Once upon a time there was real German nobility in Boca Raton. The Count and Countess Hoernle were…read morea philanthropic couple who raised money for the arts, education, and social organizations. Their names are on 50 buildings in the area including this park. Countess De Hoernle passed away at the age of 103 in 2016. This 80 acre park was created in 2012 on land that used to belong to the IBM Corporation. The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District used 13.9 million dollars of tax money to build the park. This park also known as the Spanish River Athletic Facility has a lot of amenities. It is ADA accessible. It has many sports fields including 4 baseball / softball field, football field, and 4 soccer fields. There is restrooms, concession stands, a playground, picnic areas with tables, and exercise paths. Lacrosse and rugby are other sports played in the park. My favorite part of the park is the exercise path that runs around the 20 acre lake. I loved watching ospreys diving into the lake and coming up with fish. This lake attracts a wildlife including birds and even a snake that crossed my path. There is a fitness zone with outdoor exercise path along this path but it is currently closed because of Covid. This path connects under the bridge to the path that runs through Pondhawk Natural Area across the road. That path also leads to the Spanish River Library. You can really get a great running/ walking workout here. There are even more exercise paths that run behind the athletic fields in the back of the park. Another great thing about this park is that there is a lot of security which puts your mind at ease that your car is less likely to get broken into compared to other parks. I saw security driving around on the golf cart several times during my visit. This park is open every day from 8 to 11 except for Sunday when they close at 6. I love working out at this lovely park.

This is part of the Spanish River Athletic Park. The trail is paved and can be shared by cyclists…read moreand pedestrians. You can go around the lakes and stop by the Pondhawk Natural Area if you so desire. The trail links up with the El Rio Trail. As you exit the park, you can cycle west toward Military Trail and still be on the sidewalk. As you exit the park, you can ,also, head east and get on another part of the El Rio Trail ,or you can ride a bike over the bridge that goes over the expressway to add onto your ride. The big downside is that some people don't stay to the right while walking, so you end up with them blocking the path. There are signs at one part of the lake that say Dog are prohibited, but people seem to ignore that. To sum it up, it's a nice place to ride or walk except for inconsiderate people.

Frank McDonough Park is named in honor of a man who served as a city commissioner and Mayor of…read moreLight House Point for 25 years. Frank McDonough moved from Chicago to Florida to escape his hay fever in 1954, two years before Light House Point even became a city. He served on the city commission from 1963 to 1968 and then was appointed mayor in 1968. He was re-elected until he resigned in 1984. In 1989 he was elected as mayor again and formerly retired in 1993 while still staying active in city affairs. In 1982 Lake Placid Park was renamed Frank McDonough Park in honor of his many years of service to the city. Frank McDonough passed away in 2001 at the age of 81. Frank McDonough Park started as a field that city recreation pioneer Dan Witt and some other fathers cleared so that children living in Light House point could have a recreation league of their own. Fifteen pallets of sod were donated so a football league could practice. Today, six acre Frank McDonough Park provides recreation to all ages in Lighthouse Point. The park has a baseball field, football/soccer field, sand volleyball court, 2 racquetball courts, 9 clay tennis courts which is home to the Lighthouse Point Tennis Center, a covered firefighter themed playground with two play area, one for tots, and one for older kids, and restrooms. Added to the park in 2020 is outdoor body-weight resistance workout equipment that includes a sit-up bench, chest press, pull-up bars, leg press, push-up station and more. This park is ideal for sports, play, and working out. The city has even staged concerts in the park in the past. Don't forget to stop by the Heroes Shrine located in the northwest corner of the park where you will find a memorial to those who serve in the military and first responders.

Love a park with covers over both the little kids and big kids playgrounds. The little kids area is…read morefenced all around so no wandering off. Too bad there is no cover over the adult exercise equipment. There are also a lot of benches but the drinking fountains aren't working very well by the playground. There are bathrooms near the tennis courts with more powerful fountains. The park has tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball field, and a general playing field. There is a parking lot nearby that shares space with a church and there might be more parking by the tennis courts. It is a great park with a lot of amenities.

This is a great toddler playground. my two year olds love it and i do too. it's completely fenced…read morein with only one entrance which is a must for multiple kids vs one parent. it's mostly shaded and on the small side making it easier to watch ur babies. free parking and a lot of firetrucks go by!

Sandalfoot Cove is an unincorporated area near Boca Raton. Although not technically part of Boca it…read moreis often referred to as Boca Raton. The community is located about five miles southwest of Boca Raton and dates back to 1972. It is made up of several neighborhoods. Sandalfoot Cove Park is located in the Sandalfoot community and it is 11.83 acres. It has two lighted baseball fields, one multipurpose field, restrooms, and a small playground. There is a paved exercise path that runs around the perimeter of the park. This is primarily a sports park. The main reason you would come here is to take your kids to participate in team sports like little league. The park was filled with the cutest kids learning how to play tee-ball. Like all of the parks in this area, the park is very nicely landscaped and maintained.

Wildflower Park is a beautiful park with a great waterfront view. Kids love the splash pad and the…read moresmall climbing structures right next to the fountains. There is a drinking fountain, clean restrooms, covered picnic tables, and even double swings facing the water, which make it a perfect place to relax. Watching the yachts pass by along the waterfront while enjoying the breeze makes this park feel very peaceful. It's an ideal spot for a picnic, family gathering, or even a birthday party. One thing I really appreciate is that the pier has life ring stations for emergencies. It's nice to see that safety details like this were thoughtfully planned. The area is also regularly patrolled by police, which adds a sense of security. The only downside is that there are almost always homeless people around. They haven't caused any issues during our visits, but it's something to be aware of. Overall, it's a lovely park with beautiful views and plenty of amenities for families with kids.

