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As the Village of Palmetto Bay approaches its 20th-year anniversary, its park system continues to be the focus of Village life and the envy of many. It is no wonder that Palmetto Bay has been dubbed the “Village of Parks,” with 5 very diverse park facilities offering a 365-day experience for little ones, young adults, active folks, the young at heart, and even our furrier friends. The Palmetto Bay park system has something in store for everyone and everything under the Florida sun!
Our mission is simple, but focused; to deliver exemplary recreational and educational opportunities and service to our patrons in an attractive, clean and safe environment. To that extent, we offer recreational opportunities by partnering with other agencies like Baptist Health System to design programs that cater to the needs of our residents, like Zumba and other group fitness classes, ballet at the park, outdoor family adventures, and more! We also partner with other local sports organizations to bring football, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading, and tennis to our parks! In addition to our partnerships, our facilities offer myriad possibilities for all to enjoy their park experience, including walkways and trails, beach volleyball, vita courses, open green areas, and even meditation areas! Thousands enjoy the Village parks each year and our popularity is growing with locals. But exactly how did we get to where we are today?
In 2003, our park system was not exactly the gem of Palmetto Bay, as it is today. The Village inherited facilities from Miami-Dade County that were in dire need of a lot of tender, love and care. Not only were the facilities not to par, but there were only 3 parks in Palmetto Bay and we knew that was definitely not enough! So we immediately looked for ways to invest in and transform our parks. We aggressively sought every grant opportunity, opened our doors to volunteers and volunteer organizations and we went to work. More than $7.3 million in grant funds went to park improvements, we acquired 2 additional parks including Ludovici Park and Thalatta Estate and invested $5.6 in a municipal loan, more than $3 million from the county voter-approved General Obligation Bond and $300,000 in private donation. In all, $16 million have been invested in our parks over the course of the years, and we are proud of what we have achieved so far! But wait a second, we are not yet done! In fact, we are currently working with the Veteran’s Park Task Force to bring a commemorative park to the Village in recognition of our valiant veterans. We are excited and proud to bring this new passive facility to our residents as we currently work on its design.
Starting with the visionary actions of our first Village Council and continuing with the forward stewardship of our current elected leaders, fast forward 20 years and our park system has truly become the jewel of South Dade. If you have not been introduced to your Village parks (although extremely doubtful), here is a bit of their individual history:
Coral Reef Park; Where Everything Happens!
Coral Reef Park is comprised of an impressive 53-acres of land and even water! Bisected by the C-100 canal, this gem of Palmetto Bay and our most popular facility offers an array of passive and active recreational opportunities.
On any given Sunday afternoon, it is not out of the ordinary to find a family picnicking on the vast acreage of the park while kids play volleyball as parents watch their toddlers in the playground. In the background, there will likely be a football game taking place as walkers and bikers use our trails, while meditators find a quiet spot at the Ken Robinson Meditation Garden, a bookworm takes advantage of the covered gazebo to cozy up with a book or perhaps a nature lover learns about the natural plant communities of South Florida; all of this simultaneously happening at Coral Reef Park. How is this even possible?
Coral Reef Park is bisected by the C-100 canal, which creates a natural division between the passive and active areas and the park has been developed to continue that trend. The west side of the park is where all the fun resides. This is where the “Bridget Allison Pier” playground is enjoyed by kids of all ages. The area also houses the football and baseball fields, concession building, tennis facilities, racquetball, beach volleyball, and the famous “Coach Jill Ellis Soccer Field.” The east side is where the beautiful bandshell and gazebo stands along with the “Ken Robinson Meditation Garden”; yes, a meditation garden! Shady walkways lined with mature Oaks and Banyan trees and rest areas abound the east side location. And yes! There are water activities as well!
