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Public Parks and Playgrounds in South Florida: A Family Field Guide

County and state parks across Miami-Dade and Broward are free or low-cost, and they offer space a backyard never can. This field guide covers the parks families actually use.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
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The best playground in South Florida is often a public park you have not tried yet. County and state parks across Miami-Dade and Broward are free or low-cost, and they offer something a backyard never can: space, shade, and the chance to meet neighbors. Here is a working field guide to the parks families actually use.

Miami-Dade: Amelia Earhart Park

In Hialeah, Amelia Earhart Park spreads across more than 500 acres with lakes, trails, and a farm village where children can meet farm animals. Fishing, biking, and water play make it easy to spend a full morning without leaving the city.

Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables

Matheson Hammock is one of the oldest county parks in Miami-Dade, and its signature is the atoll pool, a saltwater lagoon filled by the tides of Biscayne Bay. It is a calm place for small children to paddle while parents watch, with a marina and shaded hammock trails nearby.

Key Biscayne: two parks, minutes apart

At the tip of Key Biscayne, Crandon Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park sit minutes apart. Crandon brings a classic carousel, a splash area, and a wide beach. Bill Baggs adds the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, nature trails, and a top-rated beach with a kayak launch. Choose one and you will still want the other.

Broward: Brian Piccolo and C.B. Smith

Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City is the sports hub of the region, with athletic fields and a cycling velodrome that hosts races and lessons. In Pembroke Pines, C.B. Smith Park is one of the county's larger regional parks, with room to spread out for a birthday gathering or a long afternoon of catch.

Markham Park in Sunrise and T.Y. Park in Hollywood

Markham Park in Sunrise carries miles of mountain bike trails, a dog park, and the Fox Observatory, which hosts family stargazing nights. T.Y. Park in Hollywood is built around a lake with a two-mile walking loop and a water play area, an easy stop for families on this side of the county.

Miramar Regional Park

At 16801 Miramar Parkway, the city's regional park gives families ball fields, playgrounds, and open green space without the drive to the coast. For families weighing where to live in Broward, the park system next door becomes part of everyday quality of life.

A note on the seasons

Park days in South Florida are best early: before ten in the morning from late spring through fall, and any time of day in the cooler months. Count on shade, bring water, and check the county park hours before you go. A great park day needs less of a plan and more sunscreen.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.