I love a spot of Nature. So, I was intrigued to visit. One reason being - I was already in the area…read moreand was dining at Yak (see my other review) - which is located literally dead opposite on the other side of the water way. Bill Keith Preserve is located in the Shady Banks neighborhood in southwest Fort Lauderdale. Bill Keith Preserve was purchased as part of the Broward County Parks Bond and was officially opened by the City in 2009. The park was named in memory of Bill Keith who was a dedicated preservationist and longtime supporter of the Shady Banks neighborhood. The park is located at 1720 SW 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. Normally open from sunrise to sunset, the park is approximately 3.4 acres and with canoe and kayak access to the South Fork New River. To be honest I was so sorry to see the state of the area. There was so much debris that was on the shore edges. Such a shame. This is one thing I cannot understand. Most people love nature, right? Free stuff? free parks? We pay our taxes! and yet, it looked sorry and sad today. I don't know who is responsible, but I would imagine Bill Keith would be upset to see the demise. To be noted I am a local artist and love photography, so my photos DO NOT depict the "nastiness".

This park is great for picnics, nice walks, and getting great pictures and beautiful views. It…read moreshows you what Florida looked like before all of the sea walls. This is a great place to hangout and have a fun time. Pictures below :). P.S Great wildlife here! (Ducks, lizards, birds, etc.)

Schonberger Park is part of North Bay Village, a waterfront community situated between the cities…read moreof Miami and Miami Beach in the middle of Biscayne Bay. North Bay Village is made of three islands, Harbor, North Bay and Treasure Island. The town was created in 1940 by dredging and bulk heading. Schonberger Park is located on Treasure Island. This neighborhood park was named in honor of Phil Schonberger, a member of North Bay Village's town zoning and recreation boards in the early 1990's. Schonberger Park is on Galleon Street. The islands and streets of North Bay Village have nautical names and in keeping with the this, the park was given a pirate theme in 2015. Ahoy Mateys! Shiver my timbers. This park has a two creative pirate ship play areas, one for toddlers and one for older children. Restrooms are available in a trailer. Parking is limited on the street due to the current demolition of the Public Works building next door. The park is currently open and remains a popular play area for the neighborhood children.

This is a very nice children's playground and park behind the North Bay Village Treasure Island…read moreElementary School that is tucked out of the way of traffic. It is located on a neighborhood street. There is street parking available. The park offers a swing set with 3 toddler swings and 3 regular swings. There is also a bright red slide to climb up to and come whizzing down on! In the front of the playground is a well-built pirate ship to climb around in. Kids could have a birthday party here because there are several picnic tables. In case of rain or too much sunshine, there is a covered area with tables. This is a very well thought out children's playground with benches and tables placed at strategic spots for parents and grandparents so they can keep an eye on the children. It is all fenced with a gate in the front, so kids can not run out into the street. There are restrooms here, which is important. No dogs are allowed. There is another park in NBV for dogs. Nicely paved sidewalks for walking around for exercise. The grassy areas are level, and landscaping is kept up. I was impressed with this park.

Dr. Paul Vogel Park is one of three parks in North Bay Village, a waterfront community situated…read morebetween the cities of Miami and Miami Beach in the middle of Biscayne Bay. North Bay Village is made of three islands, Harbor Bay, North Bay and Treasure Island. The town was created in 1940 by dredging and bulk heading so North Bay Village has amazing water views. North Bay Village was once home to nightclubs, mobsters, and thousands of snowbirds. Today you will find high rises and a bustling business district. This park is named in honor of a chiropractor from the Bronx: Dr. Paul Vogel, who served as Mayor on the North Bay Village Commission from 1982-1998. Dr. Vogel was also US Coast Guard veteran. He passed away at the age of 84 in 2012 while still in office. He is credited with transforming sleepy North Bay Village into a more family focused community by bringing people together and adding amenities that made life better for city residents. In 2010 this Harbor Bay Island park was renamed in his honor. This small but well maintained park has a restroom, paved walking/exercise path, outdoor fitness equipment, picnic pavilion, and a shade coveted playground with rubber flooring. I think the nicest feature of this park is the stunning view of Biscayne Bay. Another unique feature of the park is in the form of a public art piece. Near the entrance to the park is a blue cylinder with a QR code on top. If you scan the code it takes you to the Cortada Foundation page where you will find information on climate change and how the rise in sea level is affecting Broward and Miami Dade Counties. The foundation places art installations in various public spaces to bring attention to this issue. In 2024 North Bay Village broke ground on the Vogel Park Marine Facility project funded by a grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND). The project provides residents with enhanced access to the waters of Biscayne Bay from a kayak launch equipped with a mechanical lever system. The facility will include a dock to berth the NBVPD Marine Patrol Unit which patrols and secures North Bay Village's waterways.

