Westbrook Park is a 2.5-acre community park located in the Westchester neighborhood of Miami, 10…read moremiles west of downtown. Once consisting largely of swamp land, the area was transformed after the construction of drainage canals in 1907, becoming prime real estate by the 1920s. Following World War II, Westchester experienced significant growth as returning soldiers purchased homes using low-interest financing guaranteed by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Today, the neighborhood is known for its well-kept homes and convenient location near major expressways, hospitals, Florida International University (FIU), and Miami International Airport. While driving through Westchester, I spotted Westbrook Park and decided to stop and take a look. The park features a playground, a grilling area with picnic tables, benches, and open space for recreation and exercise. I visited in the early evening and especially appreciated the solar-powered lighting system. A 1,300-foot paved walkway winds through the park and is illuminated by 78 bollard lights. The system is powered by electricity generated from five solar panel stations located throughout the park. The lighted pathway makes it inviting for a stroll. Westbrook Park is a well kept neighborhood green space that is an example of how improvements can enhance a community park.

AJ King Park in Miami Gardens was named in honor of Audrey J King, one of the inaugural City…read moreCouncil members for Miami Gardens. Mrs. King also served as an elected official of Miami- Dade County Community Council Member for Area 3- from 1996 through 2000. She was a member of the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP. Audrey King passed away on September 30, 2005. In 2006, the City Council of Miami Gardens officially changed the name of Carol Park to A.J. King Park. AJ King Park is an open 5.6 acres. Miami Gardens residents can enjoy a baseball field, meeting room, computer lab, restrooms, multi purpose field, and a playground with swings, slides, and climbing equipment. Summer camp and day camp programs are provided by the Miami Gardens Recreation Department at the park. I enjoyed walking around the park and the playground looks like a fun place to take kids to play.

J. Fritz and Frances Gordon Park was designed in the 1920's by renowned landscape architect Donald…read moreRoss. Its lush gardens, rustic fountain plaza and stone and wood-covered walkway give visitors the allusion of walking through a palace garden in the south of Spain. The J. Fritz and Frances Gordon Park contains the historic 1927 Coral Gables Prado Entrance. Coral Gables was planned by George Merrick as one of the first communities in the United States. He started selling lots for it in 1921. Merrick designed the city to have four entry arches. This archway is located at the NW corner of the City of Coral Gables at S.W. 8th Street Tamiami Trail and S.W. 57th Avenue Red Road. In his early planning stages of the city of Coral Gables George Merrick had planned on developing the Country Club Prado section as the city's downtown. In the end he decided to move it east to be closer to the already established towns of Miami, Coconut Grove, and Brickell. This entrance to the city was built by Denman Fink, uncle to Gables founder George Merrick. The archway was designed to look like a Mediterranean plaza. There are two walkways made of brick and stucco with wood trellises covered in bougainvillea. In between the walkways there used to be a reflection pool but it no longer holds waster. There also used to be a waterfall. At each end of the plaza are pedestal water fountains that also no longer hold water. Arches divide the city's grand boulevard and large oak trees stand guard over the park. The fairytale gateway to the city is very popular as a backdrop for photographers. On the day I visited the area was flooded with kids taking their prom pictures. Although parts of the structure are decaying it adds to the Mediterranean charm of the city.

Where is Rapunzel? Can you see the cut out hearts? This gem is called Coral Gables Wayside Park…read moreand is located in Coral Gables. Talk about Mediterranean Revival. It consists of 8 towers and a park at the western entrance to Coral Gables. Coral Gables Waterway passes right through this park. A pair of 13-foot square towers form the entrance with additional smaller towers that flank SW 34th and 35th street. On January 19, 1989, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

This park looks like something out of a fairy tale. Located at the western edge of Coral Gables…read morethis park has eight Mediterranean Revival style towers that were built in 1925. Two thirteen foot tall towers form the entrance while the smaller towers are on 34th and 35th street. The Coral Gables waterway passes through the park and it is filled with ducks and wading birds. This park was added to the US National Register of Historic places on January 19, 1989. It is a lovely spot to have a picnic under one of the large shade trees as you take in the charming view.

Miami River Rapids Park is a pocket park across from the Miami River. Pocket parks are generally…read moreless than a half acre in size and can have different amenities for the public. This type of mini park arose from a desire in communities to have places for kids to play instead of another building or wasted vacant land. This small park is located on the north fork of the Miami River which drains out of the Everglades and runs 5.5 miles through downtown Miami before ending at the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay. The park and this area of Miami takes it's name from when the river was in its natural, unaltered state. The river used to have rapids formed by water from the Everglades flowing over a rocky ledge four miles from its mouth. The rapids were removed when the Miami Canal was dredged in an attempt to drain the wetland. The park is just down the street from the $750 million dollar Tides and Moorings at River Rapids, a two building, 593 unit development being built. Next to the park is the Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Miami's only 24 hour/ 7 day a week youth shelter and family crisis center. The park has a basketball hoop, tables and chairs, and a sand volleyball court for use by the children being serviced by the center.

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 is basically what I would call a green not really a park. But it sits nicely inside a semi…read morecircle of nice homes. One of them is an historical home - see my other review its called the H R Howell House. This is what the web said about it.. Ken Mattingly Park was originally named Deer Park. It was rededicated to honor Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II, a Naval Aviator and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who attended school in the City of Hialeah. Later becoming an astronaut, Ken Mattingly flew as the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 16, making him one of very few who have successfully flown to the moon.

The city of Hialeah was named by a Seminole Indian named Willie Willie, When developer James Bright…read moreasked him to describe the property, he called it Hi-ale-ah, translating to pretty prairie or high prairie. Bright was from Missouri where he made his money in cattle. He came to Miami in 1909 and bought 640 acres of submerged land northwest of the city. He dug the Miami canal and pumped out the land. He joined with famed aviator and developer Glenn Curtiss and incorporated Hialeah in 1921. The Deer Creek neighborhood that this park is in was once an airfield for Glenn Curtiss. This park is just an open green space in the middle of the neighborhood. The most interesting thing about it was that it was named in honor of astronaut Ken Mattingly. Originally named Deer Park it was renamed to honor Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II who was born in Chicago, Illinois. Mattingly attended school in Hialeah, Florida, where he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and he achieved second highest rank, Life Scout. He attended Miami Edison High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Auburn University in 1958. He went on to become a Naval Aviator and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Mattingly flew on the Apollo 16, STS-4 and STS-51-C missions. He later flew as Command Module pilot for Apollo 16 to the moon becoming one of only 24 people to have flown there. This is a pretty quiet park for such an esteemed person. I didn't see any amenities. The only ones I saw enjoying the park on the day I visited was a group of ducks.

Myrtle Grove Park is in the Myrtle Grove neighborhood of Miami Gardens. The park is a block away…read morefrom the reservoir Myrtle Lake and two miles from the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. The Myrtle Grove neighborhood is part of Carol City which along with other neighborhoods was incorporated as Miami Gardens on May 13, 2003. At the heart of the Myrtle Grove community is Myrtle Grove Park providing outdoor recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents. The park has tall trees, a shade covered playground with climbing equipment, slides, and swings,, tennis courts, a basketball court, restrooms, and a multipurpose field that was being enjoyed by a group playing a casual football game on the day I visited. The park is the host site for the small tots' football game program for ages five. Next to the park is the Myrtle Grove Pool which is closed and drained. It looks neglected which leaks over to the park next door. Hopefully the pool will be repaired returning vibrancy to this neighborhood recreational hub.