Sandpiper Bay Park is an 11.5 acre open space park established in 1999 in Port St. Lucie. I was…read morehiking in the area and decided to stop by and check it out. There is no established parking area but I noticed people were parking on the grass. The park is located on a canal where fishing is permitted but there is a sign warning about alligators. There is a small trail through the woods that runs along the canal. Along the way you will trees, pinecones, and a view of the water. The park also has picnic tables near the parking area making it a nice place to eat lunch in nature. Port St. Lucie really excels in their nature preserves. Their newest one is The Preserve in the Port District. Sandpiper Bay Park is a great spot for local families to walk their dog, have a picnic, or just taking a relaxing stroll among the trees.

The Kiplinger Nature Preserve Park is a 164 acre natural area in Stuart. The land used to belong to…read morethe Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. and the Kiplinger Foundation Inc. until Martin County purchased it to preserve the land. In 2020 the Kiplinger family donated another 7 acres to the preserve protecting it from retail development. Ecological communities making up the preserve include freshwater and mangrove swamps, wet prairie and estuarine river. The preserve contains stands of sand pine and scrub oak as well as pine and scrubby flatwoods. Animals that have been spotted here include the Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, the Golden Silk Spider, raccoons, and alligators. In the past I have seem sandhill cranes and this time I spotted a marsh bunny hopping across the trail. The trail that runs through Kiplinger is an easy one mile loop. It runs behind condos, past wetlands, across some raised boardwalks and back along the river. The nature center was closed for improvements to the parking lot and I was delighted to see that they are back open although parts of the trail were muddy. In addition to the trail there is a free parking lot, three foot bridges, a floating fishing dock, and a place to launch a kayak or a canoe. It is a great place to enjoy nature, get some exercise and fresh air.

This park is a natural area in Stuart. The 164 acre mangrove area is located in the South Fork of…read morethe St. Lucie River. There is easy public parking at the entrance and a picnic pavilion. I walked the easy picturesque hiking trail and crossed two of the three footbridges before reaching the river. There is a floating dock for fishing. I only spotted one ibis and the crabs in the mangrove and a variety of Florida wild flowers.

It is a bit of an adventure to get out here but the view makes it worth it. This park was named in…read morehonor of Sam J. Pendarvis who was born on November 1, 1888 in Florida. He was a pioneer who settled on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River about 1908. He died August 6, 1968. This park is also located on the north fork of the St. Lucie River in the area where Pendarvis lived. The park has picnic table pavilions, a restroom, and a boat launch. I loved catching site of an osprey high up in the tree. The park is kept in a very natural state. You can only go in one direction as you drive along the loop that encircles the park. Even though it seems very out of the way, I saw several people enjoying the picnic tables and sitting near the small beach area during my visit.

Queen's Island Preserve is a 400 acre coastal property managed by St. Lucie County. This natural…read morearea is located on the north side of Hutchinson Island. Queen's Island Preserve is an ancient archaeological site that once was the site of a Native American fishing camp. A midden was discovered here. Middens are a kind of ancient garbage dump that can tell you a lot about the ancient people who used to live here. Shells, bones, and tools, are often found in middens. The preserve is ideal for launching a canoe or kayak that can take you around the small islands in the Indian River Lagoon. The county has worked to remove invasive plants and restore the old-growth maritime hammocks with large gumbo limbos and other native trees. The preserve has a nature trail and three miles of impoundment levees, from which you can fish.

South Causeway Park is located at S A1A and South Bridge. It is across from Museum Pointe Park…read morewhere you can visit the St. Lucie Regional History Center and the St. Lucie County Aquarium. South Causeway Park is a linear beach park on the Fort Pierce Inlet. It has free parking, grills, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and showers. The real star of this park is the quarter mile long white sandy beach and calm gentle waters of the inlet which are ideal for the youngest of bathers. The waters off this park are busy with kayakers, sailors, and pleasure boaters. Pelicans, egret, and herons are some of the many birds you may see here. People flock to this beautiful park for swimming, picnicking, and fishing. I saw a lot of people setting up their own canopies and staking out their spots so they can make a full day of free fun here. The great thing about this park is there is room for everyone. South Causeway Park is a fantastic alternative to the beach parks when you would rather avoid the ocean.

This is a free park on A1A near the St Lucie History Museum and the St Lucie Aquarium. It has…read morepicnic areas, grills and a beautiful white sand beach. The park is on an inlet which makes it nice for families with young kids. Good for swimming and kayaking.

