We have gone to Canova a few times and we always enjoy it…read more There are public bathrooms when you first drive up. Then they have outside showers you can use if you want to wash off the sea water or sand when you are leaving the beach. Then after you crossover the stair-bridge, you enter the beach. It's a long strip that you can walk with your dogs. Most people keep their dogs on a leash, but be warned, there are many that are not on a leash. I like this beach, because I can bring my dog, my kids swim in the water and there are shells for me to collect. Something for everyone. The waves are medium strength... they are a little big for small kids or weak swimmers, but still small enough for my teens to enjoy. We will definitely be back!!

Great time had by all love seeing the doggies on the beach playing in the water. Everyone here…read moretoday was having a good time. Wind was blowing so it wasn't as hot beach was clean though busy definitely will come back.

My springers had an amazing time. Large space for running and lots of water for panting afterwards.read more

Unfortunately the park is not kept up. Some owners do not pick up after their dogs there was feces…read moreand it smelled. It's sad because is fairly large has 2 areas one for small dogs the other for large dogs with and obstacle course. It could be a wonderful place needs a little love and care.

Very clean and not overcrowded beach park. I saw two lifeguards on duty while walking to the…read morebeach. The bathrooms were clean and so was the parking lot. Compared to the other parks closer to Hwy. 192 they a lot cleaner, quieter and more available parking. The park doesn't have the food trucks or vendors like the bigger beach parks have but you can bring own food and drinks. Its just like an old fashioned picnic on the beach. Their was a small playground for very young children to play on that looks nice. Several of the covered areas with cook stations and picnic tables are available. Next time you're in the Melbourne Florida check out the Pelican Beach Park. Enjoy!!! Live Life Today, Travel USA!!! #TimSamsTravelUSA

Lovely little park at the beach. Nice clean restroom area, covered picnic area, and huge grills to…read moreuse. Multiple walk ways to the beach. Awesome waves, lots of seashells, and beautiful sunrises.

Terrific lakeside park with play areas for children, large and small dogs. I think dogs on the…read morenature trail require a leash. It's currently undergoing construction via a large donation from a local humanitarian and through the work of volunteers and help from a construction team. Unleash Day, the opening ceremony is December 12, 2021. Bathrooms are on a time lock and currently closed until the bathroom floor resurfacing dries. The nature trail is suitable for seniors with walkers, people requiring a wheelchair, and Mom's with strollers. The large loop is about 3 miles, smaller loop about 1/2 mile and goes around a lake. The roadside trail has older oak trees. Both loops go around a trail. The trail is posted no trespassing in neighborhood or nature preserve so stay on the trail. Beware of golf carts on the trail. It's good for bikes and skates, too. The play areas feature bridges, mini hills and culverts. A swing set is near the lake. Their are covered benches. We spotted a kingfisher, Mallard ducks, a Snowy Egret, an Osprey with a fish, and palm warblers.

Searching for True Love & Forgiveness? Talk to GOD and get a…read moreDOG! #ReflectDogs Love & Forgiveness Well if you're into agility items, cute buildings, shaded seating areas and interesting structures this dog park was made for you!! They even have the mandatory fire hydrant. There is a nice big double-gated entry with a huge tree and nice bench in it. Put dog park has a couple poop bag dispensers as well as trash cans and a water feature. You can park right next to the dog park. The ground covering is mostly sand and grass. But beware there seem to be quite a few biological landmines?

Spacious dog park and very convenient if you are driving on I-95…read more There are two gated areas: one for small dogs and one for large. If there aren't other people using it, you can just take your dog to whichever is available. You have to walk through two gates to get inside, so it helps prevent any escapes. There is a water fountain with a draining bowl for dogs to use. There is a well stocked poop bag dispenser and lots of trash cans. There are two single user bathrooms and some water fountains for people. They are clean, but at least one of them had a leaky faucet and a rusted lock that was very high (not good for kids or ADA). The cons of the park itself are that there was an area near the drain that had a hole under the fence. Also, the agility equipment was not there when we visited, but someone had left some balls, ropes, and frisbees for dogs to play. My dogs enjoyed running around, stretching, sniffing, and meeting some other dogs.

A plus is there's a large area for the big dogs. Negatives…read morearea no shade and seems a number of owners fail to clean up after their pets.

Fun little park on the side of a neighborhood road and has a little dog park as well.read more

This is a beautiful little park that is committed to good practices. It has tips on watering and…read more"fertilizing" plants. It suggests how you select plants that are appropriate for your area and it is a beautiful little moment of respite. Next to it is the dog park and that is a marvelous playground for pooch. Poop bags are provided for clean up along with water for Fido. Aside from a few bad neighbors, poops are not in the park and doggy can have fun running, working out on the aparatus or just sitting around in a cool environment.

Busy but very nice park with parking lot and a long boardwalk down to the sand dunes, with another…read morehike to the beach. Extremely busy on this Saturday afternoon. There is a decent sized beach and lots of great waves. Great place to watch the ships leave from the port!

