large multi purpose field, walking trail, community garden, and seating area. The park is fenced in for safety. Open from Sunrise to Sunset, Andover Park offers the Miami Gardens community recreational facilities and green spaces that appeal to families and fitness enthusiasts.

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.

Westbrook Park is a 2.5-acre community park located in the Westchester neighborhood of Miami, 10…read moremiles west of downtown. Once consisting largely of swamp land, the area was transformed after the construction of drainage canals in 1907, becoming prime real estate by the 1920s. Following World War II, Westchester experienced significant growth as returning soldiers purchased homes using low-interest financing guaranteed by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Today, the neighborhood is known for its well-kept homes and convenient location near major expressways, hospitals, Florida International University (FIU), and Miami International Airport. While driving through Westchester, I spotted Westbrook Park and decided to stop and take a look. The park features a playground, a grilling area with picnic tables, benches, and open space for recreation and exercise. I visited in the early evening and especially appreciated the solar-powered lighting system. A 1,300-foot paved walkway winds through the park and is illuminated by 78 bollard lights. The system is powered by electricity generated from five solar panel stations located throughout the park. The lighted pathway makes it inviting for a stroll. Westbrook Park is a well kept neighborhood green space that is an example of how improvements can enhance a community park.

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.

Myrtle Grove Park is in the Myrtle Grove neighborhood of Miami Gardens. The park is a block away…read morefrom the reservoir Myrtle Lake and two miles from the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. The Myrtle Grove neighborhood is part of Carol City which along with other neighborhoods was incorporated as Miami Gardens on May 13, 2003. At the heart of the Myrtle Grove community is Myrtle Grove Park providing outdoor recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents. The park has tall trees, a shade covered playground with climbing equipment, slides, and swings,, tennis courts, a basketball court, restrooms, and a multipurpose field that was being enjoyed by a group playing a casual football game on the day I visited. The park is the host site for the small tots' football game program for ages five. Next to the park is the Myrtle Grove Pool which is closed and drained. It looks neglected which leaks over to the park next door. Hopefully the pool will be repaired returning vibrancy to this neighborhood recreational hub.

This is a neighborhood park located in Miami's Little River Neighborhood. The park is behind the…read moreMiami Soar Mobile Home Park. Open since the 1950's, the large trailer park has more than 307 trailers. It is one of the last affordable places to live in Miami and it is an eye sore. The people who live here are barely scraping by. The company that owns the trailer park is on the verge of forcing residents out and demolishing the park so residential towers can be built. When construction takes place a new park will be built by the project developer. It is a very sad story since residents of the trailer park do not have any other affordable housing options and will likely end up homeless. Some of the trailer park blight has seeped into Soar Park. Although the landscaping in the park is nicely maintained there was trash on and around the picnic table. The playground equipment is older and faded without a shade cover. There is also a basketball court and recreation center. Miami is in a city in transition and nowhere it is more evident than In its poorest communities which are undergoing gentrification. Soon there might not be affordable home options left leaving even more people out on the streets. It would be great to see a new park here for the community but I don't know if it should be at the expense of the residents of the Soar Mobile Home Park.