My heart will always be fond of Rivergate as I have so many amazing childhood memories, especially…read morethe friendly squirrels, raccoons, and sea otters that were thriving here! Oh, and a big ole alligator that had no qualms about sunbathing and showing off to us onlookers! The brush has no long overgrown where he (or she) used to hang out for us all to see (and some people would feed him too ... but he was still a hunter ... and I would see him go after birds in the water which was cool and sad all at once ... like an episode of National Geographic). Since then things have changed a lot. I haven't seen any raccoons on my last few visits. I was told feral cats and fisherman ruined the population of cute animals that called this place home. They expanded on greatly to the walkway, which would be great, except that they didn't keep it wooden. It's metal and doesn't look great. It reminds me of being back up in NY with its cold appeal and just doesn't match the vibe at all. But the worse part and what is really affecting my rating is how utterly filthy it is! Sure, the area of the parking lot and ramps are nice. But walk the walkway.. there is endless trash everywhere. To the point I was taking pictures of birds down there and yes my pictured are ruined with trash but actual important thing is the poor wildlife walking around in this! Why?? Where are the funds going to clean this park? There is no excuse for this. It is unfair for us to build and use their homes for our leisure and then not treat it with the respect it deserves. Again, I went here almost everyday of my childhood and so did my family. The only "litter" you would see is some fishing string and bobbers from some people who snagged their lines where the water is. This was literally human garbage all over while looking down from the walkway that goes in and out from the parking lot to the water where the extended walkway is. I hope someone will see this and care and have this cleaned up. I reside in NY and have no idea who to contact or what to do but if someone is down there and has a point of contact ... please walk through the trees and look down at all of the trash and see if something can be done. Floridas wildlife deserves better than to live in our filth. On the plus side, it is still a peaceful place, there are two ramps to back your boat in, the parking lot is huge, there is an area next to the ramps to clean your fish and such, with a working hose. There's crab around which is fun for the kids to see (and adults if you're me), and when the sun is going down you can see gators swimming about by watching for their eyes. You can watch for smaller pretty creatures too in the flowers, like Florida lubbers (colorful and gentle grasshopper of a larger size). The best way to see all of these is to be still and quiet and mindful of them (which I find best achieved going alone). It is truly a lovely zen place but please please please clean it up and if you're visiting put your garbage in the appropriate garbage cans or bring it home with you. Don't make the lazy choice to litter. So many creatures die or are critically injured from our litter, you just don't see it happen as you drop it and walk away. It takes no extra effort just to walk your trash to garbage can. Be kind to our planet :)

Veterans Park at Rivergate is a delightful six acre park that offers many kinds of outdoor…read moreadventures for boaters, anglers, and nature lovers. If you are a boater, the park has three boat ramps along with free car and trailer parking. You can launch your watercraft right on to the beautiful St. Lucie River. For those coming to cookout, even large groups can be accommodated in the large pavilion with 10 six foot picnic tables, one eight foot tables, lights, electricity, water, and 2 large grills. Smaller groups can make use of three family pavilions with grills. My favorite part of the park was the boardwalk that leads you through the natural habitat of the St. Lucie River. Fishing is permitted and you can get a great view of the wildlife that calls the river home. The scenic views of the river add a serene backdrop that enhances the overall peaceful atmosphere of the park. Birdwatching is a popular activity here, with various species often spotted along the riverbank. This park is a hidden gem that has something for everyone to enjoy.

Grateful for the tribute to the man who took the time to submit to the state the reasons that this…read moreland along the Indian River Lagoon should be set aside and kept from being rezoned for industrial or commercial use. Went when the wild magnolia trees were blooming along the boardwalk path through the woods. Observation platform with picnic table once you reach the river shore from the park entrance.

This park was formerly named the St. Lucie Village Heritage Park. The name was changed to honor St…read more Lucie Village community leader Donald B. Moore who passed away in 2012. Moore was a veteran of the Coast Guard and Navy and served as the fire chief for the St. Lucie County Fire District. This 78 acre park is believed to be the site of the Russell/ Barker skirmish that led to the 3rd Seminole Indian War. John Barker was a trader who tried to cheat the Seminoles with faulty gun powder and bad alcohol. In 1849 he was walking with his brother in law William Russell when Barker was confronted by four Seminoles. They shot Russell causing the men to run. Barker was caught and stabbed to death Russell and family members of both men were able to escape by boat. The park is located along the Indian River Lagoon. It has a disc golf course, an observation tower and two hiking trails. The northern trail contains interpretive signs explains about the plant life while the southern trail contains historical signs relating to the skirmish and a small homestead, an illegal still, and the turpentine industry in the area. Unfortunately I wasn't able to explore the trails as much as I would have liked due to the heavy mosquito infestation. There are no restroom facilities or water so plan accordingly. The trails are natural ground which are not wheel chair accessible but are easy to hike for most people. Occasionally naturalists will lead hikes here.

Located at the south base of the Stuart Causeway and across the street from Sewall's city hall,…read morethis lovely park is located on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon providing lovely water views and fishing opportunities. The town of Sewall is very small. It is only 1/3 of a mile wide and 3 1/2 miles long and this is the town's only park. Park amenities include a playground, swing benches, and a gazebo that can be rented out from the city for private events. There is a historical sign at the entrance to the park that explains the history of Sewall's Point. You can visit the home of Sewall's founder Henry Sewall at Indian RiverSide Park. The house used to reside here at Sewalls Point but it was moved to Indian RiverSide where there is another historical building. Sewalls home was restored and open to the public for tours in 2012.

Very nice park. Clean, neat worth to check out. You can…read morefeel the ocean breeze and enjoy the outdoors.