This natural area was a delightful discovery next to the Palm Bay Library. The sanctuary sits on a…read moresmall section of what was once an ancient Atlantic Ocean dune which was part of a series of dunes formed by wind and wave action when the ocean extended across Florida. Through many years the sand was enriched so that a forest grew where only sea oats previously survived. The land that makes up Turkey Creek Sanctuary was donated to the Florida Audubon Society and the City of Palm Bay in 1978. Fundraising to conserve the area began in 1981 by a citizen support group which is still in existence today as the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society, Inc., a registered non profit. The purpose of the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society is to raise funds to support the improvement and upkeep of Turkey Creek Sanctuary and to educate the community on the vital importance and the many benefits of Florida wildlife and its natural environment. By 1994, 113 acres were protected by the voluntary management committee. Today Turkey Creek Sanctuary is part of the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program which added acres to the sanctuary in 2004. It is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Some of the birds you might see here include ospreys and owls in the old pine canopy and woodpeckers and the rare purple martin. There are also alligators, manatees, gar fish, and turtles in Turkey Creek which can be accessed by canoe or kayak. Turkey Creek Sanctuary has more than three miles of marked trails through 130 acres of sand pines, saw palmettos, and live oaks. There is a 1.85 mile boardwalk that passes through a hydric hammock, mesic hammock, and sand pine scrub community. Also in the sanctuary there are 1.5 miles of jogging trails through native forest and a 1 mile mountain bike trail that connects to an additional 8 miles. The Margaret Hames Nature Center was opened in 1992 and offers interpretive exhibits, a restroom, and environmental education programs that include nature day camps, tours, nature library, and a gift store. I loved my hike at Turkey Creek Sanctuary. I started off by visiting the Margaret Hames Nature Center where you can see exhibits, use the restroom. and purchase a drink. Near the entrance to the boardwalk I spotted a gopher tortoise wandering around. The boardwalk area was mainly shaded with lots of interpretive signs. My favorite spots were the tree house and the Oli Johnson Canoe Deck where you can look for alligators and turtles. This is such a beautiful spot. If I lived closer I would be a regular visitor.

This place is a true sanctuary. Amazing place to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity that…read morecomes along with it. There is plenty of parking. The boardwalk and whole area is well maintained and clean. We enjoyed the nature and wildlife. Everyone on the trails was friendly as well. Great experience.

Castaway Point Park is a small park sitting on a peninsula between the Indian River Lagoon and the…read moremouth of Turkey Creek. While it may not be as big as some of the other area parks it has been recently renovated and the location makes this a standout spot for water based recreational activities. This park was also a favorite spot of the Native Americans and early settlers who once lived here. Recent improvements to the park include hardening of the shoreline with rocks, new north observation pier, a new boardwalk connecting the north and south pier, and new decking for the south observation pier. Other park amenities include a concrete walkway, fishing piers with fish cleaning stations, benches, pavilions which can be rented, picnic tables, grills, kayak/canoe launch, and restrooms. This park has one of the only natural beaches on the Indian River Lagoon. Many people visit this park to fish from the piers and beach. I loved it for the stunning river view and the diverse bird life it attracts. I saw anhinga, great blue herons, and egrets. If you are lucky you may even spot a manatee or dolphin. I recommend coming here for an amazing sunset view.

Oh god the amount of dead fish washed up on the beach is horrendous. There is glass in the sand out…read morein the water, I cut both feet. It also seems to be a homeless hangout.

This park is fantastic since the renovation! It's now packed with fun and exciting features for…read morekids of all ages. There is a seated merry go round which is a huge hit as well as a seated zip line that hold multiple kids. There are clean bathrooms and water fountains available, which makes it super convenient for families. The covered pavilion is perfect for birthday parties or just relaxing with lunch at one of the many picnic tables. We absolutely love spending time here--it's become one of our favorite spots!

More of a children's playground than an actual park, but this children's playground is pretty cool…read more It also has a pavilion and restrooms. If you are looking for a children's playground, this definitely rates five stars, but if you are looking for a park, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

Overall, Fred Lee Park is pretty impressive. It has ample parking, a great children's playground,…read morebaseball fields, basketball courts, a couple of pavilions, tennis courts, an open field that looks like it was used maybe for football, and more. The park is very well maintained and again, this park is pretty impressive. Even the garbage cans were empty. Far too often, I see a great park with overflowing trash cans. Here was not the case (at least on the day that I visited). The pavilions are also available to reserve for parties or gatherings. I would definitely recommend a visit to this park. Parks are an integral part of our communities. It is a place where we can gather with our neighbors in recreation and relaxation. Palm Bay, Florida is fortunate to have this particular park for its community. Again, I definitely recommend here and I give it five stars overall as my rating. Go see it for yourself.

