If you are one who loves the outdoors, North Miami has many different recreational parks to choose from. The city maintains 11 parks specifically, as well as nine Tot-Lots and seven
state of the art community centers. Each park varies in open space for different activities such as: sports, playgrounds for children, swimming, picnicking, fishing, trails for walkers, joggers, and cyclist.
Significantly, North Miami is home to the state of Florida’s largest park, which is Oleta River State Park. Located at 3400 N.E. 163rd St. North Miami, Florida 33160. As described on the website the park is historically known because of the river. In the 1800s the park was first named Big Snake Creek, it was renamed Oleta River by developers in 1992. Oleta River is best known for miles of off road bicycling trails. It also offers its guest options to fish, picnic, canoe, swim, boating, camping, and cabins for overnight guest.
Another park that is popular in North Miami is Arch Creek Park, located at 1855 N.E. 153rd St. North Miami, Florida 33181. According to the website, Arch Creek is historically known for being created amongst a natural limestone bridge formation that was once apart of an important Indian Trail. The parks have natural trails and centers for guest, as well as a museum that has artifacts left from its natives.
Uniquely all of the parks in North Miami accommodate the community because some are in the same area as local schools, libraries, and after school cares. In addition, some of the Tot-Lots are on specific park grounds. The 11 parks that are centered around the community in North Miami are as follows: Ben Franklin Park is permitted use only because it is located behind a K-8 school. It has open fields for the students to enjoy their physical exercises. Ben Franklin is located at 13400 N. W. 12th Ave. North Miami, Florida 33168.
Cagni Park surprisingly will soon have a pool, according to the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Director Derrick Corker. “Cagni pool construction is in the process, and we’re working to finalizing it. It will be a multipurpose facility,” said Corker. Cagni is located behind North Miami High school at 13498 N. E. 8th Ave. North Miami, Florida 33161.
Claude Pepper Park is one for those who like to shoot hoops and work out. The park has an indoor gymnasium called the Joe Celestin Center, the center is also used for the summer programs for students. Locals can play basketball inside or outside at the courtyards. There are open fields for multi purposes. The address to Claude Pepper Park is 1525 N.W 135th St. North Miami, Florida 33167; this park is a must see.
Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park 1725 N. E. 135th St. North Miami, Florida 33181. According to the website for North Miami Parks, Enchanted has 22-acres of land. Including subtropical plants, animals, and trees. Enchanted Forest borders Arch Creek which is in the heart of North Miami. There are also picnic areas which can be rented for parties and any other events. Children can ride ponies in the center of the park where the ponies reside. Enchanted also has a tot-lot towards the back of the park.
Jaycee Park, 14195 N. E. 16 Ct. North Miami, Florida 33181 is a park that has passive open space. The park has one picnic area where guest can enjoy sitting, eating, reading a book or maybe even a small walk for the day. The picnic area is in the center of the .34 acre community.
Keystone Park (Bobby Hammer Field) 13050 Ixora Ct. North Miami, Florida 33181 has a tot-lot, community center, multipurpose field, handball, and playground. There is 1.39 acres of enjoyable space for children to enjoy their day outdoors.
Kiwanis Park 12100 N. W. 16th Ave. North Miami, Florida 33167 another large park with 1.21 acres of enjoyable space. The park has a Tot-Lot with a multipurpose field, and playground.
North Bayshore William Lehman Park 12220 North Bayshore Dr. North Miami, Florida 33181 has passive greenspace. There is also a boardwalk for guest and an area for pets to play and interact with other pets.
North Miami Athletic Stadium is located 2555 N. E. 151st St. North Miami, Florida 33181. It has a concession stand, open space for football, and other sports. It is 20 acres and home for the track field students that attend the high school it is next to. It is a private field, but is it open to guest after school hours.
Oleander Park, 12100 N. W. 13th Ave. North Miami, Florida 33167 is considered one of North Miami’s sports park. It has a baseball field, and 1.21 acres of land that the actual park is built on.
Veterans Memorial at Griffing Park, North East 123rd St. & West Dixie Highway North Miami, Florida 3316 is a neighborhood park. Offering guest, computer centers, multi purpose field, picnic area, swimming pool, and shelter which is all built on 5.4 acres.
All of the parks are imperative to the community and they have events and programs for the students who attend them. Corker says that there are approximately 60 events per year, and annually about 13 events scattered throughout the different parks. After school programs, as well as summer programs are offered at the parks for parents to sign their children up. Volunteers signups are available for citizens to be a helping hand and have community service hours given to them. Information is displayed inside the parks offices or on the websites for each park. More importantly, if guest ever needed a way to one of the beautiful parks North Miami has to offer, “NoMi bus transportation is offered at each park location,” said John O’Brien transportation planner for North Miami.
For any more information about these beautiful parks in North Miami visit the main website http://www.northmiamifl.gov or http://www.northmiamifl.gov/docs/Volume_II.pdf.