The park offers a meandering trail that is approximately 2 miles in length featuring a vita course and allowing opportunities for nature walking, running, jogging, biking, roller skating or roller blading. The trail essentially connects the passive and active areas of the park. A portion of this popular amenity meanders through Coral Reef Park’s dedicated natural preserve area, which provides a relaxing atmosphere for trail users and nature lovers. Did you know that the Coral Reef Park trail connects a historic trail and a public school? Yes, the trail connects to the historic Old Cutler Road trail via SW 152nd Street and to the adjacent Coral Reef Elementary School. The Village has been enhancing this beautiful trail over the past few years by installing tree root guards to protect the surface from the growing tree roots, expanding the width to 10′, replacing the asphalt with a friendlier rubberized material, and installing new trailheads to connect the trails where possible. Coral Reef Park currently offers four separate picnic areas and the infamous gazebo that can be rented for private parties, meetings or special events.
Other improvements made over the years include the resurfacing of the fields, improvements to restroom facilities, new concession building, improvements to the racquetball courts, tennis courts and playground area, addition of a pedestrian bridge, landscaping improvements, Parkview Café, and coming soon the Village will be replacing the old and demolished recreation room! Did you know that Parkview Café was the first public building in the County to receive the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification?
Over the park’s history, Coral Reef Park has evolved into a multi-faced sanctuary, perfect for any park lover! If you haven’t experienced Coral Reef Park lately, run, walk, bike or drive to what we feel is the best park in the county!
Coral Reef Park Amenities:
Baseball / softball / football fields
Beach Volleyball Courts
Covered Playground (The Bridget Allison Pier Playground)
Coach Jill Ellis Soccer Field
Exercise Stations
Gazebo / Bandshell (available for party rentals)
The Ken Robinson Meditation Garden and Gazebo
LEED certified concession stand
Natural Pinelands Preserve
Open Play Areas
Outdoor Picnic Areas (available for party rentals)
Racquetball Courts
Tennis Center
Walking / Jogging / Bicycle Path
Palmetto Bay Park; What Could Be Better?
Palmetto Bay Park is one of three park facilities deeded over to the Village of Palmetto Bay by Miami-Dade County when the Village incorporated in 2002, along with Perrine Wayside Park and Coral Reef Park.
Soon after Village incorporation, this park transitioned from a 5-acre park to a 25-acre park facility – a veritable oasis of passive and active attractions, tucked off US-1 just east of the Village Municipal Complex. Formerly known as Perrine Park, Palmetto Bay Park was renamed by the Village Council in 2006.
Today, the widely known park features a state-of-the-art softball complex that continues to be the mecca of South Dade for girls softball. The facility has hosted many travel teams, a large youth sports organization with dual seasons, multi-day tournaments, including the nationally acclaimed “Slam Fest”, and has been the home field to five local high schools including Palmetto High School and Westminster Christian School. The focal point of the park is a two-story concession building and observation deck. The park also houses an air-conditioned recreation room that allows for indoor recreation activities and meetings. In addition to the softball fields, Palmetto Bay Park features expansive greenspace, basketball courts, a skate park, a walking trail, covered picnic pavilions, batting cages, a natural pineland area, an open play area accommodating flag football and soccer, exercise stations, lightning prediction system, and the largest Boundless Playground® in South Florida, making Palmetto Bay Park a truly a multi-recreational facility. Did you know that the 20,000 SF Boundless Playground offers a design that allows able and disabled kids to play together seamlessly? Hence the name “Boundless!”
In terms of programming, Palmetto Bay Park offers softball, flag football, basketball, cheerleading, soccer, and the ever-growing Ballet in the Park program. Palmetto Bay Park is the type of park where a family can enjoy a picnic or be part of the action during a softball game! Whatever peaks your interest, Palmetto Bay is the park for you!
Palmetto Bay Park Amenities
Basketball Courts
Boundless Playground (fully accessible playground featuring play areas for small
and older kids)
Open Green Areas
Perimeter Walking Path
Renovated Recreation Room (available for party rentals)
Six Softball Fields
Skate Park
Two Picnic Gazebos (Available for party rentals)
Two-story concession building
Available rental spaces include: an enclosed, air conditioned recreation room, two picnic pavilions, boundless playground pavilion, and six softball fields.