This park is on north bay village however dogs are not allowed at all which is fine as there's also…read morea dog park on the island! Nice grass and a playground all well maintained!

I love the beautifully designed Collins Park. The park fronts the Ocean between 21st and 22nd…read moreStreets on land that Miami Beach pioneer John S. Collins donated as a permanent public park in 1914. Collins was an American Quaker farmer from Moorestown, New Jersey who moved to South Florida at the turn of the 20th century. Along with Carl Fisher and the Lummus Brothers, Collins was a founder and developer of Miami Beach. He was a farmer, horticulturalist and innovator. Collins Park marks the start of South Beach's boardwalk which extends for more than 20 city blocks and it is home to the Bass Museum of Art. The museum is located in a keystone building built in 1930 as a library and cultural center and was designed by Collins' grandson Russell Pancoast. In 1964 it became the first permanent museum in Miami-Dade County. Today the park is used to stage events like weddings and receptions. Adding to the beauty of the park is the manicured lawns, wide sidewalks, palm trees, and public art. The majestic Baobab Tree is not to be missed. In some African cultures, the tree is considered the Tree of Life due to its strength and size. On the day I visited the park was being restored from a recent storm that knocked down a lot of tree limbs. Within hours of the storm the city was already cleaning up and restoring the park.

Designed by John A. Collins, the manicured park in the South Beach Historic District. 17th street…read moreis to the south while 25th Street to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east & Dade County Blvd. to the west. This is considered the cultural hub of Miami Beach, housing the Bass Museum of Art, Miami City Ballet, convention center, The SoBe Music Institute, Holocaust Memorial, the Miami Design and Preservation League & CANDO Art's Co-op. I couldn't miss Mountain Miami a tall neon multicolored sculpture, a conceptual artwork consisting of destroyed permanent art or something just spitballing. It was commissioned by Miami's neighboring Bass Museum of Art.

Miramar is the southern most city in Broward County. The city was founded by A.L. Mailman as a…read morebedroom community for nearby Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Mailman built 56 inexpensive homes of concrete with flat roofs which sold quickly because of their low cost and which launched the city of Miramar. The city was incorporated on May 26, 1955, and was named for the Miramar area of Havana, Cuba where Mailman had a summer home. Miramar translates to look at the sea in Spanish Miramar has a number of well appointed parks both large and small. On the smaller side is the Miramar Civic Center Park which is located next door to the Miramar Aquatic Center Complex. Several people were using the Civic Center Park parking lot for the aquatics center. I stopped by the park to enjoy a Friday afternoon picnic lunch and found it to be clean and well maintained although the grill appeared to be out of service. There is a large pavilion providing shade over several picnic tables. The park has also has a paved exercise path with fitness stations, benches, and a shade covered playground. With the aquatics center next door, this is a nice outdoor space to enjoy a lunch, play, or get in a little exercise.

Cute little park with swings, playground, shelter, tables, benches, and ample parking. This park is…read moreright next to the aquatic center. Unless you have kids not much to do here. No bathroom at this park.

Arch Creek was a Native American settlement in what is now present day Miami. Tequesta Indians…read morethrived here until the early 16th century when European settlers arrived. The name Arch Creek comes from a natural limestone bridge that spanned the creek and was once part of an important Native American trail. The bridge collapsed in 1973 after trees with roots likely holding the bridge were removed. This area includes Arch Creek Memorial Park and the Arch Creek Environmental Preserve. Arch Creek Environmental Preserve is a 13 acre nature preserve with a mangrove forest and coastal estuary. Mangroves are important because they help reduce erosion and they filter pollutants out of the water. It is a vital wildlife corridor between two major state conservation areas, Oleta River State Park Annex and the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve. Some of the diverse wildlife you may see here includes manatees, saltwater crocodiles, wood storks, great-horned owls, egrets, herons, pelicans, ospreys, swamp rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, box turtles, land crabs, ghost crabs, eagle rays, mullet, snapper, snook, grouper, and more. Arch Creek Environmental Preserve was designated as an Environmental Preserve in perpetuity by the City of North Miami in 2007. The Urban Paradise Guild has worked for years on habitat restoration projects such as removing invasive plants like Australian Pines and planting mangroves. There is limited parking at the start of the trail and the trail ends at the campus of Florida International University. The preserve includes a butterfly garden and the paved exercise trail used by walkers, runners, cyclists, bird watchers, and nature lovers. This was an enjoyable place to take a walk and enjoy nature in the middle of urban Miami. Whether you're looking for a quiet stroll, a safe place to exercise, or simply somewhere to unwind outside, Arch Creek Environmental Preserve offers a welcoming and accessible haven for nature enthusiasts.

