This park is named in honor of Robert "Bob" Anderson, a longtime Space Coast educator who served on…read morethe Rockledge City Council for two decades. He was one of the foremost civic leaders in Brevard County. He served in leadership roles for 28 years at Brevard Community College, chaired the Brevard County School Board for seven years, and served more than 30 years on the Wuesthoff Hospital board of directors. Bob Anderson passed away in 2019 at the age of 92. The Dr. Robert A. Anderson Stormwater Park is an 80-acre park on Pluckebaum Road. It is home to the Barks & Recreation Dog Park, a playground, wildlife observation deck, fishing pier, and picnic pavilion. There is bridge connecting the dog park area to the stormwater park. The park also has on the property, the 1930's Thompson family cracker-style house. The 400 square-foot house can be rented for private events including baby showers, small organization meetings, club meetings, and class field trips. The facility can be rented alone or with the pavilion at Dr. Robert A. Anderson Stormwater Park. This park is one of five stormwater facilities managed by Rockledge Stormwater Utility. The storm water parks help to clean and filter water before it reaches the Indian River Lagoon. An added benefit to this process is it attracts wildlife and offers people recreational space. While walking near the water I spotted a couple of limpkin and I saw a great white heron fly over. Stormwater parks like this one are great recreational spaces for exercise and wildlife watching.

Cocoa Manor Park sits just minutes from Historic Cocoa Village, one of the oldest settlements on…read moreFlorida's Space Coast. Cocoa Manor Park is a pocket park, a type of neighborhood park that is typically less than half an acre in size. These small parks are designed to provide nearby residents with outdoor recreational space rather than leaving vacant lots undeveloped or adding more buildings. A wrong turn unexpectedly brought me to Cocoa Manor Park, so I stopped here to reorient myself. While it's a small neighborhood park, it was a pleasant place to take a break. The park features a playground with swings and slides, along with a few picnic tables for people to sit at. Parking at this park is very limited, suggesting that the park is primarily intended for residents of the nearby Carleton Terrace neighborhood. it is a nice little green space that serves its local community well.

If you want a great view of the Indian River look no further than this little known treasure. It…read moretook me two tries to try and find the entrance to the parking lot but it was worth the extra effort. Shoreside Park offers a tranquil retreat for visitors. Park amenities includes a fishing dock, new picnic pavilion with tables, and a playground with climbing equipment, slides, and swings. I think the best feature of this park just might be the beautiful view of the Indian River where you might catch sight of native Florida birds, dolphins, and manatees. A great egret was waiting for me on the pier while osprey flew overhead. The park has a view of the nearby Pineda Causeway. This serene park is the perfect antidote to the daily stressors of life.

This park is along the East side of US 1 just south of the Pineda Causeway. The parking lot has…read moreabout 8 parking spaces and no other room. There is a ramp down to the walkway and the playground. The playground is to the north side (straight ahead) when coming down the ramp. The walkway to the right leads off to to a covered dock. The view is very pretty of the river and the land across the water. It is a very pleasant place to just enjoy the water, to fish or watch the birds. It is a hidden gem for the area.

The Mansfield Maritime Hammock is a pristine natural area located at the back of Lori Wilson Park…read more On August 19, 2022, the hammock was officially named in honor of Phyllis and Howard Mansfield, whose decades of volunteer work helped protect this important habitat for both migratory and resident birds. Although Howard Mansfield passed away in 2017 before the dedication ceremony, his contributions were remembered and celebrated alongside Phyllis. Longtime Cocoa Beach residents, the Mansfields began working at the hammock in 1990 and they became passionate about protecting the many species of birds that depend on it. As part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, the hammock is an important stopover for migratory birds. Birders have recorded 32 species of wood-warblers here, including the rare Cerulean, Nashville, Connecticut, and Wilson's Warblers. Other notable migrants include the Painted Bunting, Great Crested Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager. Over the years, the Mansfields and fellow volunteers from the Cocoa Beach Tree People removed invasive plants and litter, maintained bird feeders and a freshwater pond, shared local bird sightings with visiting birders, and planted hundreds of native trees and plants throughout the city. Phyllis also helped to stop proposed plans to build another road through the hammock. At the dedication ceremony Phyllis Mansfield said: "This maritime hammock is a wonderful part of the greater Lori Wilson Park, and I hope my friends, county residents, birders, and volunteers will all work to ensure this maritime hammock's wildlife habitat will be restored by removing and replacing invasive plants with desirable bird attractors and a water feature." In recent years, the City invested approximately $4 million in improvements to Lori Wilson Park. The project included replacing and refurbishing the beach crossovers and boardwalks, restrooms, showers, dog park, maritime hammock, and other park amenities, with funding provided through tourist development taxes. Admission and parking are free. Visitors can explore the 27 acre hammock by walking the 0.6-mile interpretive boardwalk, accessible from the north parking lot or via the paved pathway from the south parking lot. On the day I visited the outside temperature was 105 degrees but even though the temperature was scorching, the walk was made bearable by the shade. The boardwalks were in good shape with seating areas and I liked that there were signs telling me what to look for and what I was looking at. I would have enjoyed the walk more on a cooler day but I am glad to know that this place exists to provide support to the local and visiting birds.

