Mackle Park was named in honor of Frank E. Mackle Jr. (1916-1993). Mackle was a developer who had…read morepreviously developed Key Biscayne with his brothers. Frank arrived in what was then a primitive Marco Island in 1962 and saw potential in the undeveloped town. He was soon joined in the venture by his brothers, Elliott and Robert. All of the brothers were engineers and were employed by the Deltona Corporation founded by their father. Frank became the President of the Deltona Corporation and led the modernization of Marco Island. Mackle Park is impressive as it has everything that residents and visitors to Marco Island could want in outdoor recreation. The park has a community center with teen center, basketball court, bocce courts, open field area for play, picnic area, shuffleboard courts, a soccer/football field, volleyball court, and splash pad. One of the standout feature of the park is the creative playground that is a hit with kids. It has a pirate ship, castle turrets, and lots of places to climb and engage in imaginative play. My favorite part of the park is the beautifully landscaped walking path that winds around the lake. A sign at the entrance to the trail shows how you can increase the half mile walk around the lake to .9 miles by incorporating walking the perimeter of the fields in the back of the park. It is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a more vigorous jog. The lake is also a great place to bird watch and fish. Mackle Park has something for everyone. It offers a blend of recreational facilities and natural beauty that makes it a must-visit for anyone in the area. Whether you're looking to let the kids play, enjoy a peaceful walk, or partake in community events or a class, Mackle Park offers it all and more.

Frank E. Mackle Park on Marco Island is a park for adults and children of all ages. The park…read moreoffers a large playground for the young kids to enjoy. It is fenced in so it is easy to keep a eye on your kids or grandkids. There are basketball courts, shuffle board areas, soccer fields and more. There is a water area for the younger kid to get wet and cool done. There is a large indoor recreation area with games and events all year round for kids and adults.

Tigertail Beach is a unique destination and an adventure for visitors to Marco Island, a corner of…read moreFlorida surrounded by the Everglades and mangrove islands. The beach is named after a Seminole leader and what makes it so special is that it is divided by a tidal lagoon. The developed lagoon side is an important bird habitat and it has amenities like a playground and restrooms. To reach the beach side you wade through the lagoon which is about 50 yards and which allows you to reach the waters of the Gulf. If you prefer not to walk through the lagoon you can walk around the lagoon to the south to reach the beach in about 20 minutes. The main part of Tigertail Beach across from the lagoon is Sand Dollar Island or Sand Dollar Spit. The area was an off shore sandbar completely surrounded by water until the winds of Hurricane Wilma and erosion connected it to Marco Island. It is known for its incredible deposits of sand dollars, giving it the name and making it a favorite spot to find sand dollars and shells. Adjacent to the park is Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area managed by the state and it is a resting site for a variety of migratory shorebirds. Tigertail Beach is a birding hot spot during spring and fall migration. It is a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, one of the longest running programs of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The trail consists of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites across the state. Things to keep in mind, if you are going to to the beach pack what you can carry if you plan on crossing the lagoon. Most people carry their belongings overhead. Parking is ten dollars to park or a Collier County beach pass. if you like a beach adventure and nature, this may be the experience for you.

We went to Tigertail Beach on Thursday at the suggestion of some friends…read more Be prepared for nearly a half mile walk from the parking lot to the ocean. And if you are walking barefoot, the beach is very shelly, not the white soft sands and some of the other beaches we visited in the area. If I was hunting for seashells, this might be a good beach, but I probably wouldn't come back just for a beach day. Between the long walk and lack of bathroom facilities or food nearby, I would pass.

I went to Donna Fiala water park. Minimal areas to swim. There is a section of fountains that are 3…read morefeet. A lane of a pool where you can be at 5 feet. A space of 12 feet for the diving boards, a lower and higher one. Obviously the higher diving board will create a harder impact going into the water. I got water in ears of mine twice off the diving boards. First time fizzled out, second time needed hydrogen peroxide when I got home. The ladder out of pool isn't so easy to climb. I did try both Water slides. The yellow tubed one was super fast. The blue one was open air and slower. You could feel the grooves where sections of slide were put together on your back when going down the slides. Also, you did not dispense into a pool at bottom of slide but stayed in your lane which made for an abrupt landing and not so easy to get up and out! :) kids under the height requirement could handle the blue slide! :)

