ST. LUCIE COUNTY

WHITE CITY PARK

Location: Midway Road between Oleander Avenue and South 25th Street, White City
Public or private: Public
Admission: Free


Called by some the most beautiful park in all of St. Lucie County, White City Park is unique for its landscaping, its graceful flowering trees and the winding lake in the center of the park. Park benches overlooking the lake, picnic pavilions and intricately shaped old oaks for shade and climbing make it the place to go for all ages, from families with young kids to senior citizens who love to sit and read in the sun or shade.

A big favorite for barbecues, birthdays and weekend picnics, it has plenty of room for impromptu ball games and Frisbee flipping.

The North Fork of the St. Lucie River, declared an aquatic preserve by the state of Florida, encircles the park. A boat launch and a dock for power boats, kayaks and canoes are popular, as are two fishing docks. From the park, it’s possible to travel for miles by boat. Kids and dads often make use of the riverbank for fishing as well.

“I’ve been coming here all my life, for the past 40 years,” said Brian Dodd from Port St. Lucie, who was there on a Saturday with about 30 family members and friends. “We enjoy everything about the park: the beauty of it, what they have here. We never get tired of it.”

Annie and Russell Knowles from Indian River Estates in Fort Pierce, who were enjoying a walk with 9-year-old golden retriever Rusty, said they visit the park as much as they can.

“It’s so relaxing, and just so pretty, and there are a lot of places to walk with Rusty, “Annie Knowles said. “We meet a lot of people here, too. Everyone’s so friendly.”

WILDCAT COVE

Location: State Road A1A, west side of North Hutchinson Island, across from Pepper Park, Fort Pierce
Public or private: Public
Admission: Free


The water of Wildcat Cove was originally part of nature’s own cut dividing North Hutchinson Island from South Hutchinson Island. It existed hundreds of years before the man-made Fort Pierce Inlet was created to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Indian River.

Today, the two sides of the cove are known for their marked nature trails and several very long piers that jut out into the Indian River Lagoon for fishing, sightseeing and boat launching. It’s open to hikers, dog walkers, fishermen and boaters. Several picnic pavilions, plus two picnic tables, make it a good place to spend the day.

Across State Road A1A is popular beachfront Pepper Park, for those who want to spend part of their day watching the waves and swimming. In 1950, Pepper Park was dedicated to then-U.S. Senator Claude Pepper in honor of his many years of service to the area.

A trip into Wildcat Cove offers a chance to see manatees swimming and surfacing, watch fish in schools just below the surface of the water, get a close-up view of mangrove roots in and above dappled water, and walk winding trails to discover plants and trees you may never have seen before. Signboards offer descriptions and pictures to make it easy to spot a variety of plants.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

ROUND ISLAND

Name: Round Island Riverside and Beachfront parks
Location: 2200 State Road A1A, North Hutchinson Island, north side of Indian River County line
Public or private: Public
Admission: Free


Round Island Beachfront, with its gently sloping white sands meeting the ocean’s waves, may be the widest beach in all of Indian River County.

“The sand drifts down from the north and collects right on this beach because of the jetty down at Fort Pierce Inlet sticking out into the ocean,” said John Dotsey, a lifeguard who was at the park with his young daughters after work.“Wherever you have a jetty, sand collects on the north side of it, so this beach just keeps growing wider and wider. I love this beach.”

For history buffs and the curious, several artifacts used during World War II, when troops trained along the island’s beaches, are embedded in concrete and enclosed within a white picket fence. A kiosk signboard explains what is on display. The metal scullies, spears and rail fields were intended to make it hard for landing craft and soldiers to get to the beaches.

Picnic pavilions furnish shade and a place for beachfront burgers and hot dogs.

At Round Island Riverside, acres of jewel-green lawn sweep down to the river, where two boat launches attract owners of small craft, and a long pier parallel to the shoreline is a good spot for fishing or photography. Bike riders make use of the long road around the lawn, while children enjoy time in the playground.

Nature trails and an observation tower offer a chance to explore the peaceful surroundings and see out over the river where fish jump with silvery splashes and you might spot a manatee.

HUMISTON PARK

Location: Ocean Drive, just south of Beachland Boulevard, Vero Beach
Public or private: Public
Admission: Free


Named for Dr. W.H. Humiston, an early resident and founder of the Vero Beach Beautification Society, sparkling clean Humiston Park is one of the most popular and frequently visited oceanfront parks in Vero Beach. Generations of residents and visitors have enjoyed the park. From infancy through the golden years, they have congregated there for picnics and barbecues.

Robin Klemka from Holiday, Fla., said four generations of her family enjoy the park. She was visiting her parents in Vero Beach recently with her grandson Daniel Smith. Daniel’s mom, Brianna, is an Army medic stationed in Afghanistan.