Perrine-Wayside Dog Park; Because Dogs Too Like to Socialize!
Perrine-Wayside Dog Park was officially open for pup-ness in November of 2007. The park looked more like an abandoned green area when the Village first took it over in 2003. This 3-acre parcel off 164th Street and US 1, features a grand lake in the center, surrounded by shady walking trails.
During the many community sessions that transpired as all the parks were being considered for upgrades, it became evident that our pets and pet owners needed their own gathering place to be interact and be social! That is how Perrine Wayside came to be our official dog park. Soon after the ribbon cutting, the dogs of Miami wagged their tails in agreement and barked their excitement when they found out that Perrine-Wayside Park was named “Best Dog Park in Miami.”
Perrine Wayside today includes the previously mentioned perimeter walking path with people and doggie-friendly water fountains, a separate small dog area with its own separate entrance, park benches, a step-down terrace leading to the water’s edge, picnic tables, a wash area, covered pavilion, parking, a lake aeration system that feeds oxygen into the water to create keep the water clear, and of course, a dog agility course! Free Wi-Fi is available at the park so that dog owners can enjoy the shady surroundings while their dog gets social with other like-minded canines.
The Park also offers the following bark-worthy amenities:
Ample parking areas and easy-to-read Signage
Park furnishings with gazebo / pavilion
Perimeter walking path and perimeter fence
Pet Water Fountains
Ludovici Park/Edward and Arlene Feller Community Room and Amphitheater/Palmetto Bay Library; who knew?
Ludovici Park probably has the most colorful and amazing story of pretty much any private-property-turned-public park that one could find. If you have not heard it, stay and read. You will be amazed!
Shortly after Palmetto Bay’s incorporation, the Village was approached by the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) about a vacant piece of land that had been confiscated by law enforcement for environmental crimes. The property abutted Biscayne Bay and offered Palmetto Bay something that our residents did not have at the time; access to the bay (albeit by foot.) Apparently, a cult known as “Celestia De Lamour” was housed at the property where large bird cages and a wooden pier built within and through the mangroves ended in a man-made small island of rocks. To this day, no one knows what happened to the people who lived on the site. Celestia De Lamour appears to be a fictitious name and not an actual person.
The site, which was approximately 2.6 acres in size, appraised at $670,000. However, if the Village agreed to turn it into a passive park, MDPD would sell the confiscated property for $300,000. Without much hesitation, the Village agreed and immediately sought out funding to help with the acquisition costs. The Ludovici family of Palmetto Bay donated the sum of $300,000 to the Village, making Ludovici Park a reality. In return, the park was named in recognition of the Ludovici family’s thoughtful generosity.
Initial plans for the development of the property included retaining the beautiful boardwalk and island as part of the park amenities. Much to the Village’s surprise, before the acquisition was finalized, the National Park Service staff came without notice and removed both features. In the end, the Village was glad to learn that the mangroves that had been cut to build the pier would one day grow and thrive again. Today, Ludovici Park is a beautiful facility abutting the Miami-Dade County Library at Palmetto Bay with meandering walkways and views of the mangroves and water from the balcony surrounding the Edward & Arlene Feller Community Room and Amphitheater.
The amphitheater has witnessed countless performances from local schools, talented artists and bands. The 2,000 square foot community room, which shares the building with the 5,000 square foot Palmetto Bay branch library, was named after former Palmetto Bay Councilmember Edward Feller and his wife Arlene. Dr. Feller, a gastroenterologist by trade, was part of the founding Council of Palmetto Bay and was instrumental in the development of the library and the community room. Many lectures, workshops and meetings have been held in the quaint but beautiful community room since it first opened in 2008. The park’s meandering walkway connects to the Old Cutler Road trail, which also ties into Thalatta Estate Park and the Deering Estate to the north. And finally, let’s not forget the gazebo where many residents have enjoyed a cup of coffee or alfresco lunch while overlooking the restful and calm mangroves. Did you know that the Celestia Delamour cult built an enormous aviary where it is said that the group kept various tropical and exotic birds?