This water park at Eagle Lakes is a great find! At only $1.50 - $2 for entry, it was an affordable…read moreday of family fun! You can (and in fact, you're encouraged to) bring your own snacks/drinks, but they also have a small concessions area. We packed a cooler of drinks (la croix and some harder bevvies for the adults in our group), sandwiches, and snacks, and headed to this park for the afternoon. There was a large kids pool that was at most 3 1/2 feet deep, with a bunch of squirting machines and a giant wheel that dumps water. My nephews and niece really enjoyed this one, and it was large enough that there was still room to swim around and have fun. There was also a nice ledge along the back side of the pool (away from the attractions) so you can comfortably sit! There was also a large pool (that was much colder!) with lap lanes, an area to hang/swim, and a high and low diving board. There was always a small line for the diving boards, the kids were having so much fun! On top of all that, there are 2 water slides and an infant pool. The pool areas are well-staffed with lifeguards who were on top of keeping an eye on everything, blowing the whistle to get the attention of people, making sure kids were walking not running, and keeping the area safe. There's also a good blend of chairs in the sun and picnic type tables in the shade. We had a blast here and it's a great place for a family fun day!

So beautiful!! Easy walking trail with observation deck along the way. Saw a gator and lots of…read morebirds! No shade really along the trail. Take your binoculars! This was really a lovely treat to find such different terrain, wildlife from Colorado. Would definitely recommend!

A great hiking trail to see wildlife. Parking is somewhat limited but no admission charge. Some…read moreparts of the trail are wide open and allow for great views of the Everglades and its inhabitants. I saw a ton of birds and a few gators. Other parts are surrounded by thick mangroves. The tower allows for great views from above.

A state park that has hiking and bike trails. There is a lot of history within the park. There are…read moredifferent areas of the park that highlight the history, like memorials and such. This is a place where a lot of people do camp. It was nice to explore. You definitely need bug spray.

This State Park does a good job of dotting the " i's " and crossing the " t's ". There's hiking…read moretrails, camping, fishing, kayaking / canoeing, a pavilion, picnic tables, kiddies playground, and some interesting historical items. Admission is $5.00 per vehicle (maximum of 8 people), or $2.00 per person (pedestrians or bicyclists). I was on my motorcycle so I fell in the top category. I rode to the boat launch area first. This was a nice place to launch a boat or kayak. It was a protected bay like area. There was a floating boat dock nearby where one could fish from. In the same area as the boat launch was the hiking trail. It was closed (the park employee at the entrance had already told me) probably because of Hurricane Ian damages? Also the picnic and playground area was in this area. here. Restrooms are on site too. The next stop I visited while in the park was the historic Bay City Walking Dredge No. 489. This feat of engineering was used in the 1920's to help build the Tamiami Trail through the Florida Everglades. From the information provided, "Built in Bay City Michigan, this walking dredge followed the drilling and blasting rigs, averaging 80 feet per 10 hour shift. Dynamite was used to blast the limestone into small enough chunks for the dredge to lift." The road was completed, finally linking Tampa to Miami in 1928, with the help of this machine. For the mechanical and engineering nerds (like me), you'll want to see and read about this. Ha! I had a good time here and recommend you check this place out. I am going with 4 stars because the hiking trail was closed and the canoe rental cabin where one could also buy drinks was closed. Hopefully these will open in the near future.

Sugden Regional Park in Collier County is a very large park…read more This park is great for all ages. The 60 acre park offers many amenities such as a large lake, a beach area, paddle boats, walking paths and areas for family picnics. There is plenty of parking and public restrooms. Dogs are also permitted.

This park is absolutely gorgeous. I had not checked it out but have been curious because the water…read morein my yard is connected to the lake here and I wanted to see if I go kayaking where I'd come out. Plenty of parking, playground, beaches etc etc

Winterberry Park is an athletic park in Marco Island. Park amenities include a baseball/softball…read morefield, concession stand, open field for play, restroom, and a soccer/football field. Locals use the park to kick around a soccer ball, practicing baseball and softball, throw a football, and play cricket. This park is also the home of the Marco Island Senior Softball Players who play on the field year-round. Many of the players retired to Marco Island just for the ability to play senior softball year-round where it has an almost cult-like following from the players, their family members, and friends. I stopped by the park not for a baseball game but to look for eagles. A nest was reported a few years back on a pole in the park but I didn't see any eagles on my visit. Another great spot to try and view eagles nearby is the Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.

