This is a small but pleasant park on U.S. Highway 1 in Titusville, Florida. The one thing that…read morestood out to me here is that the squirrels had seemingly no fear of humans and openly approached me. One even came and sniffed at my shoes much like a dog would. Anyway, they have picnic tables that have a roof above it. I guess a pavilion, but almost all of them are single picnic tables, so let's call them personal pavilions. They also have a children's playground.

Overlooking Kennedy Space Center across the Indian River, William J Manzo Memorial Park is a small,…read moretreesy, county park with tables, picnic shelters, & restrooms. The Indian River offers great views of many launch pads & the Vehicle Assembly Building, as well as playful dolphins & other wildlife. Both pads of Launch Complex 39 are easily visible from Manzo Park, which is why I've been here to watch three launches. Public bathrooms are available when the park is open, though often I have found toilet paper to be lacking. This was again the case on my last visit, though soap & paper towels were sufficient. The ladies' restroom has 2 stalls and one sink. Note, the facilities don't have A/C or heat. Maybe 5 years ago, hubs & I were driving through Titusville, after a launch we were there to see had been scrubbed that day, and we passed this park. I remembered the view, but had never visited not related to a launch. So we stopped. Though we were there less than an hour, I had never seen so many dolphins at one time! They were clearly frolicking & I thoroughly enjoyed watching. My first visit to this park was on Friday, May 14 2010 for STS-132, which was originally scheduled to be the last launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis (now resting at KSCVC). My sister & I underestimated traffic and ended up on US 1 very close to launch time. Spotting this park, she quickly pulled onto a residential side street to park, & we briskly walked over to the park, with mere minutes to spare. Our view of 39-A was as perfect as possible from Titusville! What an amazing view... And the SOUND! So about a year later, on Friday, July 8, 2011, I knew I had to see the final Space Shuttle launch in-person. Announced a few months after the launch I'd witnessed in 2010, this was actually Atlantis' last flight, as well as the final mission of the space shuttle program. Again launching from LC 39-A, STS-135 would be the last launch of humans from US soil for nearly 9 years. Astronaut Doug Hurley was on this flight, though no one knew then that he would help usher in the next generation of human-rated launch vehicles, built by a company in the private sector. The last Saturday in May 2020, we ended up parking near Manzo Park to watch #LaunchAmerica, SpaceX's first attempt at a crewed launch. OK, second attempt, since Wednesday's launch was scrubbed due to lightning in the vicinity. BUT, this was the first launch of humans from US soil since the Space Shuttle program had ended. My daughter rode with me, and my friend followed in her own car to maintain social distancing. We found a spot for $10 each to park with easy exiting & camera surveillance, right across US 1 from Manzo Park. About 20 minutes before launch, we donned our PPE & walked the half block to watch. The park was packed with excited spectators, and we were not disappointed that day... another great view of a flawless launch! Even though this was a smallish Falcon 9 rocket, the sound was just as amazing as it rolled across the water in waves. William J Manzo Memorial Park is obviously one of my favorite vantage points for watching a launch from Titusville. And this park is also a quiet respite on non-launch days in any season. Of course, I'll be back.

If you want a great view of the Indian River look no further than this little known treasure. It…read moretook me two tries to try and find the entrance to the parking lot but it was worth the extra effort. Shoreside Park offers a tranquil retreat for visitors. Park amenities includes a fishing dock, new picnic pavilion with tables, and a playground with climbing equipment, slides, and swings. I think the best feature of this park just might be the beautiful view of the Indian River where you might catch sight of native Florida birds, dolphins, and manatees. A great egret was waiting for me on the pier while osprey flew overhead. The park has a view of the nearby Pineda Causeway. This serene park is the perfect antidote to the daily stressors of life.