We love our time at Fred Lee Park in Palm Bay. Whether you're watching somebody shoot 3-point shots…read moreat the basketball courts, grilling out at one of the covered Pavilions, or just taking a walk with your dog and watching the children play softball is a great time for all ages. There is a covered playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, bathrooms, and two large softball fields all this part needs is a community garden.

The Melbourne Beach Pier is steeped in history. Located in Ryckman Park, the pier was built between…read more1888 and 1889 by the Indian River and Atlantic Railway Company. It was constructed from wood planks and pilings as was common in the late 1800's. The pier is the oldest known example of such piers on the Indian River. After the pier was built it served as a crucial transportation link moving tourists, residents, freight, and mail between the mainland and the barrier island. A railroad was laid from the ferry landing on the dock and across the barrier island 7/10 of a mile to the ocean beach. This provided access to the Atlantic Ocean by a pushcart and later by a motorized car. A ferry service was operated by the Beaujean family between 1889 and 1923. The railroad provided access to the island and excursion boats from the mainland communities brought winter tourists to dock at the pier. The community's first post office was located at the east end of the pier and provided the daily mail service in 1894. The building of the toll bridge between Melbourne and Indialantic in 1921 ended the pier's importance for island access. On April 12, 1984, the pier was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1985 a restoration project supported by local citizens and state programs helped to preserve this iconic Melbourne Beach structure. Today the pier offers a panoramic view of the Indian River and is ideal for fishing, relaxation, and sunset strolls. I enjoyed my walk back in time down this historic pier, and best of all unlike many piers there is no charge to enjoy it.

Located in a really beautiful community, really clean, sunrise and sunset are beautiful and Ocean…read moreAvenue is right at opposite end of the street to surf or just go to the beach. Parking is free all around until 8:00 AM, but plenty of spaces and pay stations where you can pay with card. If you're taking a kid or anyone fishing for the first time and you want to GUARANTEE a bite, go to Black Dog Bait and Tackle like 5 minutes away, get one or two dozen live shrimp with a bubbler bucket and cast off any corner of this pier. I will say that the only thing that bit was catfish NONSTOP. They put up a fun fight and they come in all sizes and they rarely swallow the hook, but once you catch a couple, I suggest going to the beach or finishing up your bait at Geiger Point at Kiwani's Park. You'll have a better shot of catching some little snappers and drums (which you can't keep any size in this area). Super beautiful spot though for a kid's first time out.

So much to do.. and its so beautiful there! Perfect place for families especially the children..I…read moregive it a 10

Great Park! Family oriented! A lot of things to do as far as activities for the kids and Family.read more

The Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program was established in 1990 to protect the natural…read morehabitats by acquiring sensitive lands for conservation, passive recreation and education. Shortly thereafter EEL acquired Malabar Scrub Sanctuary with the help of the State of Florida for the purpose of preserving scrub jays and other threatened species like gopher tortoises and the Eastern Indigo Snake. Malabar Scrub Sanctuary is a massive 577 acre sanctuary that protects habitats that include xeric dry hammock, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, ponds, sloughs, and depression marshes. The scrub forest with tiny trees found in Malabar Scrub Sanctuary is the perfect habitat for scrub-jays found only in Florida. Two million years ago they became a distinct species. They are listed as threatened by the Federal Endangered Species Act and Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. It is estimated that there are only 2,500-10,000 left in the wild. scrub-jays are a long tailed songbird 10 to 12 inches long with blue head, wings, and tail and a pale gray back and belly. Florida scrub-jays live in family units, with one serving as the sentinel that will alert the others. In order to keep the land hospitable for scrub-jays and the other threatened species, controlled burns must be done periodically in order to keep the land clear for the animals to thrive. Scrub-jays need sandy open spots to forage for food and watch out for predators. Hawks and other birds of prey occupy trees and are natural predators to the scrub-jays. Thinning tree densities and lowering vegetation height restores the landscape to optimal scrub ecosystem conditions. As you can imagine a natural area without any shade trees is hot, especially during the summer months. I only went for a short hike before I had to give up. Come in the winter months to enjoy the mountain bike, equestrian, and hiking trails that extend through the preserve for 12 miles. The Malabar Double Loop Trail for example is 5.3 miles. Restrooms can be found next door at Malabar Community Park.

