Every city has a heartbeat. In Coral Gables, it's Ponce Circle Park--a deceptively small patch of…read moregreen that's carried a century of history on its shoulders. You wouldn't know it at first glance. It looks like another well-manicured park with banyans throwing shade and benches full of locals scrolling their phones. But scratch the surface, and you find the bones of George Merrick's original Coral Gables dream. This was one of the first public gathering spaces Merrick laid out in the 1920s, back when he was building his "City Beautiful" with Mediterranean arches, fountains, and bougainvillea climbing like nature's graffiti. Ponce Circle Park was his town square, his living room, the place where his grand experiment in urban planning could breathe. It's history hidden in plain sight, smack on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, where old Florida ambition met the Spanish fantasy Merrick peddled to investors. Over the years, it's been everything from a quiet neighborhood lawn to the stage for farmers markets, festivals, and concerts. Coral Gables residents grew up chasing lizards here, picnicking here, staging community drama productions here. The banyan trees standing guard are older than half the buildings in Miami. They've seen hurricanes, weddings, protests, and more first dates than Tinder. What I love about it is the scale. In a city where everything screams bigger, newer, taller, Ponce Circle Park whispers. It's human-sized. You can sit on the grass and hear the jazz spilling out of Miracle Mile, or wander the farmer's market in winter and pretend you live in some Mediterranean village instead of hurricane alley. It's also one of those rare Miami-area parks that doesn't feel like it's been overrun or overdesigned. No theme-park polish, no Instagram playground. Just a square of history, culture, and community--simple, beautiful, alive.

The founder of Coral Gables, George Merrick opened this park in 1924 named for famed Spanish…read moreexplorer and Fountain of Youth seeker, Juan Ponce de Leon. He placed it in the Crafts Section of town. The park was designed to showcase the craftspeople of Coral Gables, potters, sculptors, artists, and furniture makers. Studios were planned for the park with the artists living nearby in the surrounding residential section. Merrick's vision was never fully realized but the open space remained in the heart of the downtown. On November 8, 1994, the Coral Gables City Commission renamed the park Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park. Fred B. Hartnett (1901-1995) was a Coral Gables Commissioner and a former mayor of Coral Gables (1955-1957). He moved to Coral Gables from New York in 1925 and was an active civic participant in the formation of the city. Among his many accomplishments, he was a founding member of the Church of the Little Flower, the Coral Gables Jaycees, and the Country Club of Coral Gables. Today George Merrick would be surprised by the towering buildings and construction that have sprung up around his little park. If you visit the today it park has a walking path, historical sign, markers, benches, and a fountain. There is open space to play and stage events. The City of Goral Gables is currently contemplating improvements to the park.

This small passive park in Coconut Grove honors pioneer Thelma Gibson. Thelma started life being…read moredelivered by a midwife in Coconut Grove, an area settled in the late 1800's and early 1900's by American Blacks from the South and Bahamian immigrants who were drawn to the area by jobs working for the railroad. As a young girl she grew up during segregation. After WWII resulted in a nursing shortage enlisted and went to the St. Agnes Hospital Nursing School in North Carolina, the first nursing school in the state open to African-Americans. After retiring from nursing in 1980, Thelma Gibson blazed a civic trail when she founded the Miami-Dade's Women's Chamber of Commerce in 1984. She also sat on the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, founded in her name by Merline Barton and Cherry Smart in 2000.The Gibson Memorial Fund was incorporated in 1983 in memory of the late Reverend Gibson, Thelma's husband. His legacy as a civil rights leader lives on through the organization that helps bridge gaps between diverse groups and which works toward acquiring land designated for education and affordable housing. In 2022 the Coconut Grove Heritage Garden was renamed the Thelma Gibson Heritage Garden. Today the Thelma Gibson Heritage Garden connects two streets in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, where Ms. Gibson was born. The park has just a few parking spaces, a paved walkway, benches, and landscaping. Despite its small size it was being enjoyed by neighborhood residents who were walking their dog and others who were sitting in chairs enjoying the breeze,

I fell upon this small hidden not really on the map park/aka garden. I was driving through and…read morespotted it from the car. This garden/park - is basically TWO parks - with a residential street running between them. They are both small and thin, but offer ample shade, nice trees and a pathway. Whilst I was there I saw a few people walking from one to the other, using both - maybe "in the Know" and being locals, offering a short cut to jump a street or two?