This park is along the East side of US 1 just south of the Pineda Causeway. The parking lot has…read moreabout 8 parking spaces and no other room. There is a ramp down to the walkway and the playground. The playground is to the north side (straight ahead) when coming down the ramp. The walkway to the right leads off to to a covered dock. The view is very pretty of the river and the land across the water. It is a very pleasant place to just enjoy the water, to fish or watch the birds. It is a hidden gem for the area.

I wish they can add something new to the playground and I like the spider under the slideread more

So, we decided to go to this park as a family to hike. We spent 20 minutes looking for the trails,…read morebut we still couldn't find them. We even called the main office, but she said she couldn't contact the supervisor. So even she didn't know where the trails were. I do not recommend this place at all. Do not go here. The only thing you should come here for is frisbee golf, not hiking. Also, if you sit in the pavilion at the end of the road, you will be surrounded by squirrels. I attached some photos of the squirrels. My grandmother is terrified of squirrels. My sister says this park is stupid and that it sucks. I can't believe we even came here. Never go here. THIS PLACE US HORRIBLE, AND ITS A TRAP!!!

I stopped by this park while driving through Rockledge and had a pleasant visit. I even had the…read moreentire park to myself. The park was dedicated on April 12, 2012, to Larry L. Schultz, a former Rockledge mayor who served on the City Council for 34 years before retiring in 2011. In addition to his public service, Schultz had a distinguished career with NASA at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, where he was responsible for the design, development, and operation of facilities, systems, and equipment used to support space vehicle launches. Together with his wife, Wanda, he also founded the Rockledge Open Space and Conservation (ROC) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing recreation, open space, and conservation throughout the Rockledge community. Schultz passed away in 2018 at the age of 74. Adjacent to the parking lot is a memorial wall honoring police officers and firefighters. Jimmy Weaver Lake in the middle of the park is named in memory of Deputy First Class James "Jimmy" Weaver, who was tragically killed in 2003 after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic at the scene of a crash. This 7.5-acre park features a half-mile walking path around the lake, a playground, restrooms, a fishing dock, benches, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables. I enjoyed my walk around the lake and spotted a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks, along with several ibis. While walking through the park I spotted a Peace Pole dedicated by the Rockledge Rotary Club. A Peace Pole is an eight-sided aluminum monument displaying the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in different languages on each side. These monuments are installed around the world to promote peace and harmony. The Peace Pole Project even has an interactive online map showing the locations of Peace Poles in communities across the globe. More than 200,000 Peace Poles have been installed on every continent. It is always fun to find one.

Great park just as you get into Rockledge, Florida. I enjoyed the walking path, which goes around a…read morelake. It also has a nice pavilion and a decent amount of parking. Since I was here on a Thursday just before noon, the park was not overly crowded (there were just a few people here) and it felt like I had the park to myself. All in all, this is a great park and a wonderful addition to the community.

Veterans Memorial Park in Titusville serves as a tribute to the men and women who have served our…read morecountry. Dedicated on July 4, 1991, the memorial sits connected to Space View Park by a pier along the scenic Indian River at the east end of Broad Street. The centerpiece of the park is the Circle of Memories, an 80 foot circular memorial featuring ten granite monuments with bronze plaques that honor the ten major U.S. conflicts, from the American Revolution through more modern wars, including Desert Storm. At the heart of the circle stands a Peace Monument, representing hope for the future. In addition to commemorating America's wars, the memorial includes special tributes to the courageous Tuskegee Airmen and to the hundreds of Allied soldiers who lost their lives in the tragic sinking of the S.S. Leopoldville during World War II. These memorials to lesser known chapters of history spotlight those whose service and sacrifice might otherwise be overlooked. The serves as the gathering place for Titusville's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. it is also a great place to watch a space launch since the Kennedy Space center is less than 15 miles away across the lagoon. The thoughtful design, scenic waterfront location, and memorials make this an exceptional Veteran's Park.