On July 22, 2006, a 32,000-square-foot fenced, off-leash dog park opened within the southern…read moresection of Lori Wilson Park as a joint project between the City of Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. Lori Wilson Dog Park is the only area within Lori Wilson Park where dogs are permitted The fully fenced park features separate areas for large and small dogs. Nearby amenities include restrooms, picnic shelters, pavilions, and parking. The day I visited, the temperature reached a sweltering 105 degrees. Unfortunately, there wasn't any shade inside the dog park, which looked uncomfortable for both dogs and their owners. A few shade trees or covered seating areas would greatly improve the experience, especially during Florida's hot summer months. It could also use a few more obstacles or agility training pieces. Compared to other dog parks, this was bare bones. On the bright side, admission is free, making it a convenient stop if you're visiting Cocoa Beach with your dog. Outside of this designated dog park, dogs are generally not allowed elsewhere in Lori Wilson Park or on the adjacent beach, except during special events such as the annual Surfing Dogs competition held in April. It looks pawsitively awesome and I hope I make it back here for that one day.

My first time going to Cocoa Beach, I was hit with the paid parking, and I didn't like that,…read moreespecially since I planned on spending the whole day at the beach. After doing some research, I found out that there are public parking lots, which was great to know. That's when I came across Lori Wilson Park, which has both North and South parking lots. I decided to go with the North side. It was close to the restrooms, and it was just a quick walk across the bridge straight to the beach. There are three beach entrances on this side, and they also have showers right at the entrance where you can rinse off the sand after leaving the beach. There is also a South side with more parking, but for me, the North side just looked more appealing. As you enter the North side, there's a playground to the left where the kids can play. I thought this was really convenient for parents who want to let their children burn off some energy before heading to the beach. Between the playground and the beach, that sounds like a great day for a kid! On this side, there was also a lifeguard, as well as someone renting sunbeds, umbrellas, and surfboards. It seemed like they had pretty much everything you would need for a great beach day. I brought my own tent and chairs, so that worked out just fine for me. But having the rentals right there is really convenient if you don't want to deal with the hassle of bringing everything yourself. The beach was great! The waves were a little rough, but not so rough that you couldn't get in the water and enjoy yourself. There was also a surfing competition going on while I was there. There seemed to be people of all ages participating, so that was really cool to watch and added something extra to the day. Another great beach day accomplished!

When visiting this beautiful 32.43-acre oceanfront park it is to picture that this was once an…read moreunofficial city dump. Standing among the sea oats and beach, it's almost impossible to imagine that this land was neglected until the mid 1970s. The park owes its transformation to the vision and determination of Lori Wilson, an attorney, Florida State Senator, and passionate environmental advocate. After moving to Florida in 1960, Wilson served in the Florida Senate from 1973 to 1978, becoming only the third woman and the first Independent to hold the office. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and championed numerous environmental causes, working with organizations such as Save Our Waterways, the National Association of County Officials Environmental Steering Committee, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Senator Wilson was a visionary and she was determined to restore this stretch of coastline organized a massive community cleanup. Local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, spent weeks removing trash, planting native vegetation, and restoring it back to its natural condition. In appreciation for her leadership and dedication, the grateful community voted to name the restored park in her honor. Today, Lori Wilson Park is one of Cocoa Beach's most popular beach parks. The Mansfield Maritime Hammock which is stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, features a .6-mile interpretive boardwalk through a protected coastal canopy filled with native plants. It is an important stopover for migratory birds. Dog lovers will appreciate the spacious 32,000-square-foot fenced off-leash dog park, which opened in 2006 through a partnership between Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. More recent improvements include upgraded dune crossovers built with durable composite materials, a renovated dog park, and modernized restrooms and outdoor shower facilities. The park also is where you can find I Dream of Jeannie Lane named in 1996 in honor of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, a TV show about a genie in love with an astronaut that aired from 1965 to 1970 and was fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. The historical marker was added in 2012. I appreciated that the parking is free and there is easy beach access. I also enjoyed my time exploring the maritime Hammock. Thanks to Lori Wilson residents and visitors can enjoy ocean access, nature walks, and a place for off leash dog play. Lori Wilson Park is an inspiring example of what a community can accomplish when they pull together.

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.

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.

I've been coming to this park for a few months throughout the week and often times on weekends just…read moreto enjoy a stroll or an occasional easy run. It's centrally located easily accessible, and beautiful to boot. It's the kind of park where you can greet people with a hello or a good morning and see they're beautiful dogs on a Sunday morning stroll. There is also multiple little play areas in case you have kids and it's the kind of park. Do you want to spend time in because it always seems to be peaceful no matter what time in the morning midday or afternoon you stop by. There's plenty of places to sit and relax and I love so many things about this park. I hope you enjoy it too.

This is a nice overall park. I found the vibe to be relaxing and enjoyable and the atmosphere…read moredefinitely has a calming effect on the soul. There is definitely adequate parking and again, it definitely is a cool enough park. We as a community need parks. Places like this where we as a community can gather in respite. If you find yourself in the area, I would definitely recommend this particular park. Go check it out, I do not think that you will be disappointed.