Paraiso Park is a .6-acre acre waterfront park in the Edgewater neighborhood of Miami. It is set…read moreamong four high-rise condominiums, Paraiso Bay, Grand Paraiso, ONE Paraiso, and Paraiso Bayviews in the luxury Paraiso District. The park was created by the development firm Related Group who built the small park for the city in 2019 in exchange for closing NE 31st Street to allow construction of the new district. While it is a City of Miami park, it is maintained by the Paraiso District. There are approximately 7,000 residents living within a 10 minute walk to the park. While this is a park primarily used by area residents anyone is free to use it. Parking for Paraiso Park can be difficult to find but I found a metered spot a couple of blocks down the street. The main draw of this park is the stunning view of Biscayne Bay with a wide brick bay walk. The walkway is part of the Biscayne Line, a 10-mile waterfront promenade connecting Edgewater in the north with downtown Miami in the south. Next to the park and connected by the bay walk is the restaurant Amara at Paraiso, where diners can enjoy outdoor seating with bay breezes. Other park features include a popular dog park, public art, a children's playground with rope climber, benches, water fountain, and an exercise area with three Kompan Fitness Zone machines. I was really impressed by how much half an acre can hold while making the most of the breath taking view of Biscayne Bay.

This park is next to Paraiso building however it's open to the public. Gorgeous bay view. Very well…read moremaintained little park that in the last year had a dog park added which is awesome!

This ocean front park in Miami Beach is named in honor of my favorite Floridian, Marjory Stoneman…read moreDouglas (1890-1998). Douglas was an author and environmentalist whose seminal book The Everglades: River of Grass brought awareness to the importance of this ecosystem preserving it from development. She worked with Ernest Coe to have the Everglades named a National Park. Douglas was a tireless champion for the environment and so it seems appropriate that a number of parks have been named in her honor, including this beach park in Miami Beach. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park has a limited number of metered spaces along the street. Parking can be frustrating depending on how busy the park is. It is worth the effort though because the park is a leafy green oasis filled with tall shade trees. As I was walking around I couldn't help but notice the trees were filled with squeaky Monk Parakeets. The centerpiece of the park is an enclosed, large, shade covered playground with poured in place surface surrounded by benches. There are two play sections, one for ages 2-5, and one for ages 5-12. The playground has slides and climbing structures. Other park amenities include a shower, restrooms, and a water fountain. Surrounding the park are large paved paths ideal for walking and biking. The park offers direct beach access and at the perimeter you can pick up an electric City Bike which I think is the best and most fun way to see South Beach and avoid the parking headache. With the playground, beach, and all the other amenities, this is a great place for a family outing.

This public park located in South Beach Miami offers various outdoor activities such as sunbathing,…read moreswimming, picnicking, playground and stunning views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Located at Ocean Dr and 3rd St., it features a a nice park at the southern end of Miami Beach.

Baywood Park is located in Miami's Bayside Historic District. This historic district represents the…read moredevelopment of Miami from the early 1900's until the mid 1940's when this was part of the pioneer settlement of Lemon City. This community contains one of the last bayfront estates. The Bayside historic district contains the architectural styles of frame vernacular, Mediterranean revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne and it was the home of many prominent residents of early Miami including the Honorable Arthur Patrick Cannon served as a U.S. Representative from 1939 to 1947. Baywood Park won Miami New Times Best View award. This linear park has a stunning view of Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline. If you are lucky you may even spot a dolphin or manatee. Throughout the park is a paved walkway and benches. Free parking is available along the street. This peaceful passive park is perfect for strollers, bikers, joggers, and dog walkers as well as anyone who just enjoys a great water view.