This is a small park by Space View Park and is located down at the end of a street. There really is…read moreno parking lot, but there is plenty of on street parking. This is definitely a park that you would want to check out if you are in Titusville, Florida. While you are here, walk over to Spave View Park and check out two great parks. We need parks like this. Parks to gather as a community and also to remember those in history who helped allow us to live as we do. This park remembers our veterans.

The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville, Florida, is a 470-acre nature preserve. It is a…read moreflagship Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) property and offers visitors an opportunity to experience one of Florida's most diverse natural landscapes. In 1911, Edgar W. Ellis, J. H. Beckwith, and a consortium of developers established the Titusville Fruit and Farm Lands Company after acquiring 22,500 acres of marshland within the historic Delespine Grant. Their ambitious goal was to drain the wetlands and convert them into productive farmland. What they failed to appreciate was the massive coquina rock ridge hidden beneath the landscape. Excavation equipment proved incapable of cutting through the rock, preventing completion of the project's main canal. Without adequate drainage, the venture collapsed financially. Ironically, this failed engineering project was the very thing that helped preserve the land in its natural state. Nearly a century later in he 1990s, the property was designated for conservation, becoming the very first acquisition under Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program. On August 27, 1999, the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary officially opened to the public. Today, visitors can explore a unique ecosystem where northern temperate and southern subtropical habitats overlap. The sanctuary contains five distinct habitat types, oak scrub, mesic hammock, hydric hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwoods that support abundant native wildlife. You may see gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, bobcats, Florida scrub lizards, and even the rare Eastern indigo snake. More than 4.5 miles of well-maintained hiking trails starting at the visitors center wind through the preserve, making it excellent for hiking, wildlife observation, birdwatching, and nature photography. The Management & Education Center features interactive exhibits that explain the sanctuary's natural history and diverse habitats. You may want to stop in here first because the center also offers trail maps, restrooms, and a water fountain for visitors. On weekends, the sanctuary offers free naturalist-led guided hikes lasting approximately 45 minutes and covering about one mile of the trail system. These walks typically include portions of the Coquina, Biodiversity, Mesic, Tomoka, and Tortoise Trails while introducing visitors to Florida's endangered upland ecosystems and the plants and animals that call them home. One of the preserve's most distinctive historical features is the network of overgrown canals, remnants of the failed agricultural project from more than a century ago. Now recognized as a Florida Heritage Site, these canals stand as a lasting reminder of an ambitious engineering vision that nature ultimately reclaimed. Enchanted Forest Sanctuary is one of Titusville's true natural gems. It's a beautiful place where history and nature exist side by side. Unfortunately when I came when the weather was pushing a 105 degrees. They were also doing a prescribed burn on some of the trails so they were closed and the air was smokey. For the most enjoyment I recommend visiting during the cooler months of the year.

This is such a great spot for walking/running. There is a parking lot out front, hardly ever a…read morecrowd when I come. Typically visit in the morning. There is no fee to enter. You do need to sign in at the front desk. Sometimes there is someone at the desk to greet you. There are accessible restrooms inside the main building. There are a few different trials, in which all are marked. Throughout the trials, there are clear signs and markings as you navigate your way through the sanctuary. I love the coquina trial. There are pretty views and I have seen on occasion turtles on my walks.

