A hard to find tranquil park with walk paths and a beautiful water fountain spouting out thirty…read morefeet in the air at the center of the lake - love that sound. White picket fencing surrounds the perimeter of the park with a warm red brick entry sign. The park is nestled unexpectedly within the Plantation Acres community with a decent sized parking lot - no overnight parking allowed. Fishing is permitted although motorized vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. A new kiddie playground is coming soon. A few giant olive trees but not much other coverage. Great spot to relax, take a stroll or read a great book. PARK #63

Plantation North Acres park is located very close to Sawgrass Mills Mall. I saw it on a map and…read moredecided to come over and check it out. At first I wasn't even going to get out of the car. It looked like just some basic playground equipment , a picnic tables, bench, and an open field. They call this kind of park passive but you never know what you will find unless you look so I decided to walk the field and was in for a surprise. In the very back of the park is a lake. Water attracts birds so I sat down and waited. It was only a few moments before a mama duck and her duckling swam by. The babies were so adorable,. Not long after a little heron flew down to say hello. The lake was very beautiful with interesting cypress knees at the waters edge. There is a ten acre field next to the park that is undeveloped. As I was leaving a family rode up on their bicycles to use the play area. A short distance away from this park is Volunteer Park with many more amenities including a wetlands walk. While I love that park I wouldn't discount this park at all. Parks are the one thing we can never have enough of. If you are into quiet beauty and serene nature that come out and enjoy this little known gem.

This is a beautiful tranquil spot located in the back of a neighborhood in Davie. As soon as I…read moredrove in I saw a small turtle in the roadway who I returned to the lake. The 40 acres of this park has walking trails that run between and around the two lakes. In addition there is a picnic pavilion with a tables, benches, and a restroom. You can hike and fish here. There are iguanas everywhere all over the park. On my walk I saw a mother duck with her ducklings. It was very peaceful stroll and the fresh smell of pine from all the needles was in the air. Sadly this park was recently in the news with the death of Shizuka Matsuki. She was walking her dogs along the lake when an alligator attacked one of them. In the process of trying to save her dog she was killed. I had actually meant to go to the park on that day but went to a different one instead. This tragic story serves to remind everyone not to feed alligators in the wild. Alligators are naturally afraid of people but lose that fear when they are fed. Once that happens they will be trapped and killed. As they say a fed alligator is a dead alligator. I have had alligators swimming next to me while I kayaked at Arthur R. Marshall and I have biked around them at Shark Valley and have never had a problem. The alligator that was in this lake was well known and trappers had been attempting to remove it for almost two years. It is never a good idea to walk your dogs around bodies of water in Florida. In any case there are no alligators here now. If you like to enjoy nature like I do it can be done safely as long a you respect that animals are present and you take common sense precautions.

So we read the reviews and took them with a grain a salt. But the reviews were spot on. This park…read moreis beautiful but can be a bit dangerous so if you take your dog be careful. We had the unfortunate event of going yesterday and finding a dead body, hopefully they are resting in peace. That being said they closed the trail and we couldn't explore more. Just be extra cautious coming here. It is a great neighborhood park, people just have to be extra vigilant because of gators and snakes.

Before anyone complains about this new park, let me explain what's going on. This is an upper…read moremiddle-class neighborhood which had a huge and deep lake surrounded partially by residences on the south and west side, and very tall trees on the north and east side. The trees acted as a natural sound barrier to the highway directly on the other side of it, and every evening the trees filled with thousands of white cranes and snowy egrets which sheltered there through the nights. It was absolutely peaceful. Then one day the greedy city decided to obliterate the trees and fill in the lake to sell to developers. My brother, who had his home custom built on the south bank of the lake, started a fierce campaign against the city's destruction of the site. After heavy battle, he won, and the area was designated a sanctuary, with a picnic park and paths added later. There should be a statue dedicated to him on the site. It is a quiet space and FORTUNATELY is not yet well known. The massive amount of damage that was done to the area by the city during my brother's fight to stop the madness drove away a lot of the birds and wildlife, but with time as the greenery grows back, hopefully the wildlife will return.

It's super small and that building is a school. Not much to see but could be good for someone that…read morecan't walk much

Multi recreational park in Sunrise off Weston Rd. This is the type of park hidden from the main…read moreroadways but when you find it's a win. They have a baseball field open to first come first serve although on Sunday its seems the adults own the field. A blacktop walking trail surrounds the grassy multi-use playing field. Picnic tables under a covered pavilion allow small bbq parties and kiddie events overlooking a tranquil lake. There is a decent adult fitness area with several gymnastic type equipment. The kiddie park near the entrance is large and has sufficient parking.