I love this little hidden neighborhood gem! It's such a nice little spot to just go walking and sit…read moreand watch the Bay. There are fantastic views of Biscayne Bay, the various bridges, and downtown Miami skyline. Jumping fish, pelicans, sea hawks, and occasional dolphin sightings are always entertaining. People fish off the concrete edge and have their dogs off-leash, but it never seems to be an issue to enjoying the park. Great spot when there's a nice breeze and sunny to just lay on a blanket and cloudwatch or have a quiet little picnic.

Watson Island is a man made island created from fill from Biscayne Bay. It was deeded to the city…read morein 1919 for public or municipal use. In the 1940's the city gave it to the state and the state gave it back to Miami. In 1979 the city attempted to circumvent the public or municipal clause so they could commercially develop the island. The name of the island was changed from Causeway Island to Watson Island, in honor of John W. Watson Sr., who was Mayor of Miami from 1912-1915 and 1917-1919. The island still bears the remains of a Goodyear Blimp base that was located here from 1930 to 1978 until they moved the a base to Opa-locka Airport. In 1961 the Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden opened on Watson Island along with the relocated Parrot Jungle and the Miami Children's Museum in 2003. To call Watson Island Park a park is a bit of a stretch. It is more like a parking lot. The park is located across from Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden. There is a large parking lot and boat ramps. If you are not a boater it is still a good place to view Biscayne Bay. Jungle Island never really became the tourist destination it was promised to be. They have struggled for years to meet their financial obligations to the city. In 2024 voters approved referendum #2 which will allow for two residential condo buildings to be built and a 13 acre public park paid for by the developers. The park is supposed to have over a mile of walking and jogging trails and play areas for children. Big changes are coming to Watson Island and the skyline and only time will tell if this was the best choice for Miami and its visitors.

It's very nice to visit the clear water where large boats can park. The islands are hand made and…read moremakes a beautiful layout.

This park is name in honor of Lt. General José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales (June 14,…read more1845 - December 7, 1896). Maceo was a Cuban general and second-in-command of the Cuban Army of Independence. Antonio Maceo Park is located on the shore of the picturesque Blue Lagoon. There is a boat ramp people can use to access the lagoon. Other park amenities include a community center, bike racks, picnic tables, pavilions, and a playground. Right now the park is a bit of a mess with fences up for construction. The park is scheduled to receive new restrooms, renovation of the concrete boat ramp and floating dock, renovation of the sidewalks and the stationary dock, and renovation of the parking lot. Once the construction is finished I have no doubt that this will be a five star park.

Nice views of the water and decently maintained small park…read more Benches along the water's edge.

Yesterday we stopped by this lovely little waterfront park in Miami's Upper East Side, known for…read moreits views of Biscayne Bay and a large red and white domino sculpture. It offers a peaceful and relaxing experience with walking paths, playgrounds, and picnic areas, and is a popular spot for families, pet owners, and photographers seeking scenic views IG shots. It is very well maintained and shows pride by the neighborhood. It wasn't very crowded on a Monday. Note: there are no restrooms at this park. There is some street parking around the neighborhood.

Albert Pallot Park is a small but unique spot right by the water. If you're driving on the I-195…read morefrom Miami Beach to Midtown, you'll easily spot the park thanks to the giant red domino pieces standing tall near the waterfront--definitely a cool design that makes for great photos. The park itself is well-maintained with clean pathways and a peaceful vibe, making it a nice place to take a walk, relax, or snap some pictures by the water. While the park is a gem, the surrounding area could use some improvement. Hopefully, as the city continues to develop and clean up, Albert Pallot Park will feel even more connected to the rest of the neighborhood. Overall, it's a nice place to visit, especially if you're looking for a quick stop to enjoy the view and take some cool photos. I'd definitely recommend checking it out!