I love Florida's deep connection to the space program so I was excited to finally visit Space View…read morePark in Titusville, one of the best places to appreciate the legacy of the space program. Dedicated in July 1994 through a partnership between the City of Titusville and the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation, the 2.63 acre park honors not only the astronauts who made history but also the thousands of engineers, technicians, and support personnel whose work made the nation's space program possible. Space View Park is located on the Indian River, less than 15 miles directly across from the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center. This gives the park outstanding views of rocket launches while serving as an outdoor museum celebrating the achievements of the U.S. space program. It is the only park where you can walk through the entire history of the manned missions that launched from nearby Kennedy Space Center. The idea for the Space Walk of Fame began in 1988 when a local physician proposed creating a project to preserve the history of America's space program. That vision led to the formation of the Space Walk of Fame Foundation and eventually to the creation of Space View Park as the centerpiece of the memorial. Over the years, the park has grown with the addition of several large monuments. The Mercury Monument, featuring the astronauts' handprints, was dedicated in 1995, followed by the Gemini Monument in 1997. The Space Shuttle Monument was added in 2002 to recognize the workers who supported the shuttle program, and after eight years of planning and construction, the Apollo Monument was completed and dedicated in 2007. In addition to the monuments there is a restroom, boardwalk, picnic pavilions, benches, and a 85 foot pier for fishing. The park was also designed to treat stormwater. Runoff from the surrounding 114 acres of commercial property is captured in a wet detention pond that prevents sediment and floating trash from entering the Indian River Lagoon. It also removes nutrient that would harm the ecosystem of the lagoon. The park has free street parking but no shade so try not to come on a day when it is 105 degrees out like I did. The Gemini monument requires a short walk and it is much easier when it is not so hot out. Space View Park adjoins Veterans Memorial Park on the Indian River waterfront, where you can often find manatees in the colder months. I found this park to be a meaningful place to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of America's space program while enjoying one of the area's most scenic waterfront settings. The handprints were especially poignant reminders of some of the astronauts no longer with us.

The park sits on a finger canal that leads directly to the Indian River Lagoon. There are…read more monuments scattered throughout the park for Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and space shuttle programs, with the 'In the Line of Duty' memorial for fallen astronauts. People gather at this park not only to gather historic data, but to view the Kennedy Space Center rocket launches something that is on my bucket list. No public restrooms here and vagrants linger in the area.

In 1991, these 200 acres of wetlands between the Brevard Zoo and the St. Johns River floodplain…read morewere established by the Brevard County Government as a stormwater treatment system for the adjacent South Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility. The treatment wetlands are divided into four cells of approximately 35 acres each, surrounding a central lake. Each cell was designed to maintain a different water depth, creating a variety of wetland habitats. These stormwater treatment wetlands play an important role in protecting the environment by capturing and retaining stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding in surrounding areas. They also filter and store stormwater, helping recharge the aquifer. Wetland plants naturally remove pollutants from the water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. Without treatment, stormwater runoff can contribute to algal blooms, muck accumulation, fish kills, and other ecological problems. In addition to their environmental benefits, the wetlands provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including many of Florida's wading birds, while offering visitors an opportunity for wildlife viewing and recreation. In December 2007, the wetlands were renamed the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in honor of Ritch Grissom, a longtime Brevard County employee who worked at the adjacent South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. The memorial recognizes his 16 years of service and his love for wildlife and the nature. In 2008, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands were added to the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail. It was extremely hot on the day I visited, so I recommend planning your visit during the cooler months of the year for the most enjoyment. Even in the heat, I enjoyed exploring the trails. I spotted numerous ospreys, red-winged blackbirds, an alligator, and even a raccoon on the move that I followed for a while. Unfortunately, I didn't notice until I looked down that my legs were covered in mosquitoes, so be sure to bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and water. If you enjoy nature and wildlife off the beaten path you can easily spend hours here. The wetlands are open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Follow the wetlands' Facebook page for the latest updates and photos of recently spotted wildlife.

This is a rather large Park easy to get to from i-95. Just exit viera and head West to your dead…read moreend at the park. This is a large Park with lots of walking trails around different wetland areas. It seems like it's a man-made Park with Wells constantly feeling lakes and pumps pumping water from one lake to the next lake. There are areas we can ride your bike for bike riding/mountain bike trails and lots of walking trails as well as there's docks you can walk out and look out on benches you can sit on and a few towers you can go up to get a bird's eye view. For wildlife I saw lots of different species of birds and a lot of alligators. These alligators did not seem friendly like the ones at gatorland. I also saw a lot of bunny rabbits and the rabbits were used to people unless you're pretty close to that.