Ludovici Park Amenities:
· Amphitheater
· Edward & Arlene Feller Community Room (2nd floor, view of Biscayne Bay)
· Gazebo
· Open Grass area(s)
· Meandering walkway
Thalatta Estate Park; Our Own Little Gem!
With its historic significance in South Florida and stunning bayside location, Thalatta Estate is a unique setting for your outdoor wedding ceremony, reception, or special event. Find out how this 1926 Mediterranean-Revival Estate is the perfect setting for creating timeless memories.
Nestled on the shores of Biscayne Bay, on nostalgic Old Cutler Road, in the Village of Palmetto Bay, stands Thalatta Estate. A historic gem that retains the glamour and sophistication of South Florida’s aristocracy of the previous century. Thalatta Estate Park was acquired by the Village of Palmetto Bay in 2007 in an unprecedented effort to ensure its preservation. The multimillion-dollar acquisition only cost Palmetto Bay taxpayers $200,000, as the remainder of the funds were provided through various grants received by the Village.
Few are aware of the place’s history beyond the obviously older home that sits on the site. Thalatta is a derivative of Thalassa, the name given to the site by its original owner, designer, architect and builder Connett family. Built in 1926, the home pays homage to the Mediterranean Revival style and it is quite similar to the Charles Deering Estate for good reason. Back when the C-100 canal did not exist to divide the two adjacent properties, the Connetts and the Deerings frequently visited each other by simply taking a walk on the bay’s edge by the rear of the two properties. This happening before Mr. Connett built the main house and lived in the carriage house instead, which later became the home of their carriages and servants. Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the site became popular after a photo showing a vessel that came ashore near the home.
Today, this vintage mansion serves a prominent role in the community as a unique park for outdoor weddings as well as an event and program venue providing a natural conservation area. Your guests will take a pause as they arrive through a grand coral rock walled entrance to witness a stunning two-story Mediterranean estate and majestic banyan tree flanked by a quaint Carriage House. There are few words that can capture the beauty of Thalatta Estate Park for its natural appeal and architectural style.
The 1920’s Main House, with its beautiful fireplace, original Cuban tile floors, upstairs lounging quarters, offers spectacular views of the sprawling estate grounds and Key Biscayne to the east. The charming two-story Carriage House has been modernized to include park offices, a well-equipped prep kitchen for catering, restrooms, and upstairs lounge area. To further enhance this perfect setting for your special day is a covered terrace, reflection pool, grand staircase from the second floor of the Main House, to an outdoor dining terrace, waterside promenade, ceremony site and lush tropical landscaping.
This elegant and picturesque venue also hosts many educational programs. Our special events include our annual Bridal Expo, Father’s Day Antique Auto Show, high profile commercial filming and photography. Thalatta Estate, the namesake given to the property by his original owner, is the ideal location for you to enjoy reading a book by the water or celebrate and enjoy an unforgettable event.
But Thalatta Estate Park cannot just be confined to serving as an event venue. The sprawling property of more than four acres, which offers unobstructed views of Biscayne National Park, also provides a serene environment for walkers, bicyclists and environmentalists. Programming includes kayaking classes, environmental learning, museum showcase, date night events, our Murder-Mystery Dinner, painting events, car shows, gardening workshops, and of course, yoga-by-the-bay. Did you know that “Thalassa” is a Greek word which means “of the sea”?
Thalatta Estate Park Amenities
Main House
Outdoor Terrace
Covered Terrace
Garden Lawn
Bride/ Groom Suite
Kitchen (requires catering permit)
Conference Room
Bicycle/pedestrian walkway
Lush landscaping
Museum
Reflection pond and waterfall
