Heart and Soul Park opened on June 19, 2021 in the Northwest Historic district in West Palm Beach…read more This neighborhood dates back to when Henry Flagler announced plans to extend the Florida East Coast Railway to Southeastern Florida. Blacks from northern Florida, Georgia, and the Bahamas moved to this area for work. When West Palm Beach was incorporated in 1894, it became the oldest municipality in Palm Beach County. During segregation the black community lived and worked here adding their own identity and culture to the city. Heart and Soul Park was designed to pay tribute to the musical history of the Northwest community. The park is next to Sunset Lounge known as the Cotton Club of the South. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Sunset Lounge was one of the premier African-American entertainment venues in the south. Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong were some of the artists who played here and they are honored next door in the park. The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is currently restoring this iconic music and entertainment venue. Heart and Soul Park was built as a continuation of the adjacent award-winning 7th Street Streetscape. The musical themed park includes a musical themed playground and swing set under shades. Along the piano key-themed walkway are history stations, art work, instruments to play, picnic tables, benches, and concrete walls that offer additional seating. The park has also been beautifully landscaped. The city also put new art into the park that pays tribute to the history of the area and to the musical trailblazers that used to play next door at the Sunset Lounge. The recently completed mosaic public art project modeled on vintage posters and record covers was created by Dominican South Florida-based artist Elio Mercado also known as Evoca1. It was designed to celebrate the neighborhood's heritage. Names featured in the art include the original owners of the Sunset Lounge, Dennis and Thelma Starks, Florida's first black woman legislator, Gwen Cherry, the first black doctor in West Palm Beach, Dr. Thomas Leroy Jefferson, black educational pioneer Alice E. Moore, musician Ray Charles, architect Hazel Augustus, jazz pianist Count Basie, and musician James Brown plus many more. There are QR codes on the art so you can learn more about the people represented. One unusual thing I noticed about this park was that it has a full time security guard. This is the first park I have ever been that has its own security. As I was taking pictures I was followed and I started to feel unwelcome. There weren't any signs that said photography was prohibited. Other than that strange interaction I really like how this park combines history and art in a way that children and families in the can enjoy. It is also a great place for the city to stage community events.

While heading through Lantana on my way to the beach, I stumbled across a beautiful Intracoastal…read morepark and decided to stop and get a few extra steps in--and I'm so glad I did. This hidden gem is now known as President Gerald R. Ford Lantana Bicentennial Park, renamed in 2007 to honor President Ford's 1976 visit commemorating the nation's 200th anniversary. Today, it's a peaceful and well-maintained waterfront spot right at the base of the bridge. The park offers a great mix of amenities, including picnic tables, grills, a playground, a picnic pavilion, a spacious green lawn, and clean restrooms. There's also a seawall and a fishing pier, making it a great place to cast a line or just relax by the water. Directly across the way, Sportsman Park provides even more fishing opportunities. The pavilion can be reserved through the city, but the picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is metered unless there's a special event, in which case the city provides a shuttle. Lantana also hosts community events here, including Fourth of July celebrations and a local green market. Even on a regular day, though, it's a perfect spot to sit along the water, take in the scenic views of Lake Worth Lagoon, and watch the boats drift by.

This park was across the street from where we were dining. After lunch we walked over. It's a joint…read moreeffort between the city of Lantana and the Lantana Chamber of Commerce. The signage and park also honors former President Gerald Ford. In front of the park sign, and in front of all the flagpoles, there's a separate small stone slab highlighting each armed services branch including the coast guard. Behind the signage is a large art installation. And there's a small butterfly sculpture nearer the waterway. The park is located on the north side of Ocean Avenue just west of the bridge going over the Intracoastal. There's a nice sized playground area -- including structures to climb and slide on, and also a set of swings. A few kids were loudly enjoying this. There's a covered pavilion; and bathroom facilities; there are benches spaced periodically. And a walkway along the wall running along the waterway. A fisherman was trying his hand from the side nearer the bridge. And a few folks were just enjoying the water views from benches and taking a "me" break. My husband is already planning to come back here to fish. And I'll be bringing a good book to enjoy while he catches us dinner.

