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.

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.

Triangle Park was created in the 1950s when State Road A1A was divided into two one way lanes to…read moreimprove traffic flow. The small triangular space that resulted was not wasted. The city transformed it into a welcoming landmark for visitors arriving in Cocoa Beach. The park's most notable feature is a 10 foot statue of Cocoa Beach native and world champion surfer Kelly Slater. It also features a memorial honoring MIA/POW veterans, a "Welcome to Downtown Cocoa Beach" sign, and a waterfall fountain. There is no dedicated parking or public restroom at the park. Visitors can park at the lot across the street and must cross two busy lanes of traffic to reach it. Despite its small size, Triangle Park is a popular stop for photos, especially with the Welcome to Cocoa Beach sign and the Kelly Slater statue which are instantly recognizable landmarks.

You can access the Johnnie Johnson Nature Trails from the free parking lot for the Brevard Museum…read moreof History and Natural Science and Eastern Florida State College. The winding network of paved and natural earth trails meanders through 22 acres of native Florida upland and wetland ecosystems surrounding Clear Lake. The trails are named in honor of Johnnie Johnson, a prominent local naturalist and historian who served for many years on the Brevard County Historical Commission. During the 1960s, Johnson surveyed and documented what remained of the ancient Ais Indian mounds in the area. He coined the name "Ulumay" for the nearby sanctuary, which was later dedicated as a historical landmark by the Brevard County Historical Commission in 1993. Through his work and extensive knowledge of local history, Johnson preserved and documented the Indigenous history of the Space Coast. His legacy continues to shape conservation efforts in this part of Florida. There is a sign marking the entrance to the trails and they were easy to hike. The preserve is home to endangered gopher tortoises, although I didn't spot any during my visit. Even on a hot summer day, the dense tree canopy provided plenty of shade cooling the trail. I especially enjoyed the lovely Spanish moss draping from the trees giving it an Old Florida feel. My only disappointment was that there aren't many clear views of Clear Lake. Much of the shoreline has become overgrown with invasive vegetation, making it difficult to see the lake. I finally caught a glimpse from it from Travis park where the trail ends. If you visit the museum I highly recommend you take a few minutes for this hike that will help you appreciate how this area looked when the indigenous people lived here thousands of years ago.

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.

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.

The City of Titusville, Florida, is known as the "Gateway to Nature and Space." One place where you…read morecan experience the natural beauty of Florida's Space Coast is the Long Lake Recreation Area. I actually stumbled upon this park while searching for another destination nearby. That happy accident led me to this tree filled outdoor recreational area. This area also has a fascinating history. During Florida's Archaic Period (approximately 8,000-1,000 BC), it was home to an Indigenous group of hunter-gatherers. In 1982, the remains of 169 children and adults were discovered in a peat bog that had been disturbed during the construction of a housing development. The remarkable archaeological find, known as the Windover Archaeological Site, provided a unique glimpse into the lives of Florida's earliest inhabitants. Today, the site is part of the Windover Farms neighborhood in Titusville, a community of one-acre homesites located near the Kennedy Space Center. The Long Lake Recreation Area is intended for residents of the Windover Farms subdivision and their guests. Amenities include tennis and racquetball courts, a playground, a disc golf course, and a picnic pavilion. My favorite part of the park was the playground. It still features some classic old school equipment that instantly took me back to my childhood. There was a tall metal slide that looked like it would be scorching hot on a sunny Florida afternoon. It was also much steeper than the slides you typically see today. I even spotted a seesaw, something I haven't come across in years. Most of this type of equipment has been replaced with newer, safer designs, so seeing these nostalgic pieces again was a fun trip down memory lane.

This 92-acre Brevard County park, located behind the Eastern Florida State College gymnasium, is an…read moreexample of how environmental restoration and public recreation can coexist together. It was created through a unique partnership among Brevard County Natural Resources Watershed Management, Eastern Florida State College, the City of Titusville, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and Parrish Medical Center. Within the park is a series of interconnected lakes designed as a stormwater treatment system that cleans runoff from both Titusville and unincorporated Brevard County before it enters the Indian River Lagoon. Wetland vegetation naturally filters pollutants from the water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. Without this treatment, stormwater runoff can contribute to algal blooms, muck accumulation, fish kills, and other ecological problems that threaten the lagoon's health. Beyond its environmental benefits, the restored wetlands provide valuable habitat for wildlife, particularly Florida's wading birds, while offering visitors opportunities for nature observation and outdoor recreation. The park contains a variety of habitats, including artificial lakes, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, mangrove communities, and hardwood and sabal palm hammocks. Visitors can explore approximately three miles of paved trails, including a scenic 2.6-mile loop for walking, running, and cycling. Additional amenities include a five-story wildlife observation tower offering a stunning view of the wetlands, athletic fields, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and access to the surrounding trail network. The park is an official stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a statewide network of more than 500 premier wildlife-viewing sites. It is well known for its abundant wildlife, and visitors can expect to see Ospreys, herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators, one reason swimming is prohibited in the lakes. During my visit, I spotted Black Vultures, a Great Blue Heron, and a Great Egret. Other species frequently seen here include Wood Storks, Glossy Ibises, Cattle Egrets, Mottled Ducks, Laughing Gulls, and Forster's Terns. Roseate Spoonbills make occasional appearances, along with Bald Eagles while ospreys are common throughout the park. During migration along the hammock trails you may find songbirds such as Prairie Warblers in spring and fall, or Painted Buntings during the winter months. The park also hosts the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, one of the largest birding festivals in the country. Cyclists will appreciate that the park serves as a trailhead for both the Brevard Coast-to-Coast Trail and the East Coast Greenway, providing miles of additional scenic riding along the corridor that parallels US 1. Chain of Lakes Park demonstrates how wetlands can improve water quality, support wildlife, and help protect one of Florida's most valuable ecosystems while also making a great recreational space for wildlife photography, walking, cycling, and play in a beautiful natural setting.

Beautiful park with a nice playground. The park itself has all kinds of things like a soccer field…read moreand more. It's huge but we only went to the playground area. There's a few benches and picnic tables. It's clean with pretty surroundings.