Took me a while to find a nice paved walking trail! This…read morepath was great and long, really clean, bathroom stocked and opened, perfect for kids to ride bikes or scooters and smooth for long boarding.

While it's not fancy or brand new, it's a great option for a park in the Palm Bay area. It's…read morerelatively small compared to Palm Bay Park off Malabar and it doesn't have too many amenities but it still receives a solid 4. Young children can climb around in the play area while the older children play in the skate park adjacent to the play area. Seems like a great option for a small kid's party. Do keep a close eye on the kids as the park entrance is not fenced and is off of a major street full of cars!

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Despite its association to NASA and the space program in general, the Space Coast is also known for its stretch of beaches, too. From the popularity of Paradise Beach, the iconic locale of Playalinda, and the history of Cocoa Beach, it is safe to say the Space Coast is known for that sandy stretch of land where the land meets the ocean. However, there is one beach that locales truly know about, one that is also historic as it is the official location Juan Ponce de Leon landed. If you ever get the chance to, you should definitely spend some time at Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach. Though an address is provided, Juan Ponce de Leon Landing Beach - which I will simply call Ponce de Leon for the remainder of this review - seems to be located equisdistant from many major tourist areas. In short, it seems to be in between Sebastian Inlet and Historic Melbourne Beach. It should also be noted there is quite a distance between Strawbridge and Wabasso Bridge, ergo one of my criticisms is how long it might take to get to this beach, especially if you live directly across the river. Ponce de Leon is not hard to miss. Driving either way on A1A a.k.a. Jimmy Buffett Memorial Hwy., the entrance features a statue of Juan Ponce de Leon. There is an art gazebo which also has the public restrooms and showers, along with four piers leading to the beach. The beach is very beautiful with mostly-untouched white sand and the well-known Atlantic salty green ocean water. It doesn't seem much, but for us locales, the best part of Ponce de Leon is that despite its historic lore, it is not bombarded by tourists. This is one of those beaches the locals have to themselves. So if you want your peace and quiet mixed with having the waves to yourself for bodyboarding and surfing, this is the beach for you. Ultimately, I am going to give Ponce de Leon four stars out of five for this review. It is a simple, yet beautiful beach with a decent number of anemeties, and some individuality (the statue for example) to mark it as its own. You can't go wrong going to one of the beaches known as a hidden jewels amongst the locals.

On our way back from Sebastian Inlet State Park we stopped at Ponce de Leon Landing Historical Park…read morealong the A1A Route along the Atlantic Ocean in Florida! There is a statue, bathrooms, free parking for Beach Access! It's a very nice location!

In March of 2024 Brevard County Commissioners renamed Coconut Point Park Val M. Steele Park in…read morerecognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and community improvement. Steele served a total of four years as Melbourne Beach Council Member, town commissioner, and later as the mayor of Melbourne Beach. Some if his accomplishments included moving the main county courthouse to Viera, the building of the Spessard Holland Golf Course, and the creation of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. He volunteered on the St. Johns Water Management District Board during which he was instrumental in protecting and restoring hundreds of thousands of acres of marshland. He contributed to the economic growth of Brevard as a director of the Bank of Brevard, Atlantic Bank, American Bank of the South, American Mortgage Corporation and Holmes Regional Hospital. Steele passed away on October 12, 2020, at the age of 79. Val M. Steele Park is a 36.9 acre beach park located within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge complex. I love that the parking is free. It is a popular spot for surfing, beachcombing, and fishing. Park amenities include a picnic shelter, restrooms, and outside showers. One of the two dune crossovers is wheelchair accessible. If you are looing for a beach day, it doesn't get much better than this. This beach park is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The primary habitats here are beach dune and coastal strand. Shorebirds on the beach include Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red Knots, Northern Gannets, Bonaparte's Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in fall and winter. From late summer through winter look for Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers. In the surf are Common Loons and Lesser Scaup. In addition to the birds this beach area is also an important sea turtle nesting site preserve from spring to fall.

Great covered bbq area with tables. Little beach area so bring a chair and relax for a while too.read more