When you visit Rotary Park at Suntree you feel like you are in paradise. This is the nicest of the…read morewaterfront parks tucked along this stretch of the Indian River Lagoon. Rotary Park at Suntree is a spacious 10.36 acres. Amenities include a large shade covered playground, a beach for swimming and fishing, and six individual picnic pavilions with tables and a grill named for some of the wildlife that makes its home here like herons, dolphins, and manatees. Rotary Park at Suntree is a stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. There is also a large pavilion with a capacity for 150 people with restrooms and barbecue pits, and a 140 foot fishing pier. This park is the ideal destination for play, fishing, and small and large gatherings. The view of the Indian River is gorgeous from anywhere in the park and if you are lucky you may be able to spot a dolphin swimming by. Rotary Park at Suntree is administered to by the Rotary Club of Rockledge. Rotary was started by Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney who formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on February 23, 1905 so professionals with different backgrounds could exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships. Through the years Rotary expanded to include humanitarian missions. Today Rotary International is a network of 1.4 million people who work together to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies, and protect the environment. The Rotary Club of Rockledge, Florida, was founded in 1927 and it was the first Rotary club in Brevard County, Florida. You will often see a Rotary Park in Florida Towns because of their mission to improve the community.

This is a small but charming park tucked away along US 1…read more When I arrived for the first time, I was a little disappointed that each of the picnic shelters were occupied. Not knowing what the park had to offer, I would have walked into one of them just to get my bearings and to see the over layout of the park. I made my way to the Pavillion, passing a playground. The Pavillion was completely empty and led to the fishing pier. The grounds were very interesting with the unique rock formations and waves crashing along the shore. I saw a manatee, which was totally unexpected but a welcome surprise. Squirrels and birds so used to human interaction stood only a couple feet of me at times. It was like something out of a classic Disney film. Overall, it was a nice visit. I enjoyed my solitude and the beauty of nature surrounding it.

this is a short walking path it's really nice there's a nature center and butterfly gardens.. it's…read morea really good nice place if you want to go see nature but don't have a lot of time or you want to have a picnic underneath a covered pavilion. Well I was there there was a field trip and the pavilion was taken up and nature center was being used for this field trip. The past does go into a circle so you will start out where you left off and you can continue to keep going if you'd like. There are bathrooms on the premises which were actually decently clean.

This was way cuter than expected with 3/4 a mile long trail it's a perfect spot to go walking. The…read moreboard walk lines the entire path making it great for accessibility and those that may be recovering from knee surgery or injuries. There's also plenty of parking.

Beautiful lake with a nice atmosphere and spacious view! Natural park with shaded sitting area for…read morefamilies or friends who are like family. A gem in the middle of this little city. One hundred percent recommended. Five Stars!

A nice park offering access to Lake Washington This park is…read morelocated at the western end of Lake Washington Road and just past the Melbourne Water Treatment plant. It provides access to the lake in at least 3 methods: a boat ramp, a floating dock, and a pier. There is a set of restrooms in a stand-alone building to the north of the entrance and on the east side of the park next to a parking lot. There is parking next to this building and just to the south of it that could fit about 40 spaces, There is also a lot to the south of the entrance and the boat ramp. The boat ramp has about 10 spots for trucks with trailers and another 7 in the southern lot. There is a playground to the north of the ramp and pier that looks like a couple of swings and a small jungle jim in a fenced enclosure. There is a walkway from the parking lot to the pier with about 3 small covered pavilions and 1 large one before you arrive at the pier. Overall, it is a nice park. It is not super fancy but it is functional. Enjoy

This park on the Indian River in Melbourne was named in honor of Claude Edge, a prominent merchant…read morein early years of the city. In the 1920's and 30's he owned a general merchandise store and later a two-story building on Front Street with an upstairs boarding house that overlooks the park. Claude Edge Park has many amenities popular with locals and visitors. There is a public boat ramp. fishing pier with fish cleaning station, gazebo, pavilions, picnic areas, picnic tables, restroom, and access to the Melbourne Causeway Walking and Biking Path. Another interesting find in the park was the first post office site. Melbourne was originally called Crane Creek but it was renamed in honor of its first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector who arrived in the area vin 1878. He was from England and had lived in Melbourne, Australia where he left behind his common law wife and five children. He is also credited with organizing the first community band. The name Melbourne was suggested by Mrs. R.W. Goode, a local pioneer, eight years before the town was officially established. If you are lucky, you may spot a bottle nose dolphin or manatee in the Indian River off the shore of Claude Edge Park. The paved walkways in the park are ideal for exercise or walking dogs while the benches and shady spots entice picnics, reading, and people watching The proximity of this park to downtown Melbourne makes it easy to visit nearby cafes, shops, and restaurants. When you are looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle, this park provides a quiet retreat.

Came to go fishing on the small pier but homeless people were sleeping in benches. It's sad looks…read morelike it could be a great spot to relax and fish unfortunately too many homeless people laying around the whole area and on the benches.

I was driving through Palm Bay when I spotted a pirate ship on the side of the road so I had to…read morestop and check it out. The pirate ship is actually part of a playground for kids in Arc Park. Children can climb the ship and slide down I pirate ship as they live out their buccaneer adventures. This park also has benches, picnic tables, and port--a-potties. In the back of the park is a pond where I watched native Florida wading birds. Local anglers fish the pond for bass and bluegill. A sign in the park identifies it as a haven for sandhill cranes. They are a large species of crane known to frequent the edges of bodies of water. According to the sign they are listed as a state threatened species. They don't live in South Florida but I have spotted them in Stuart and above. While I missed the sandhill cranes I did spot some egrets and herons by the pond. This is such a nice neighborhood park. The pirate themed playground sparks the imaginations, there is a large field for unstructured play, and the pavilion is a fun spot for a cookout. Parents do have to keep an eye on the kids because while the playground is fenced in, the pond has no barriers.

Good Park For Kids To Unwind…read more It's a smaller park but a good spot to let the kids unwind. A Little Rock climbing wall is fine for them, too bad it's not just a bit bigger and a bit more.

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.

This is a small pocket park near the Melbourne Causeway when you cross over into Indialantic. The…read moretown's name is actually Indialantic-By-The-Sea because it lies between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Interesting fact, this town is only one mile! This beautifully landscaped park is only a little over an acre. There is small parking lot, water fountain, informational signs, a gazebo, and benches. This is a very nice park to relax and take in the scenic water view of the Indian River. What is most important about this park is taking place out of view, in the river. This park is one of three sites in Brevard County that are part of the Living Shoreline program. The project was funded by the State of Florida, Department of Economic Opportunity, and other local community sponsors. Mangroves, native plants, oyster mats/bags, redeemed seawall, and rip-rap were added off the shore. At this park an oyster bag revetment was added to shoreline. A revetment is an impact-resistant material applied to a bank or wall in order to absorb the energy of incoming water and protect it from erosion. Mangroves were another important addition for the ecosystem. They offer shoreline protection, improve water quality by filtering out pollutants, and they offer shelter for juvenile marine life. There is a sign next to the shoreline in the park explaining the project. Also in this park is a memorial to its namesake, Gilbert W. Douglas who served as mayor from 1961-1967. The plaque is attached to a rock next to the flagpole. He must have done a great job to have such a lovely park named in his honor.

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!