I have been staring at the back of this colorful building during the last couple of street painting…read morefestivals. The outside has a stage and a wide lawn for hosting events. It was time to find out what was inside. The building sits on the site of Lake Worth's first school built in 1912. It was torn down in 1916 and replaced with the concrete building that served as a school and city hall that stands here today. The building had to be rebuilt after the hurricane of 1928. In 1989 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building contained city hall until 1973 when it was moved to 7 N. Dixie Hwy. It now houses the city hall annex on the first floor and the Lake Worth Museum on the second floor. The main purpose of my visit was to see the museum. As you go up the stairs you have to pass Miss Helen's desk. She was the best part of my visit. She is a Lake Worth treasure and pioneer by marriage as her husband likes to remind her. She gave me a brief tour and made herself available to answer any questions. The rooms are set up by themes such as World War 2 and Finland, Poland, and Lithuania in tribute to the heritage of the pioneers of Lake Worth. They had a nice display of dresses and I found the photographs of the devastation wrought by the Hurricane of 1928 fascinating. Miss Helen showed me the first census taken in the city in 1912 that listed 876 chickens in the city. Then someone got hungry and there were 875, just kidding. There were only 7 automobiles in the entire city in 1912. Although small I loved my visit to the museum and especially meeting Miss Helen. As I was leaving a firefighter was meeting with her to find historical records and pictures for the firehouse. If you live in the area and have a history question she is the person to see. Admission to the museum is free so make time for a visit the next time you are in the area.

Alice Mickens Park is located in the historic Northwest neighborhood in West Palm Beach. In the…read more1920's this neighborhood was booming after WWI and it was made up of impressive homes owned by affluent middle class blacks. One such home was the Mickens house which was a destination of black scholars and intellectuals and visitors who were refused lodging at nearby hotels. These included Count Basie and Louis Armstrong when they were performing in the area. Other notable people who came here to meet with the Mickens family included Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ralph Bunche, Asa Philip Randolph, who organized the first predominantly Black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach in 1929, who came to West Palm Beach to raise money and persuade the state Legislature to build a home for young Black women who would have otherwise been put in prison. Alice Mickens passed away in 1988 at the age of 99. She lived by the mantra "Service is the price you pay for the stint you have on earth." Alice Mickens was sixth and youngest child of former slaves from South Carolina. Dr. Mickens was born in Bartow, but moved to West Palm Beach at an early age. She was an honors graduate from Spelman College in Atlanta. Later in life Mickens served as a trustee at Bethune-Cookman for more than three decades and received an honorary doctorate from the university. A science lecture hall there is named in her honor. Dr. Alice Mickens may be best remembered as a pioneer for black voting rights. Dr. Moore's 1917 home built by her husband Haley Mickens and which has the distinction of being the oldest home continuously owned by a black and the Northwest neighborhood are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through the years the neighborhood deteriorated but exciting things are happening. The city is in the process of identifying historic structures and drafting plans that include residential spaces and a restaurant. Some of the construction is happening across the street from the park. Alice Mickens Park offers am acre of recreational space in the midst of this historic neighborhood. Park amenities include a shade covered playground with areas for toddlers and older children, a full size basketball court, and benches. This park is the heart of a historic community in transmission. As a champion of historic preservation, I can't wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Jose Marti Park is a small park next door to The Ben West Palm and across the street from the…read moremarina that features exercise stations and a row of colorful murals. The park is clean and the grounds are well maintained. The exercise stations are in decent condition and are functional.

This park in West Palm Beach is named in honor of José Martí who is considered to be a Cuban…read morenational hero. Many parks and monuments throughout South Florida are named in his honor. Martí was a poet, revolutionary philosopher, journalist, translator, professor, publisher, and author of "Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca". He dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty and political independence for Cuba. His death during a battle against Spanish troops at the Battle of Dos Ríos was used to rally people to the cause of the independence of Cuba from Spain. I am not sure what is going on with this park. Parking is available at meters on the side streets. In the park there is a bust of José Martí and a view of the Lake Worth Lagoon across the street. Paved walkways wind through the park making it an ideal place to walk a dog. Unfortunately the outdoor fitness equipment that used to attract fitness enthusiast to the park has all been fenced off. There also used to be some really nice public art murals but they have all been removed. During my visit there was a homeless feeding event going on in the park. This used to be such an inviting public space and now it is far from it. In the past the park has been a gathering place for Cubans living in West Palm Beach during times of political unrest in Cuba. Hopefully the city has plans to improve the park. It was really disappointing to see the state it is in now.

