Yesterday was a busy day as I had the pleasure of attending two parties at this park!…read more At first glance, you'd think that what you see from University Drive is all the park has to offer. This is not the case at all! In the front of the park, there are 3 pavilions, a playground and splash pad. One of my parties was in this area. And it was great. You can enjoy the party while watching your kids play on the playground or the splash pad as everything is in close proximity. There is one pavilion that is a little further away but not too far away. The second party was in the nature center that is technically connected to the office. There is a closed in area and back patio. The back patio is where the second party was as it was a picnic theme. In addition to that the park offers a walking trail and someone mentioned that there is an area to see animals. I am not sure of the extent to that.

Another Saturday, another run in a new park!…read more Well, new to me. My friend and I have a pact to run every Saturday this month while exploring parks around Broward and this first Saturday of September we ventured to Miramar Pineland Park. I was not looking forward to this run since the first photos I saw were a trail with no shade but luckily, 3/4 of the trail were covered by shady trees! This park has the standar $1.50 per person entrance fee for weekends and holidays. Once you enter, the first part has a few pavilions for parties and a big playground with a splash pad (currently not in service.) If you keep driving, it leads you to the new Nature Center (I think) that isn't open yet and the beginning of one of their trails. This is the one we chose to take. It was very hot at 10am but we welcome the covered trail. Along the trail, there's a pathway that leads to a gazebo which overlooks nothing at the moment. If you run around the trail twice, it covers one mile. The nature center looks really nice and looks like it could be used for a wedding party or larger gatherings. The only thing is parking seems limited so I'm interested to see if they add any later. Driving out of the park, we noticed that there is also a "Wetland Trail" so you bet this is going to be one of our future runs. Hopefully we remember to bring sunblock as it looks like this one doesn't have any shade.

Also known as Miami Lakes Veterans Park, walking this park is where my fitness journey began when I…read moreworked nearby. It was about a 2 mile round trip between it, my office and the cow field. This Saturday, I stopped by again since it was the kickoff point for the Miami Lakes Reindeer Run 5K. Humble Brag: while not placing, I completed it on an about a 9 minute mile. It's an improvement from when I started exercising. The park has a couple of picnic shelters, a basketball court as well as body weight strength training stations. The park bathroom building was also clean. Parking is available on both sides of the street adjacent the park. For today's event, there were a couple of vendor booths, including food vendors, a podiatrist and a different gym than the one I go to. The run was through a mapped out course along Commerce Way.

Miami lakes local park ... west of 826. I've been coming to…read morethis park for years. It's always well maintained, grass cut, no trash and restrooms have been cleaned. The park offers two shelters that I've seen cordial celebrations held. I've even seen exercise class take place in the shelters . The park has a walking trail, benches and exercise course along the walking trail, exercise basketball court. it has a covered play area with swings and slides. Some Saturday they host Like a farmers market. On 4th of July they host free event with music and have food trucks to purchase food and drinks. The fire work show was spectacular this year.

I brought my godkids (ages 2 and 7) to this amazing park, and they had an absolute blast!…read moreThere's so much to do -- a tennis court, basketball court, soccer field, a pool, and even a gym inside the YMCA. The park was super clean, very family-friendly, and there's free parking inside. Such a great place to spend the day with kids!

