Friday Fifteen: Our Favorite Local Parks

January 15, 2021

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As the South Florida temperatures hit their sweet spot and the need to socially distance and stay outside continues to be ever present, we find ourselves spending more and more time at our local parks. Whether looking for a beach hang, a place to take the doggos, or a great nature walk, The Newland Smith Team has you covered.

Anchor Park in East Delray is a quaint, shaded public park with a small playground, picnic areas, and nearby beach access. It’s an ideal spot to take the kiddos when they need a break from the hot sun on the beach.

Anchor Park

Blazing Star Nature Preserve in Boca is a great place to go if you like your exercise with some scenery. Two loop trails are available for visitors to
travel throughout the site, offering 24 acres of sand and scrubland, with an additional two acres being comprised of a wetland.

Delray Beach Children’s Garden is one of our favorite local hidden gems. The nonprofit, 2-plot garden offers hands-on activities, rare trees, and a pond with fish and turtles. What better way to nurture eco-consciousness in children through garden education, nature exploration and outdoor play?

Delray Beach Children’s Garden

Green Cay Nature Center in Boynton is the county’s newest nature center. It overlooks 100 acres of constructed wetland and features 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk featuring interpretive signs about the habitat. The Nature Center includes a lecture hall, gift shop, and live animals in an extensive exhibit room that highlights wetland attributes.

Green Cay Nature Center

Lake Ida West Park in Delray offers lakeside beaches for boating and fishing as well as bike trails and a well-equipped area for dogs. The park is a great place to enjoy a picnic (on the beach or in one of the pavilions) and get some exercise (go for a walk on their 2 mile path).

Lakeview Park is nestled in the heart of Delray’s adorable Lake Ida neighborhood. The park sits on the east side of Lake Ida and includes a playground, picnic pavilions, boat ramp, and dock.

Lakeview Park

Lake Wyman Park in East Boca offers tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts as well as ball fields, a playground, and picnic areas. It’s a great spot to host a birthday party, get some exercise, or just take in the fresh air.

Logger’s Run Park in West Boca is a 54-acre green space, complete with a skate park, picnic pavilion, kids’ play structures, and basketball courts. Bring your sneakers and take on the exercise trails or take hike on the nature trail.

Logger’s Run Park

Mizner Bark (no, that’s not a typo) is one of our favorite dog parks in the area. This off leash dog park in Boca separates dogs into three areas, depending on pet size. Doggie bags and fresh water are available.

Mizner Bark

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens offers a window to Japan through sprawling historic gardens, a world-class bonsai display, captivating exhibitions, signature cuisine and a distinctive Museum Store.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Patch Reef Park off of Yamato in Boca offers abundant sports and recreation facilities (including a tennis center), an expansive pirate-themed playground (complete with waterpark), and a community center offering classes for children and adults.

Patch Reef Park

Red Reef Park is a 67-acre oceanfront park ideal for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and fishing. It includes some of Boca’s most beautiful beaches as well as the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center which provides educational fun for the whole family.

Red Reef Park

Spanish River Park is a family-friendly city park along the Intracoastal Waterway perfect for picnicking, swimming, and bird-watching. Organized youth camping is also available in this idyllic setting.

Spanish River Park

Sugar Sand Park in Boca is a 132-acre park with a children’s science center, performing-arts theater, science playground and water park, carousel, gym, and nature trails. This award winning park has something for everyone including classes and camps for both children and adults.

Sugar Sand Science Center

Veterans Park in Delray is a tranquil park on the Intracoastal. It offers a BBQ/picnic area, playground, and senior citizen recreation center. Our favorite thing to do here is grab a bite from one of nearby Atlantic Avenue restaurants and watch the boats go by.