“Whenever I visit, I bring Daniel to the park because it’s cool and there’s always a breeze, and he loves the red fish in the playground,” she said. “It’s beautiful here and he has plenty of room to run around.”

The park, with benches in shade and sun, was recently refurbished with new winding paths through the lawn, a new events plaza with a mosaic starburst compass, and a sitting wall for people who come to concerts and other events. An oceanfront walk high above the beach offers benches for sitting, watching and reading. Parking has also been expanded — welcome news to the park’s many fans.

MARTIN COUNTY

RIVERWALK AND FLAGLER PARK

Name: Riverwalk at Flagler Park
Location: Between Flagler Avenue and the river, east of U.S. 1, Stuart
Public or private: Public
Admission: Free


There are a lot of intriguing things to discover about Stuart, but perhaps the most unique is its thousands of feet of curving waterfront boardwalk at Flagler Park, which makes it easy to walk from historic downtown Stuart to the free docks at a marina and restaurant on the other side of the point.

Stuart’s Riverwalk, on pilings above the water, puts strollers as close to the water as they can be without being in it or on a boat. An extension goes several hundred feet out into the river, where a bridge connects it to several boat slips.

“I love to come here because it is just so beautiful,” said Debbie Cuccia, who was on the boardwalk with her 5-year-old grandson Bryce on a recent Saturday morning. “I think this is one of the prettiest places in the state.”

The boardwalk connects to Flagler Park’s winding paths, open grassy areas, picnic pavilions, popular basketball court and community center. The smooth cement walks are ideal for wheelchairs or walkers, unlike the rougher terrain of many other parks.

Louise and Vincent Rotondo of Stuart, walking their fluffy black and white shih tzus, Ginger and Dollie, said they visit daily.

“We love it here and so do our dogs,” said Louise Rotondo.

“The park is so pretty and well kept,” said Vincent Rotondo. “It’s always cool and this area of Stuart is so quaint.”

Starting at historic downtown Stuart with its many restaurants and shops, the Riverwalk curves around the northern point of Flagler Park, passes under the new Roosevelt Bridge, continues through a short walking tunnel beneath the Florida East Coast Railway, and goes up to meet Old Dixie Highway at the southern end of the old Roosevelt Bridge.

You can go across Old Dixie to the new Sailor’s Return restaurant on the St. Lucie River, and see its 930 feet of free dock space for boaters who want to eat there, or walk around the downtown.

From the boardwalk at the park’s northern point, you can cut off to the right and walk for several hundred feet under the bridge, watching the fishermen or trying your own luck at catching a fish or blue crab dinner.

Pelican Café, at the north end of the park, has outdoor seating for people in casual dress who want to watch the river as they eat. On weekends at the south end of the park you can catch afternoon bands playing on the Riverwalk Festival Deck or visit the Stuart Green Market on Sunday mornings.

INDIAN RIVERSIDE PARK AND TUCKAHOE MANSION

Location: 1707 N.E. Indian River Drive, south of the Y intersection, in Jensen Beach
Public or private: Public
Admission: Park is Free. A rental fee is charged for events in the mansion. Visitors can stroll the exterior areas only. Call 288.5737 for information.


Dotted among the green lawns and winding walkways and roads of Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach you’ll find a large interactive fountain for children, a long wooden pier with a great view of the Indian River, a beach for sunbathers, picnic pavilions, two museums and a renovated mansion that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005.

Featuring the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum, the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast and the 1936 hillside Tuckahoe Mansion for event rentals, the park connects via a pink paving stone bridge at the north end to the U.S. Sailing Center and the Jensen Beach Boat Ramp Park.

Indian RiverSide Park is a favorite for visitors, walkers and joggers, sunbathers and families with children. It draws people from neighboring Stuart all the way to Port St. Lucie.

“We come here because of the variety it offers,” said Lyndsey Matthis, as her 16-month-old daughter Madison, played in the spraying fountain water. “We just recently moved to Stuart and we think this park is great.”

Faith Swan was blowing bubbles with her sons Gavin, 18 months, and Solomon, 3. As iridescent bubbles streamed out into the breeze, she said she drives from Port St. Lucie because she loves Jensen Beach.

“It’s a beach town and I’m a beach girl,” she said. “We love the variety of things to do at this park, like the fountain and the Children’s Museum. It’s at the top of our list of parks.”

The mansion is on a high hill named Mount Elizabeth by its first owner in 1851. The hill, actually a midden, was constructed of shells and other discards by the Ais Indians 4,000 years ago and was placed on the National Register in 2002.

Affording an awesome view of the Indian River from its upper deck, the Mediterranean-style mansion is open only for rental events but will eventually be open one day a week for public tours.