Peter Bluesten Park was formerly City Park which was built just after the Korean War so residents…read morecould have a place to gather and play. By 1990 the park had fallen in disrepair. In 2005 City Park was changed to honor Peter Bluesten who was the founder and publisher of the Hallandale Digest. Mr. Bluesten was a WWII veteran who moved to Hallandale from New Jersey in 1946 and he founded the paper in 1963. He took the paper from a one sheet advertisement to a widely read and respected paper that chronicled the history and growth of the city. It was a hometown paper that the community relied on. Mr, Bluesten was very involved with youth sports in the city. He passed away in 1996. The park was redesigned by Craven Thompson & Associates Inc. and the remodeled 16.5 acre Peter Bluesten Park opened to the public on September 28, 2019. One of the highlights is the park's Aquatics Center which has a 25-meter by 25-yard competition style pool with eight lane short course section for high school swim competitions and recreational interactive water features. The pool was designed to meet all of the requirements for USA Swimming. The multipurpose main pool has a large learn-to-swim area, a dedicated water aerobics area, and a beach entry. Both pools are design-built concrete pools with deck level overflow gutter systems. There is also a 1,800 sq. ft water playground with an elevated play structure, which includes multiple decks, slides, rain buckets, water cannons, dancing floor jets and water curtains. Other park amenities include The Hallandale Beach YMCA, an artificial Safeshell turf soccer field, three baseball fields, concession stand, outdoor stage, playground, tennis, basketball, bankshot basketball, racquetball, walking path, and support buildings. The city uses the park for a number of events like their annual Easter Egg Hunt and Movies Under the Stars. If there is one small drawback to Peter Bluesten Park it is that it does not have a parking lot. You have to pay by app and park on the street. Other that that this is a really amazing park with something for everyone to enjoy.

I really enjoyed my visit to Rolling Oaks Park. I was surprised to see that it is a sprawling 39.31…read moreacres making it a great recreational resource for family picnics, group gatherings, or just a quiet moment in nature. This park has something to offer everyone. Rolling Oaks Park recently received a lot of new upgrades. These included a modern, new 4,683 square foot welcome center designed by SRS and built by Gulf Building. The building provides administrative spaces, storage, restrooms, and multipurpose rooms for community meetings, fitness, and other recreational and social activities. Next to the welcome center is a state-of-the-art playground with Ninja Extreme Fitness obstacle and challenges. Also in the park are three rentable pavilions with grills, basketball and tennis courts, mini putting golf course, community garden, a playground in the back of the park, and outdoor fitness equipment. The park hosts a lot of community activities like monthly food truck events and after school programs and summer camps. I grabbed a meal from nearby Sunday's Eatery and enjoyed a wonderful picnic in Rolling Oaks Park. After I ate I walked the paved pedestrian trail that winds through the park with exercise stations. The many oak trees throughout makes this park especially lovely while providing welcoming shade. Whether you're in search of a serene walk, exercise, play, or outdoor meal, Rolling Oaks provides a great mix of natural beauty and recreational facilities.

Revitalized so you can energize!…read more Im loving it! This park was dormant and dreary for over 30 years. However it is now a spectacular hidden gem and I am so impressed! There are covered pavilions for birthdays, baby showers, gender reveals, festivals, food trucks nights and the like. Furthermore there are playgrounds, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, a walking trail, conference rooms, a mini-putting golf course and even a community garden all nestled amongst the beautiful oak trees. Wow and wow! A girl can always have a WISH list and mine would be: a playground with water sprinklers for the children on those hot summer days, speed humps/bumps for added safety, mile markers for the walking trail and lastly added parking on the left as you enter the park. All in all though this park is a home-run for the Rolling oaks area and did not disappoint at all!!

We celebrated my friend dad's birthday in CB Smith Park. On weekends, there's a $3 entrance fee…read more The park is equipped with grills, table and benches on a first come first served bases. Flushable restrooms are available and are decently clean. There are also biking and walking trails all around the park. Great for family fun.

The experience in the park was great, but to pay the entry fee was horrible. There were two…read moreentrances open and we couldn't pay with credit card because the machine was broken. I hardly carry cash since I have everything on phone The young didn't know what to do she left her post to go to the other post then came back. We finally found spare change in the car plus a dollar that one of us had and was able to get in after about 10 minutes of the back and forth. Those 10 minutes does not include what we had to wait for the cars in front of us. I am guessing they probably had the same issue. Put a sign that says CASH Only so we can know.