I lived across the street from Arch Creek East for 10 years and somehow missed paradise hiding in…read moreplain sight. It took a global pandemic, endless doomscrolling, and one long walk to realize there was a slice of untouched Florida literally across the street from me the whole time. COVID-19 gave us a lot of things -- paranoia, banana bread obsessions, and, for me, the gift of finally discovering this little Eden. Arch Creek East is where Miami sheds the neon and noise and quietly reminds you what existed before developers paved paradise into condo parking lots. It's part of the ancient hammock ecosystem, sitting on what was once a Tequesta Native American settlement. Spanish explorers passed through here centuries ago, and if you close your eyes long enough, you can almost hear the whispers of history in the mangroves -- or maybe that's just the ibis arguing with the egrets. This place is wild Florida at its best. Winding trails, shaded canopies, and a breeze off Biscayne Bay that feels like nature hitting the reset button. You'll spot herons, manatees if you're lucky, and the occasional kayaker who looks way more coordinated than I'll ever be. During lockdown, this became my sanctuary -- my daily escape from cabin fever and bad news cycles. Arch Creek East isn't just beautiful, though; it's peaceful in a way Miami rarely is. There's no blasting reggaeton, no condo noise, no traffic screaming at you -- just water, wildlife, and sky. Pro tip: bring bug spray, a camera, and your curiosity. And if you've been living nearby for nearly two decades without visiting, do yourself a favor -- don't wait for a pandemic to stumble into paradise like I did.

This cute green space, about 0.5 acres big is just a nice space for those who live or stay around…read morethe area...there's really nothing of importance at this park, but benches to sit, green spaces to lay a blanket and a bike share station for those looking to get on/off a shared bike. It's like the green vestibule for the Sun Tower hotel and the Pelican Grand. I am sure many of the residents of the Palms might also use this as a place to bring their dogs. Right on A1A.

Willingham Park is named for Edward J. "Ned" Willingham, a land developer from Georgia who settled…read morein this area. He is said to have come up with the name for Wilton Manors in the late 1920s. This park is a small piece of land sandwiched between AIA and the towers on the beach. Parking is at meters next to the park. Willingham Park has a paved pathway, trees, and a covered pavilion with stone seats. Even though there isn't much in the park it was surprisingly busy. People were sitting on the chairs and posing for pictures and the trees were full of birds. For two decades Ft. Lauderdale has not invested any money into park improvements. In 2018 the community voted to support the Park Bonds Program which will use $200 million dollars to improve and create new parks. Willingham park is one of the 97 parks that is part of the bond improvement program. It is set to receive $201,000 of the bond money for improvements. The Parks Bond program solicited comments from the public to see what they wanted added to the park. It will be interesting to see how they use the money.

This cute little park across from the Riverside Hotel offers nice views of downtown Fort…read moreLauderdale....there are a few places to sit, not very big... It is located at the spot where Federal Highway goes under the New River.The park is located near the spot where Frank Stranahan used to dock the ferry he used to take travelers heading north across the New River....today you can take the Water Trolley to this little park if you are spending time on the Riverwalk along the New River.

Previously called Tunnel Top Park, Stranahan Landing is a park that sits on top of the Henry Kinney…read moreTunnel. It is located at the spot where Federal Highway goes under the New River. It offers a wonderful view of downtown Fort Lauderdale across the New River. Park amenities include benches and a bike rack. Green shaded lights sit at the top of 8 foot lamp posts. Parking spaces are limited. The park is located near the spot where Frank Stranahan used to dock the ferry he used to take travelers heading north across the New River. The Stranahan House which was once a trading post where the Stranahans traded with the Seminoles sits across the New River from the park. Stranahan Landing connects to Smoker Family Park. It is a peaceful place to take a stroll and take in the beautiful water view as the boats sail down the New River.