Monroe County Parks & Beaches

The Facilities Maintenance Department maintains 22 parks and beaches, covering more than 100 acres from Stock Island to Key Largo in unincorporated Monroe County.

Key Largo

Friendship Park

This 3-acre park has a playground, baseball diamond, basketball courts, and shaded structures. 

  • Location: 69 Hibiscus Drive

Key Largo Community Park & Pool

This sprawling, 14-acre park features playing fields and a fitness course. It also has courts and surfaces for tennis, soccer, baseball, volleyball, basketball, handball, and skateboarding. The Jacobs Aquatic Center is located on the edge of the park (admission fees apply for the pool). The County runs the park in partnership with the YMCA. 

  • Location: 500 St. Croix Place

Murray E. Nelson Government Center Park

This park is a bit hidden at the back of the government center, with a fabulous view of the Bay. It features five pavilions, restrooms, and picnic tables. It is accessible for small boats and kayaks and canoes can be launched here. 

  • Location: 102050 Overseas Highway

Rowell’s Waterfront Park

This 8-acre, kid- and dog-friendly passive park along Florida Bay in Key Largo opened in 2016. The park has picnic tables, benches, a place to swim (at your own risk), and a kayak, canoe, and standup paddleboard launching area. Boats and personal watercraft are not allowed. Admission to the park is free.

The County is working on a scenic overlook and other plans to renovate the land into a more active park. The park is used as a temporary staging site for hurricane debris if needed.

  • Location: Mile Marker 104.5 on U.S. 1

Mike Forster Memorial Park

This small 3-acre park features a small boat ramp for kayaks or canoes with access to surrounding mangroves and waters. 

  • Location: 20 Sunset Road
  • 6 Parking Spots
  • Open daily from sunrise to sunset

Tavernier

Old Settlers Park

This historic location has been transformed into a small park with a pavilion, picnic table, walking trail, and playground. Benches scatter the park to provide visitors with a place to enjoy the scenic ocean views. Pets are allowed. 

  • Location: Mile Marker 92.5 of U.S. 1, oceanside

Harry Harris Park

The 21-acre park along the ocean includes a boat ramp, pavilions, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a playground, a protected beach, and a swimming area. There are two baseball fields and basketball courts.

There is a fee for non-Monroe County residents on weekends and holidays. 

  • Location: end of East Beach Road

Little Duck Key

Veterans Memorial Park

The parking lot and beach are open to the public. The permanent bathrooms and one pavilion at the site need further renovations and will remain closed due to Hurricane Irma. There are portapotty facilities on site available for use. 

  • Location: west end of the Seven Mile Bridge, Mile Marker 40 of U.S. 1

Big Pine Key

Blue Heron Park

Only the pickleball courts are open. The County is working to restore its features, which included a community building with restrooms, three tiki pavilions with six barbeque grills, a basketball court, and a volleyball court. It also was equipped with a foosball table, ping pong tables, and tetherballs. 

  • Location: Intersection of Wilder Road and Lytton Way

Watson Field Park and Big Pine Dog Park

This park serves as a dog park and has a grassy playing field. There is a baseball field, a sand volleyball court, and two tennis courts. 

  • Location: 30150 South Street

Palm Villa Park

This small park has a picnic table and a playground.

  • Location: End of Palm Avenue and Wilder

Big Pine Key Community Park

The park includes tennis courts, a playground, a skate park, and a fitness trail. 

  • Location: 31009 Atlantis Road, at the end of Sands Road

Ramrod Key

Ramrod Park

The park is vacant and sandy. Visitors can enjoy walking or relaxing on the sand while watching the sunset. 

  • Location: corner of Bay Shore Drive and Pruitt Drive

Saddlebunch Keys

Bay Point Park

The park behind Baby’s Coffee at mile marker 15 features benches, picnic tables, and barbeque pits. There is a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, a tennis court, and a bocce court. It also has a sandy playground with swing sets and a jungle gym, a large grassy field, and a soccer net. 

  • Location: 6 West Circle Drive

Geiger Key

Boca Chica Beach

This relatively secluded beach is a great spot to see a multitude of sea life. 

  • Location: End of Boca Chica Road

Big Coppitt Key

Big Coppitt Volunteer Fire Department Park

The park includes a basketball court, roller hockey rink, bocce courts, horseshoe pits, and a handball court. It also has six tables and benches. 

  • Location: 280 Avenue F

Wilhelmina Harvey Park

The family-friendly park has a jungle gym, swing set, and picnic area with an open grassy area and small walking trail. Gated dog park. 

  • Location: 373 Avenue F

Stock Island

Bernstein Park

The park reopened in August 2018 after a major renovation project that was delayed due to Hurricane Irma. The $7.9 million project included elevating all the athletic fields, building a new community center, and constructing a new playground and other amenities.  

  • Location: corner of 5th Street and 5th Avenue

Key West

Higgs Beach

The park along the ocean offers swimming, snorkeling, beach volleyball, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. It includes a dog park and Astro City, a large sandy playground with barbecue pits, a volleyball court, and picnic tables. The County is working on a project to renovate the park, which includes relocating Atlantic Boulevard to make a larger beach area. 

  • Location: 1040 Atlantic Blvd

Key West Pines Park

This picnic area under Australian Pines is a good place to watch planes take off from Key West International Airport or the beautiful sunrises over the water. Pets are allowed if owners pick up after them. 

  • Location: 3501 South Roosevelt Blvd.

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was created on June 30, 1983 by the Monroe County BOCC. The advisory board meets quarterly to review the facilities, programs, management, costs, expenditures, and revenues for existing park facilities. It also makes recommendations for improvements and additional facilities, recreational areas, and programs. The advisory board encourages public input at the meetings.