At 53.3 acres this is Broward County's most archaeological significant natural area. Artifacts…read morefound here show that people have lived here from 500 B.C. through roughly A.D. 1000 to 1200. Centuries later this area was home to Miccosukee leader Chitto Tustenuggee known as the snake warrior. He was designated chief during the Second Seminole war whose beginning was tied to the Cooley massacre in Ft. Lauderdale. For more on that see my review of Colee Hammock Park. Two Seminole settlements once sat on two islands in the marsh and were occupied for a dozen years before the Seminoles were attacked and fled the area. In 1947 the land became the Perry farm. Community interest in the land as an archaeological and historic site caused it to be purchased in 1992 by the State of Florida through the Emergency Archaeological Property Acquisition Fund. On January 21, 2004 Snake warrior Island opened as a natural area. As you walk around the area it is easy to see the beauty that attracted the native people to the area. The lake and eight created wetlands are surrounded by live oak, gumbo limbo, strangler fig, cypress, red maple, wild coffee, beautyberry, fire bush, pickerel weed, eel grass, and rushes. Wildlife in the area include wading birds and ducks, red wing blackbirds, wood storks, little blue and tricolored herons, anhinga, white ibis, and and osprey. On my visit I saw many iguanas and other kinds of lizards. Amenities include benches, signs, and picnic tables. A half mile paved walkway loops through the preserve and takes you back to the parking lot.

This is a very well kept park and natural area in the southeast section of Miramar. It has a nice…read moreconcrete walking path that goes around the whole park, and there is also a pavilion at the entrance with a couple of picnic tables. This natural area is home to a large number of birds and it also attracts a few migrant species at different times during the year. Great place for birding or just to have a walk or run.

I loved my visit to this beautiful 8 acre waterfront park in the Miramar neighborhood of River Run…read more River Run is a neighborhood made up of single family homes and townhouses. The median house goes for around $500,000. Park amenities at River Run include a covered playground, tennis court, racquetball court, pavilion, gazebo, and fishing pier. The pavilion can be rented from the city for private events and parties. There is also a multipurpose room available for rent in the park. My favorite part of the park was the paved exercise trail that winds through the park along the water. Along the trail are outdoor fitness stations which I enjoyed trying out. They are high tech but if you do the exercises, they work. While I was exercising I enjoyed watching the wildlife in the park which included many birds attracted by the water. This is a scenic spot of nature for everyone to enjoy in Miramar.

A pleasant enough roomy park located in a residential zone of Miramar. There are swings and…read moreclimbing activities for young children. It is also located on a canal, whereby there is water. I noticed ducks and iguanas whilst there.

At only 1.5 acres, Cloverleaf Park surprisingly has a lot to offer. This is due to a recent…read morerenovation by construction company Gulf Building who was also the construction company used for Rolling Oaks Park. Upgrades to Cloverleaf Park included a 1,500SF recreation center with a community room, office space and restrooms. Also added to the park was a new video surveillance systems, public WIFI, and utility services. There is a new basketball court, playground with shade structures, fencing, landscaping, irrigation, and a renovated parking lot. When you visit the park,, you can enjoy the picnic area, basketball court, shaded playground, and community garden. Families, fitness enthusiasts, and those seeking a relaxing outdoor environment will enjoy this recreational facility.

Looks like they recently renovated this park. And it looks amazing. The basketball court and rims…read moreare well maintained. There is also a playground with swings for the little kids to play in. Would love to come back with jr. to get his opinion on this park.

This park really enhances the beauty of old Taft Street. I was interested by the world Trail…read moreFitness Course that amatuer athletes trying stay healthy. Pushups, pullups and jogging path all looking over a serene lake loaded with ducks but feeding prohibitive. Nice wooden pavilion to have a snack before starting the fitness course. Park closes late at 11pm PARK #84

A relaxing park in the heart of Pembroke Pines with an obstacle course spread out from one end to…read morethe other. There was a large hut in the middle of the park backed up to a beautiful lake surrounded by those loud Egyptian geese.

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.