I loved my visit to this wonderful natural area where I had a delightful hike. Erna Nixon Park is a…read more53.93-acre community park named in honor of Melbourne Village naturalist, Erna Nixon who championed the preservation of the natural area, which in the early 1970s was zoned for warehouses near Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Erna Nixon Park has 3,000 feet of elevated boardwalk that takes you through a natural Florida hammock and nature preserve containing plants and animals such as red blanket lichen, evergreen shrubs, wild coffee, wild Boston fern, red maple, marlberry, strop ferns, Simpson's stopper, shoestring fern, golden foot fern, cypress trees, live oaks with hanging Spanish moss, and small animals like the gopher tortoise, indigo snakes, and pileated woodpeckers. Erna Nixon Park is a stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. I was lucky enough to see a gopher tortoise near the boardwalk on my visit. This park is a popular destination for nature walks, wildlife watching, and I even saw someone sketching. Some of the community events held here include a Moonlight Stroll that takes place after dark with live music and food vendors. Erna Nixon Park also has a butterfly garden and a small nature center with exhibits for viewing and which offers classes and youth programming. There is also a pavilion with picnic tables and restrooms. Come for a picnic, a nature walk, or a program. This is Florida at its best and most natural. Thank you Erna Nixon for saving this ecologically important land.

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.

Conveniently located to downtown, this Indian River waterfront park is located next to the Eau…read moreGallie Public Library. The first settlement in Eau Gallie was established in 1859 when John C. Houston received an 80-acre homestead on the north shore of the Eau Gallie River. The park takes its name from the once thriving pineapple plantations that used to be in Eau Gallie in the late 1800's. At one point land was selling for $1,000 an acre until the freeze of 1894-95 which killed off the pineapple crops. One Eau Gallie family, John and Juliet Aspinwall, lost 150,000 pineapples and that was the last of the pineapple industry in the area. Come to Pineapple Park for a stunning view of the Indian River and the Eau Gallie Bridge. Steps from shopping and restaurants in the historic district, this small park has a fishing pier, gazebo, picnic tables, playground, and restrooms. Stately live oak trees in the park provide beauty and shade. This is the perfect place to take the kids to play, fish, picnic, or enjoy the sunset.

Small but overall pleasant enough park. It has a couple pavilions, a children's playground, a…read moredecent water view, a few picnic tables, and parking.

Melbourne Riverview Park Is located on 15.4 acres of the Indian River Lagoon. The city of Melbourne…read moreassumed ownership of Riverview Park from Brevard County in June 2012. Locals and visitors will find amenities for both active recreation as well as relaxation. There are picnic pavilions with tables, grills, restrooms, Scurrah's Landing canoe and kayak launch, and a playground. For 18 years Melbourne Riverview Park has been the site of the Melbourne Farmers Market. It is open 10-2 Every Saturday October - May and the 1st & 3rd Saturday June - Sept. You can fid fresh foods, plants, artisans and more. Whether you are coming for an event or recreation, this park provides a peaceful respite from the busy downtown area. I enjoyed stretching my legs and bird watching over the river. If you have children, the recently renovated playground looks particularly inviting.

This place is meant for the fishing enthusiasts. There's not much of a park other than a swing, a…read morefew benches and and plenty of parking spots. It was a nice little outing for a stroll and that was about it for my family.

So much to do.. and its so beautiful there! Perfect place for families especially the children..I…read moregive it a 10

Great Park! Family oriented! A lot of things to do as far as activities for the kids and Family.read more

Ballard Park is a smaller park, but it has a lot going for it. It has a boat launch, a children's…read moreplayground pavilions, a basketball court, tennis courts, rest rooms, and more. This was a great place to chill for a bit and just unwind. I would definitely recommend here.

My family loves this park! I grew up here, and now my children are. The playground is gated and has…read moregreat play equipment, there is a basketball and tennis court, LOTS of space to fish, kayak and enjoy family time. PLUS dolphins and manatees! The only thing we don't like is the bathrooms... they are in need of a major upgrade.