Garnett Park is a sweet pocket park off of US 1 in Hypoluxo. This park is named in honor of Andrew…read moreGarnett, a farmer from Kentucky who settled in the area in 1885. The US Government formally established the Hypoluxo Post Office in 1886 and hired Garnett as postmaster. Garnett was also a barefoot mailman. The barefoot mailmen were US postal workers who delivered the mail in South Florida from 1885 to 1893 by walking barefoot on the beach from Palm Beach to Miami. Before the mailman started the route, a letter from Lake Worth to Miami could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to arrive and would be routed through Cuba. The annual salary of a Barefoot Mailman was $600 a year. The trip started on Monday and took three days to get to Miami, Then they would turn around and come back for a round trip of 136 miles. Eighty miles were walking and fifty six miles were by boat. Barefoot mailman James "Ed" Hamiliton mysteriously vanished in 1897 while crossing the Hillsboro Inlet. After he disappeared Garnett took over the route until a rail line was established in 1893 connecting Lantana and Lemon City. The post office continued operating until 1954. Charming Garnett Park has benches, trees, landscaping, a bench swing, picnic tables, and public art, "Sail into the Future" by sculptor Frank Varga. The sculpture moves with the wind to inspire new thoughts. The Palm Beach County Library System will be opening a Hypoluxo Branch next to Garnett Park. The park will be the perfect place to enjoy a book outside. The train tracks are directly across the street and while I was sitting in the park the Brightline roared past.

Howard Park is located at the intersection of Washington Ave and Wingfield St. in between Lantana…read moreScrub Natural Area and I.A. Banks Cemetery. There is a plaque in the park that says it was dedicated in 1966 in honor of Ralph C. Howard for his inspiration and development of this park. Howard Park has many useful and popular sports and recreation amenities. In 2021 Howard Park received a new walking trail with fitness stations, new basketball hoops for the two courts, and a pavilion with picnic tables. A new futsal court was also installed. Originating in South America, Futusal is face paced version of soccer played on a hard court. There is also a playground, restrooms, multipurpose field, the Osborne Community Center, and the Youth Empowerment Learning Center. I was only passing through on my way to the scrub area but this looks like a nice park. The City of Lake Worth Beach has invested in the Howard Park to increase community engagement through sports, play, and events.

Not to be confused with another park in West Palm with the same name, this is a city park of Lake…read moreWorth Beach. We passed this park on the way to see the Unity Wall up the street. The park is located on the corner of Wingfield and Washington Avenue. There is a large multi use field, basketball courts, and restrooms. Pavilions, bbq grills, picnic tables, benches, and a nice playground. It's mainly a a neighborhood park that's family, kid, and dog friendly. One of the covered pavilions can be rented. There was a large family enjoying the picnic area and nearby grill. I didn't want to disturb them or make them feel uncomfortable, so I skipped taking photos on this end of the park.

Foxtail Palm Park is a small park located in Palm Springs Fl. The park is named for the Foxtail…read morePalm, a tree native to Australia. It is a popular ornamental tree because it doesn't need to be trimmed. The old palm fronds naturally fall off. The thick leaves look like a fox tail. A smooth gray trunk is capped with a bright green shaft From which sprout large shaggy looking branches. The trees are easy to grow and are drought and diseases resistant. The park was dedicated in October of 2020 and was paid for with grants from CDBC, engineering, and the Solid Waste Authority. Foxtail Palm Park is quite small. As you approach the playground area there is a stand of bamboo trees. The playground area has a shade pavilion with benches but no shade over the equipment which makes it a lot less enjoyable to use in the Florida sun. The playground equipment is also pretty basic. The park also has two picnic tables and a water fountain. Behind the park is a blocked off area with construction equipment. It looks like they might be building a lake with a path around it. Hatcher Construction and Development have been hired to oversee the construction. Since the park is so small, this area may be critical to attracting people. I was hoping to find a larger park with a lake that I could walk around. I left disappointed with the size and amenities and that half the park was closed.. This park is best for people who live in the neighborhood and are looking for a place to take the kids to play and maybe have a bite to eat outside. If you don't live in the area there are much better parks around.