Miramar is the southern most city in Broward County. The city was founded by A.L. Mailman as a…read morebedroom community for nearby Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Mailman built 56 inexpensive homes of concrete with flat roofs which sold quickly because of their low cost and which launched the city of Miramar. The city was incorporated on May 26, 1955, and was named for the Miramar area of Havana, Cuba where Mailman had a summer home. Miramar translates to look at the sea in Spanish. Miramar has a number of lovely parks. Progress Park is a half acre pocket, passive park located across the street from another corner park, Beauty Park. Beauty Park and Progress Park serve as two entrance parks that are gateways to the east section of the city. Progress Park has a fountain, benches, colorful brick walkways, and a memorial plaque. This is the ideal place to sit and wait for public transportation to arrive or to drop mail in the mailbox. Not as obvious as the fountain is important infrastructure in the park. Progress Park has a fenced in lift station which moves waste water from lower to higher elevation. The new system is cleaner and safer than septic system which could lead to over flow sewage on peoples yards. It allows homes to connect into the main sanitary sewer system so that a septic system is no longer needed.

Brewer Park is a neighborhood park located in the historic Cambridge Lawns neighborhood of South…read moreMiami. Situated along the Broad Canal, Cambridge Lawns was platted in 1925 by Auburn educated builder William J. McLeod, who was inspired by the opening of the nearby University of Miami, less than a mile away. Streets throughout the neighborhood were named after renowned universities, including Harvard Avenue, Princeton Boulevard, and Clemson Avenue. The community's landscaped lawns were modeled after the college greens and riverside parks of Cambridge University in England. The neighborhood consists of approximately 30 charming English Tudor cottages, Mediterranean-inspired homes, and Spanish bungalows dating from the 1920s. It was originally marketed to "persons of moderate means or fixed incomes." In recognition of its architectural and historical significance, Cambridge Lawns was designated a historic district by the City of South Miami in 2005. On the western edge of the neighborhood sits Brewer Park, where the Brewer Canal widens into a scenic lake. The park was named in 1956 in honor of longtime resident George Brewer (1888-1958), "A loyal citizen of the City of South Miami. He worked constantly for the improvement of the entire community." Today, the park offers a variety of recreational amenities, including a raised wooden observation deck overlooking the lake, a gazebo, two tennis courts, two handball courts, a basketball half-court, and a covered tot-lot playground. My favorite feature of the park was the observation deck overlooking the lake formed by the Brewer Canal. During my visit, I spotted several bird species, including a yellow-crowned night heron. This park is perfect South Miami destination for play, sports, fishing, history, and bird watching.

A nice pleasant small park located in the historic Cambridge lawn area near Coral Gables. I loved…read morethe trees, pines and plants and the location next to the canal. This is what interested me the most about this park, the trees, the canal and another slice of history in Miami. See my photographs. Here is some information regarding this area in Miami https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Lawns

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.

An oasis in the city with direct view to the River Has a…read moreriverwalk wide and stable for a walk or sprint Sunset views here are wonderful

Lummus Park is a historical landmark in Miami. Created in 1909, it was one of the first open spaces…read morein the city. It is named in the National Register of Historical Places. The park is open to the public and is free. There is a full basketball court for teens and adults. It is located a short distance from the Miami River. It is also home to the old Scottish Rite Temple and is still used for small concerts, demonstrations, and ceremonies. The City of Miami Mounted Police Stables are located there, and you will see the horses bring exercised every week as you drive by. Tip: it is best and safest to visit by daytime.

Sherwood Forest Indian Park is a small park located in the charming El Portal neighborhood of…read moreMiami. El Portal means the gate in Spanish. At one time there was two huge wooden gates at the entrance to the village on Northeast Second Avenue but they were taken down in the 1940s. El Portal was annexed into the City of Miami in 1925 but with the arrival of the Great Depression, Miami gave it up its jurisdiction and El Portal was incorporated as its own village in 1937. Sherwood Forest refers to one of three divisions form the Village of El Portal along with El Jardines, and El Portal. In the Sherwood Forest subdivision is the Sherwood Forest Indian Park that lies a block west of an ancient Indian burial mound. An elevated circle is thought to be a burial mound for seventh-century Tequesta Indians. This Miami-Dade County Historic Site was believed to have once been the center of Tequesta life. The Tequesta who had lived in the area for thousands of years were wiped out by slavery and disease when the Spanish came to Florida in the 1500's. In the 1920's the mound was declared a historic site, the first such archeological discovery in the area to be protected with that designation. Today El Portal is known as a bird sanctuary and you can expect to find peacocks on the streets. If you come to the park you wont see much. There is a small trail, fountain, and benches. There isn't even a parking lot. The real worth of the land is in it's connection to a Pre-Columbian civilization.