Completed in 1989, Oscar Wind Park is located along State Road 84 and Interstate 75. When it opened…read moreit was the first park near Weston and Bonaventure, paid for with city money, The park was named in honor of Oscar Wind, the developer who donated the land in 1983 when the city annexed the area. In 1993, six more acres were added to the park as was a new softball field, a soccer/football field and a new park shelter. Today the park is looking better than ever. A new playground and outdoor fitness court were unveiled last month which increased the fitness and play options in the City of Sunrise. The new playground is ADA accessible with a wheelchair entry. It now has more than a dozen play structures including slides, swings, climbers, and a merry go round. Elements were added to foster learning, inspire music, and provide tactile games. The playground is covered in shade canopies and new seating and landscaping were added. Also brand new at Oscar Wind Park is the first Fitness Court in the city and it is also shade covered like the playground. The Fitness Court has an app on the side that teaches you how to use it. You do a circuit of exercises using your own body weight in order to condition and strengthen during work outs. It can be modified for all fitness levels. Additional park features included an open green space with a new 1/2 mile walking path, new landscaping, renovations to the restroom and picnic pavilion, and new LED lighting. My favorite improvement is that there is now a connecting walkway between Oscar Wind Park and Sawgrass Sanctuary Park. I like that you can do a really long walking circuit around both parks and never have to go into the road. The two parks blend together seamlessly. With the new additions to Oscar Wind Park, I think this is the best place in the city to enjoy nature, take the kids to play, and exercise.

This park is 2.6 acres on the New River. Coontie Hatchee is the Seminole Indian name for the New…read moreRiver. They used to live in the area until they were driven out by the U. S. army during the Second Seminole War. Coontie Hatchee Landings has a small parking lot. Park amenities include a gazebo next to the river, benches, a fitness path with exercises stations, picnic tables, and a playground. This well maintained park is the perfect place to take the kids to play, get some exercise in, have a picnic, or just take in the lovely water view as the boats sail by.

This is a quaint and pretty park with high trees and lots of pine cones under foot. It is nestled…read morealong the scenic waterfront, and offerins tunning views of the river and the charming boat traffic that graces its shores.

I spent some time walking around this park this morning and I loved the peacefulness of it....it…read morehas a great setting by the Middle River, where boats can get on the water...many benches to sit....many workout apparatus....lots of green grass....and nice walkways..... Parking is payable by the Pay by Phone app, but I was at the Galleria and just walked over, so that was an easy option. The park is located in the Coral Ridge neighborhood on the corner of Bayview Drive and Sunrise Blvd. It can be called an urban park since it's so close to many buildings and businesses. It has two boat ramps, basketball courts, playground, picnic tables, tennis courts, recreation center, walking/biking trails and on-site kayak, paddle-board and jet ski rentals. For those who boat, there is ocean access from this park, but because of the fixed bridge at Sunrise Blvd. boats are limited to about 9 feet of clearance. There is a water ski area just north from the park on the Middle River. Boats 21 feet or less engaging in water-sport activities are limited to 30 mph.

George English Park provides a Pavilion for picnics with lots of tree shade and a large basketball…read morecourt. Also, a few tennis and pickleball courts which were active today even in the heat wave. Directly next to the park is the George English boat ramp and jet ski rentals with direct access to the Fort Lauderdale intracoastal.

This small, passive park along the New River recently had its name changed from New City Park to…read moreAbiaka Park in honor of Sam Jones (Abiaka). He was a Seminole-Miccosukee chief, warrior, and shaman. Abiaka became the principal chief of the Seminoles in 1837 during the Seminole Wars. Sam Jones/ Abiaka is famous for leading the remaining 200 or so members of his tribe to safety in the Pine Island Ridge, the highest natural elevation in Broward County. After the Second Seminole War they were able to hide out from the US Government who were trying to send them on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma under the Indian removal policy. There is a Sam Jones Statue in Tree Tops Park that depicts him leading his people to safety. There is also an identical statue located at the entrance of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Abiaka Park is located in historic Riverside, a stop made by the Seminoles in the 1800's as they traded down the New River. Today the park serves as the paddleboard launch for Sup Pup Paddleboard, a company which offers paddleboard rentals and tours. You can book on their website. The park also has a sand volleyball court, picnic tables, and a couple of benches that provide a view of the water. Other Native American archaeological sites are nearby.

The day that it gets cold and I want my toasted marshmallow fix is the day that I'll be coming…read morehere. It's a little hard to find. Probably the reason why there wasn't anyone in the park when I went. Several bbq grills and picnic tables. The water view is beautiful. I spied an area that looked like it could be used as a community garden.

This park is convenient, spacious, and has a quiet nature feel that separates it from most parks. I…read morereally enjoyed my time, and I'll definitely be back!

The entrance to Lake Forest Park is within Anne Kolbe Nature Center. Stay to the right as you drive…read morein and you will see the path that enters the preserve next to the lake. Anne Kolbe does not allow fishing but Lake Forest Park does. Lake Forest Park has two overlook piers for fishing on the intracoastal waterway. The trail has a boardwalk that goes over channels that connect the intracoastal waterway with the Atlantic Ocean and West Lake. Lining the waterway is an important environmentally sensitive mangrove swamp. Mangroves protect shorelines from storm and hurricane damage, prevent erosion, maintain water quality and clarity by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments, and they provide nesting and breeding habitat for fish and shellfish and migratory birds. As the dying leaves fall off the mangroves into the water they form a nutrient rich soup that feeds animals. As the tide goes out the food and animals are drawn into the intracoastal to feed predators. The tide washes animals in search of food back into the estuary. Even if you are not fishing this is a very pleasant walk with beautiful views of the intracoastal. In the preserve you may see crabs, fish, birds, and even manatee in the winter. Sadly not everyone who comes here to fish takes their garbage back out with them. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.