They are redoing the walkway/ the walk isn't open it will be very nice when it's finished!read more

Today we did the extra activity on our list, driving to Shell Island Road and walking the…read moreboardwalk. Rain was threatening, but we took the chance, and we enjoyed it. The walk is a half mile long through several ecosystems. Signs tell you about the areas. The walk is easy, and on a sunny day you'll want sunscreen and a hat. You can walk quickly and get your steps in going around several times. Or you can stroll looking for animals. The boardwalk is well maintained as you can see that boards are being replaced. This is a place you can bring the family, and come anytime during the waking hours. Except for about 25 yards of a sandy trail, the boardwalk is handicapped accessible.

One of Collier County's most popular parks is the Veteran's Community Park that is on land that was…read moreformerly known as the Glon Property. Shortly after Marco Island was incorporated the city spent 10 million dollars in the early 2000's to purchase one of the last plots of land in order to save it for public use rather than development. After struggling for many years on how to best move forward with the design of the park, the city finally decided in 2020 to spend 11 million dollars rebuilding the park to incorporate the elements that the community voiced wanting. The city reopened the park in December of 2022 with many improvements that included a multi-generational play area, a state-of-the-art bandshell with concert lawn, a Veterans' Memorial Garden, new restroom facilities, and a large space with new sod and landscaping for the farmer's market. I love the beautiful fountain in the veteran's memorial, the gorgeous landscaping throughout the park, the bench swings, the ping pong tables, and the unique playground equipment. The wide paved paths that wind throughout the park are ideal for exercise and bike riding. With the upgrades to the park Marco Island is now able to host a wide range of programs, events, and activities that are accessible and welcoming to people of all ages all year round. Veterans Park is the site of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Celebration, the farmers market which is every Wednesday from November through late April, Arts and Craft fairs, and the annual Seafood and Music Festival sponsored by the island's two Rotary Clubs and the Kiwanis Club. Veteran's Community Park is a place where residents and visitors alike can enjoy outdoor activities, spend quality time with family, and reflect on the contributions of veterans. If you're on the island, it's definitely worth a visit.

Marco Island's Veterans Park is a stunning park. The park features swings, a sizable playground, a…read morewalking path alongside the park and river, the Blue Star Memorial, and an amphitheater for events and performances. Spend a couple of hours with your family or children. Public parking is plentiful. There is a farmers market on specific days of the week.

This is a serene park park under the bridge at N Collier Ave. It doesn't have its own parking lot…read morebut I found parking at the Marco Lutheran Church next to the park. This park was named in honor of Jane Hittler (September 16,1914 - January 12, 2006). Jane was known as the First Lady of Marco Island for helping to develop the city since 1967. Some of her many accomplishments and awards included renovating the Marco Island Cemetery in 1969, founded the Maro Island Youth Center in 1973, Grandmother and Chairman of YMCA in 1977, Citizen of the Year in 1984, Woman Achiever of Collier County in 1986, National Landscape Award for Beautification of Marco Island received at White House in 1988, Islander of Year in 1992, Dedication of MJ Hittler Park in 1992, and Distinguished Eagle Award, Fundraiser for development of Urgent Care Center, Volunteer in 2001. Jane was a founding member of the Marco Island Historical Society, served for 20 years on the Collier County Beautification Committee, was instrumental in funding the five parks in Marco Island, was the first leader of the Annual Prayer Breakfast, and promoted the creation of the Marco island Museum Building. Jane Hittler's dedication to Marco Island was deep and she was the driving force behind so many of the projects that made the community a better place to live. After opening in 1992, the park was redesigned in 2008 and it reopened on March 25, 2009. One of Hittler Park's best features is the beautiful view of Smokehouse Bay. There are also benches, public art, a community board, and a paved walkway. It is the perfect spot to fish or just relax as I did on a beautiful afternoon. Other than the rather unfortunate name, this park is a gem of tranquility in Marco Island.

Jane Hittler Park is a cute little spot off of Collier Boulevard where you can sit and look out at…read moreSmokehouse Bay. We visited on a recent trip to Marco Island and enjoyed taking some time to relax here. It's a very nice park, but super small. It's doesn't have alot of facilities and there's no parking or easy access if you're driving, but it's nice for a quick visit if you just want to chill out and look at the water.