This is a really cute gem of an area, one way traffic, small roads, hidden away and is basically a…read moretree lined secret residential area. I will surely be back at some point to investigate this new found area of mine.Sherwood Forest Indian park is smack bang in the middle of this secret place Here is what I found out about it once iI was home, after being intrigued about it. The Village of El Portal is a secluded, modern Garden of Eden that encompasses barely a square mile. It was incorporated on December 6, 1937, A.D. at the residence of H. H. Filer. There were 25 homes that were included in this incorporation of El Portal. The Village was incorporated by 34 out of 41 votes. Mr. W.O. Robertson was appointed Mayor. The members of the Women's Club, formed by Dr. J. McCormick, was very active. They did many public affairs and administrative functions for the council who often were their husbands. Three divisions united to form the Village of El Portal: Sherwood Forest, El Jardines, and El Portal. Sherwood Forest --a section of El Portal that possesses the most naturally pleasing 75-foot tall oak trees, manatees, and exotic birds and reptiles. The initial vision of El Portal was to make it similar to Coral Gables. The Sherwood Forest House borrows its name from the surrounding subdivision developed by D.C. Clarke during the 1920's land boom. The Mound is known for the cave. It is debatable as to who built the cave. Some say the French Huguenots, some say the Tequesta Indians and others say a natural phenomenon. The cave had many uses during the years, including providing a cool place to sit during the summer days. The Indian Mound is one of the highest points in Miami-Dade and its history dates back to the year 600 when ancient Tequesta Indians migrated and settled at the Mound while passing by on the Little River. The Mound was one of the few areas above Water. It was actually six to eight feet higher than it is presently. Miami-Dade County declared the Indian Mound a historic landmark in the 1920s. It was the first such archeological site to carry this honor in the County. El Portal is a Bird Sanctuary. The many trees provide a large canopy that the birds enjoy. Many exotic bird species have been sighted including the peacocks that may be seen on any given day. The Radar Memorial United Methodist Church is located on 87th Street and NE Second Avenue. It was formed in 1923. It is one of the oldest churches in Miami-Dade County. An Arch, known as: "the gate," may have stood at 85th Street and NE Second Avenue. It was made out of wire and wood and had two Robin Hood type figures on each side. The oldest home in El Portal is truly a formidable sight to behold. It was moved from its original location off of Biscayne Boulevard in 1910. This house had several uses over the years from entertaining to acting once as a medical clinic back in the 1930s. Trailblazers in El PortalClerow "Flip" Wilson was a well-known comedian and actor. Mr. Wilson became famous while serving in the United States Air Force. He was asked to tour military bases to cheer up other servicemen. His barrack mates gave him the nickname "Flip" stating that he was always "flipped out". Garth Reeves was the owner of the newspaper The Miami Times. His home was always known for its beautiful landscaping. Betty Wright is a soul and R&B singer. Her mother: Rose, her sister Jeanette and brother Phillip are longtime residents of El Portal. The part of Ms. Betty Wright's song that mentions her mom saying, "I know that you're not going to sing that song" ("Tonight is the Night") occurred while Ms. Betty Wright was at home in El Portal. Recent History In December 2002, the Village of El Portal voted to change from a council form of government to a Council-Manager form of government. On January 28, 2003, the Village Council voted unanimously to appoint Newall Daughtrey as its first Village Interim Manager.The beautiful Village of El Portal values nature and takes pride in being diverse and peaceful. As we move forward, in the 21st century, we're preparing to face the challenges of a small village and at the same time remain connected to our past and true to the values that make El Portal--"The Gate".

I was driving through the south west Miami when I spotted Bird Lakes Park and decided to stop and…read morecheck it out. I'm always looking for new places to walk, exercise, and explore, and this spacious 9.29 acre park turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. The highlight of Bird Lakes Park has to be its brand-new nature themed playground, which opened in September 2025. Following extensive renovations, the playground now features a scenic stone mound, climbing logs, seat boulders, a birdhouse, and interactive environmental learning stations. These interactive elements encourage exploration, climbing, imaginative play, and a connection to nature. The rest of the park offers plenty of recreational amenities, including a lighted basketball court, a baseball field, a recreation center, a picnic shelter, and a paved walking path. I was also surprised to find a teqball table. The sport is played on a curved table that resembles a table tennis table and combines elements of soccer and table tennis. Teqball was invented in 2014 by Hungarians Gábor Borsányi and Viktor Huszár after Borsányi suffered a soccer injury and wanted to create a less aggressive way to enjoy the sport. Today, many professional soccer players use teqball as a supplemental training tool, and it has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. In less than a decade, more than 100 countries have established their own teqball associations. During my walk through the park, I spotted numerous mother ducks accompanied by their adorable ducklings. It was wonderful to see that even with all the recreational facilities, there is still plenty of room for wildlife. It's nice to know that the birds have a place at Bird Lakes Park, too.

Wow I have not been in this park in a long time and they manage to keep it clean and safe…read more The parking lot is not that big but you can still park around the park. They have restrooms and many benches. We sat in one of the benches and enjyed our time there for hours. They also have playground and basketball court.

This small park is named in honor of my favorite Floridian, Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998)…read more Douglas was an author and environmentalist whose seminal book The Everglades: River of Grass brought awareness to the importance of this ecosystem preserving it from development. She worked with Ernest Coe to have the Everglades named a National Park. Douglas was a tireless champion for the environment and so it seems appropriate that a number of parks have been named in her honor, including this park in Coconut Grove. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Mini Park is a pocket park. Pocket parks are generally less than a half acre in size and can have different features that are accessible to the public. Pocket parks arose from a desire in the community to have places for kids to play instead of another building on the vacant land. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Mini Park has been a beautiful patch of nature making fond memories for northeast Coconut Grove residents for decades. Majestic giant banyan trees provide welcome shade for a playground area with climbing structures, slides, and swings. This is the perfect spot for a children's outdoor birthday party as was happening during my visit. I even ran into Rapunzel as she was leaving the party.

Beautiful lil parked tucked away in a quaint neighborhood…read more There is the normal kids playground equipment swings and a toddler area But there is also a massive tree you can climb that is literally mother earths jungle gym!!!!! There has even been a rope added to climb even higher Oh and the best part?? PEACOCKS yes WILD PEACOCKS!!!! Beautiful birds that roam the neighborhood!! This is a magic spot indeed Please don't disturb the birds just look and they will prance for you and give you quite an experience:)

Hearts n butterflies in Mid town. M Park is a public park located at The Shops at Midtown Miami…read more The park features an enclosed playground, grassy turf, and seating areas. The prominent butterfly sculpture in the image is a piece by the Brazilian artist Romero Britto.