Awesome park. Clean. Multiple play sets for kids, swings, slides, baseball and football fields.read more

Wells Park in Melbourne is named in honor of William Twining Wells and his wife Nora who donated a…read more30 acre tract of land for the park in the 1920's. Mr. and Mrs. Wells were formerly from New Jersey and New York where Mr. Wells owned the Wells Rustless Iron Company. When they came to the Melbourne area Mr. Wells purchased a pineapple plantation on the beach. He built the couples Queen Anne house Green Gables in 1866 on the Indian River as their winter residence for the health of Nora who tended to get pneumonia every year in the harsh northern winters. It was the first home built in the area to have indoor plumbing and an indoor bathroom. On May 18, 2016, the home was added to the U.S. Register of National Historic Places. The Wells were very philanthropic and instrumental in the early foundation of Melbourne. The couple built the first library and donated the land for the building. They built a high school, also donating land and personally paying the teachers' salaries. In 1897 they donated the property for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Mr. Wells built the roads in Melbourne and brought the Florida East Coast Railway to town. The park is located behind the Melbourne Library. Walking/jogging paths in the park wind around picturesque ponds, one of which had a fountain in the middle of it. Park amenities include a pavilion, picnic areas with tables, and a playground. My favorite part of the park was the birds. It was filled with friendly geese, ducks, ibis, and endangered wood storks. I am especially fond of the adorable Pekin ducks. I absolutely loved seeing the wildlife here. A big thank you to the Wells for having the foresight to preserve this peaceful oasis of nature for the future generations of Melbourne.

A decent park during the day. Wells Park, located next to…read morethe Melbourne Auditorium and close to the public library, is a quiet, low-key spot that serves as a simple outdoor escape. It's not flashy or heavily updated--in fact, parts of it feel a bit run down--but it still has a certain charm, especially if you're looking for a peaceful place to walk, sit, or enjoy some time outside during the daylight hours. In the recent past I have seen lots of homeless there and would not feel safe there after dark. They recently posted signs I believe to counteract this problem and on this recent visit I did not see any on the south side of the park. The park features two small lakes that are home to a good number of geese and ducks. The times I have visited recently, they are almost always wandering around or lounging near the water. Kids and adults seem to love feeding them, though they can be a little bold when they're expecting food. In fact several of them came to visit as soon as I parked and stepped out of my car. There are a few picnic tables and shaded areas, though some of the infrastructure--like benches and walkways--could use a refresh. There is a fenced in playground that seemed decent with swings and slides and kids using them. Overall, during the day, Wells Park doesn't have fancy amenities, but it does offer space to stretch your legs, read a book, or enjoy a quiet moment by the water. Its proximity to the library and auditorium makes it a convenient spot for a quick break. It's not a destination park, but if you're in the area, it's a decent place to stop and relax during the day.

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.

This playground is a great spot for kids of all ages to play and is 100% handicap and special needs…read moreaccessible! My three kids loved it. Parents can easily play with kids and help kids on equipment as well. Not too much grass around to throw a ball or play catch or soccer but the equipment and swings are great. Here are the details: Bathrooms? Yes Water fountain? Yes Can you see from road? No- must drive into neighborhood to see it. Picnic and sitting benches? Yes and some shaded Park and equipment shielded from sun? No. Very hot in full sun. Suggested to go mornings or evenings in summer or being a towel to shield skin. Basic info: 100% Handicapped and Special Needs Accessible Playground ADA Accessible Benches Electricity Free Wi-Fi Grill Mature Shade Trees Parking Pavilion Picnic Tables Rentals Restrooms Water Fountain

This park is fantastic since the renovation! It's now packed with fun and exciting features for…read morekids of all ages. There is a seated merry go round which is a huge hit as well as a seated zip line that hold multiple kids. There are clean bathrooms and water fountains available, which makes it super convenient for families. The covered pavilion is perfect for birthday parties or just relaxing with lunch at one of the many picnic tables. We absolutely love spending time here--it's become one of our favorite spots!