Robert Nicol Jr. Park is one of several scenic waterfront parks lining the Indian River Lagoon in…read morethis area but what makes this one different is that it honors a fallen hero. This park is a memorial to Brevard County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Nicol Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on September 30, 1987, after being struck by a vehicle on U.S. 1 following a traffic stop. Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, Deputy Nicol served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1971, earning two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal for his courageous service during the Vietnam War before continuing his commitment to public service as a law enforcement officer. Today, this peaceful 5.03 acre riverfront park provides an outdoor community recreation space. Visitors will find four covered picnic shelters named after native birds: Falcon, Kingfisher, Scrub Jay, and Owl along with a playground, drinking fountain, benches, and approximately 700 feet of shoreline perfect for fishing and enjoying the beauty of the Indian River Lagoon. A paved walking path winds beneath shade trees, creating an inviting spot for stroll. Like many waterfront parks in Titusville, Robert Nicol Jr. Park also offers excellent views of rocket launches from nearby Kennedy Space Center, and the park remains open, along with its restrooms, for scheduled launches outside normal operating hours. During my visit I appreciated the peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful views across the lagoon. This park is ideal for letting the kids burn off some energy, enjoying a picnic by the water, casting a fishing line, or simply pausing to soak in the scenery. How nice that this park honors Robert Nicol Jr., a man who dedicated his life to serving others.

Small park we found we visited to eat our ice cream from Tropic, as it was right across Hwy 1…read more There is a nice stretch of coastal water with benches - don't need much else! There was a group area, picnic tables, parking lot, big grassy area (not in great condition), and the shoreline - OK for a short stop. Really windy when we stopped by, not sure if that's typical. Fun to see the beautiful birds grazing on the grass as a bonus.

2nd Light Beach is one of several beaches along Florida's Space Coast located on Patrick Space…read moreForce Base. The beach gets its name from its location, it's at the second traffic light south of Cocoa Beach. The area has a lot of military history. What is now Patrick Space Force Base was originally established as Naval Air Station Banana River in 1939 as an anti-submarine patrol and training base. During World War II, this stretch of coastline was actively patrolled to guard against the threat of German U-boats operating off the Atlantic coast. Today, 2nd Light Beach is best known as a favorite spot for local surfers. Parking is free, and a wooden boardwalk provides easy access from the parking lot to the shoreline. The beach's firm sand and consistent waves have earned it a reputation as one of the best surfing spots in the Cocoa Beach area. There are no restrooms, although an outdoor shower is available. The limited amenities help keep the crowds down. 2nd Light is a quieter, less crowded beach popular with surfers.

This park is absolutely amazing! I saw online that it said you could drive there, but when I…read morevisited, it didn't really seem like driving was an option. That said, the walking paths are wide, well-maintained, and there are so many different trails to explore. The wildlife here is incredible--beautiful birds everywhere, baby alligators, big alligators, and even a black snake with red under its head! It's so serene and peaceful, and there weren't too many people around, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back every time I'm in the area. If you love nature and wildlife, this is a must-visit!

Sidney Fischer Park is a 10 acre oceanfront park in Cocoa Beach. The park is named in honor of…read moreSidney Fischer, who served as Cocoa Beach's mayor from 1956 to 1960 and helped guide the community through the early, formative years of the Space Coast boom. A raised boardwalk leads directly from the paved parking lot to the beach. The park also offers public restrooms, outdoor showers, changing areas, multiple covered picnic pavilions, picnic tables, and a children's playground. It's a great spot to have a party or family gathering and to spend the day at the beach. The park is also the site of the Bicentennial Memorial, dedicated in 1976 to commemorate the nation's 200th anniversary. It was interesting to find it since we recently celebrated the 250th birthday of the nation. The biggest downside to this beach park is the cost of parking. Unlike most of the nearby beachfront parks, Sidney Fischer Park charges for parking, $6 per hour or $25 for the day. With so many other Cocoa Beach parks offering free parking, it's easy to see why this one was relatively quiet during my visit. If however you're a local with a valid Cocoa Beach parking permit, it is honored here.