Wildflower Park is located on the inter coastal at Palmetto Park Road. The parking has a quite a…read morelarge parking lot, you can park free for 2 hours. The restroom facilities are newer and nice. Beyond a gorgeous inter coastal view the park itself is pretty basic, no swings or jungle gyms for the children but there is a splash pad and some bright abstract art I think intended for kids to climb on. The is a covered pavilion with tables and chairs. There is a walking path and you can walk under the bridge to the other side of Palmetto Park Road. There are benches around the park. I visited to see the traveling flock of flamingos celebrating Boca Raton's 100th birthday.

Attended the South Florida Food and Craft Fair again this year. Wonderful experience with bands,…read morethe craft booths, and all the food trucks (yummy). We walked around the booths first, then evaluated all the food trucks before stopping by the Mexican food truck. After getting our food, sat down underneath the tents and watch the band played. Overall, a very nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. See all the pictures I took.

I recently visited South County Regional Park for the Watermelon Festival and had such a lovely…read moreexperience. The event felt very family-oriented, making it especially great for those with younger children. There was a wide variety of food options to enjoy, including hot dogs, jerk chicken, sausages, ice cream, and more, so there was something for everyone. Overall, it was a fun, relaxed atmosphere and a great way to spend the day outdoors with family.

Blazing Star is 26 acres of scrub pine with a mile loop running on top of sugar sand. It is…read moreadjacent to the much larger Sugar Sand Park. This area was once part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, ancient dunes that lined the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the trail runs along I-95 and in addition to the cars you may hear the occasional train racing past. Plants you might encounter include sand live oaks, myrtle oak, Chapman oak, saw palmetto, slash pine, sand pine, bromeliad, prickly pear cactus, marsh ferns and cinnamon ferns and the invasive Brazilian pepper. When I came upon the pink and yellow lantana growing in the back of the preserve it was covered in zebra longwing butterflies. If you want to see the blazing star (Liatris), with it's stalks of purple flowers that the area takes it's name from you will have to plan your visit for late summer and early fall. If you are lucky you will see protected gopher tortoises. All I came upon however was a burrow. As you make your way through the preserve you will be serenaded by cicadas and crickets. This is a pretty isolate spot, especially when you get to the back of the preserve. Unlike a lot of other preserves I have visited this one is not paved so it is not wheelchair accessible. It was actually quite hard to even walk in the back but when I came upon a hundred butterflies floating around the plants it made the muddy sneakers and trek worth it. You have to be slow and quiet to fully appreciate this area but once you focus in a lot of surprises await you.

I'd be lying if I said Blazing Star Nature Preserve is a bundle of fun…read more.. It's located adjacent to the east side of Sugar Sand Park separated by the Tri-Rail road road tracks. The entrance/parking area is small but there is always a spot to park; actually, it's rare to see any cars here at all. Theres a bench to sit and watch nothing... There is a bike rack... There is an informational board mounted on a tiny building; perhaps a storage shed or sorts)... And there is the entrance to the trails.... That's basically what the park offers... trails that meander through a protected 12 acre parcel of land... lots of cabbage palms and pine trees... And there is a bit of wildlife to ooh and ahh at (if you find them)... the wildlife includes all the typical South Florida wildlife but have heard fox are present but Ive never seen (and I'd imagine they'd leave the park and put themselves at risk with vehicular traffic and residential communities). One of the reasons I don't love the park (and it's not because they don't offer more amenities), is the lack of accessible paths. The trails through the park are sugar sand (just like the namesake of our neighboring park, Sugar Sand Park)... they get a sprinkle of pine needles that gives the trail a bit of stabilization but for the most part they are exposed sugar sand... just white, soft, unforgiving sugar sand that makes walking a bit of a challenge (like trying to take a jog on the dry part of the beach). It'd be great if the City of Boca Raton would add or mix some shell rock to the paths... it'd make the park considerably more user friendly... or maybe even covering the paths with mulch.

Pretty nice small playground in Coral Springs. We always…read moredrive past this park with my daughter after her daycare and decided to stop by. We were the only ones in the park. The parking lot has only three spots and one handicapped space. The playground is small and clean, and it looks like the playset has been renovated. My daughter really enjoyed it.

This is one of several Coral Springs namesake parks. This park was dedicated to Paul Britton in…read more1994, the year after he passed away. Mr. Britton was a WWII veteran and Senior Vice-President for 15 years of Coral Ridge Properties which developed the City of Coral Springs in the 1960's. Coral Ridge properties enacted strict landscaping and sign laws to make sure the city stayed beautiful. Mr. Britton helped develop the roads and parks in Coral Springs. There is a nice little memorial to him in the corner of the park. Other park amenities include basketball courts, a picnic pavilion and a playground. Eagle Ridge Elementary School is next door. During the pandemic the city improved the park by installing concrete curbs around equipment and sidewalks as well as new wood fiber. The playground is still closed. There isn't much here but this park does contain a nifty little piece of Coral Springs history.

Palmetto Dune Park is a 3.3 acre passive park on Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. It is on the…read moreleft side of the road as you head east approaching Dixie Highway. Park amenities include a paved exercise path, open play/recreation space, benches and a bike rack. A curios thing is there are several signs advising that dogs are not allowed in the park and it is strictly enforced. There is no parking lot so this this seems like an ideal place for people in the neighborhood to safely exercise their dogs providing they pick up after them. I love an open green space but the main drawback to this park is the lack of parking. It is essentially for bike riders and the people in the neighborhood to use. To further complicate matters there is a great deal of construction going on in front of the park on Palmetto Park Road right now. There are a lot better parks to go to like Sugar Sand that is only a short drive from here.