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All of North Palm Beach County has what some call a pocket park.
These hidden gems, many of which take up less than an acre, have something special about them. One features two metal beams from the World Trade Center in New York, features a piece of historic railroad embedded in the lawn, and the third features wheelchair-accessible play apparatus for young people of different talents.
One became a place of annual Santa Claus sightings. And another found an inspired use for a tiny triangle of land.
Smaller-than-usual gardens, picnic benches, towering trees, and paths allow citizens to make friends with their neighbors, host birthday parties, take their dogs for an afternoon walk, or simply spend some peaceful time in nature.
Size: 1 acre
Location: 705 Military Trail, Jupiter
Hours: Every day from sunrise to sunset.
Fun fact: the park is named after Bruce St. John’s. Laurent, a Jupiter police officer who was killed in September 2012 while helping block traffic for former President Barack Obama’s motorcade on the southbound 45th Street front ramp from Interstate 95 in West Palm Beach. .
During the holidays, Saint-Laurent took on a more important role. For many years, in December, he would pass through the park, formerly called Pine Gardens Park, dressed as Santa Claus to hand out gifts to the children of the community.
When did it open? 2002
The park is located directly at the Jupiter Branch of the Palm Beach County Library, within walking distance of all the citizens of the Pine Gardens South neighborhood.
Features: Two picnic areas, children’s areas and parking.
Enjoy the Outdoors: 10 Best Parks in Palm Beach County
Size: About a quarter of an acre
Location: 4301 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens
Opening hours: Every day from sunset.
Fun fact: This park caters to others with other abilities, with wheelchair-accessible play floors and a polyrubber surface covering the floor so those traveling on wheels can land more smoothly.
When did it open? December 2021
Gardens Park is the city’s first fully inclusive playground. The goal of this park is to give parents and young people of different talents the opportunity to play in combination in a playground safely and in a more available way.
Features: Wheelchair-accessible swing, interactive multidirectional swing, assisted zipline, modified monkey bars, a merry-go-round with high-backed seats, a bank-shot court (which is similar to a basketball court), restrooms and parking.
Size: About one-third of an acre
Location: 841 Ocean Drive, Juno Beach
Opening hours: Every day from sunset.
Fun fact: There is a piece of track from the Celestial Railroad, a 7.5-mile railroad with lines that previously ran from Juno Beach to Jupiter from 1887 to 1896, on display at the park.
When did it open? December 2018
Features: A viewpoint, motorcycle racks, benches, historical symptoms of the neighborhood and a walkway with traditional bricks.
Area: Approximately 7 acres
Location: 705 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach
Opening hours: Every day from sunset.
Fun fact: This park has a community garden with soil beds that can be rented out for their garden season, which runs from Sept. 1 to May 31. Rates are as low as $25 for a half bed and can go up to $50 for a full bed for residents. For nonresidents, rates are between $35 and $70.
When did it open? The 1960s
Features: Community garden, two lighted basketball courts, 4 racquetball courts, two handball courts, two batting cages, two lighted baseball diamonds, a playground, a pavilion, restrooms and parking.
Size: about one-fifth of an acre
Location: At the intersection of West Ilex Drive and Eighth Street.
Opening hours: Every day from sunset.
Fun fact: The town unveiled new playground equipment at the triangle-shaped park on Nov. 7, using more than $103,000 in grant funds to buy the new materials.
Every element of the old playground except for the swing set was removed in 2020 after it fell into disrepair, damaged by wind and rain.
When did it open? 2008
Features: play equipment for children aged five to 12, a giant picnic table and several park benches.
Size: about 1 acre
Location: 345 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta
Hours: Open at all times.
Interesting fact: The park includes two metal beams from New York’s World Trade Center, which the town won in 2010. They are part of a 9/11 memorial in the park, which is anchored in a fountain surrounded by benches.
The second fountain in the park is to the west of the memorial fountain. It was built in 1985 and dedicated to Charles P. Martyn, founder of Tequesta and the nearby Jupiter Inlet Colony. It is surrounded by a marble border, preserved from the original Banquet Hall.
When did it open? 1974
Features: Two fountains, seven benches, one picnic table and parking.
Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for the Palm Beach Post, which is part of the USA TODAY Florida network. Get in touch at mwashburn@pbpost. com. Support local journalism – subscribe today.
This article appeared in Palm Beach Post: Hidden Gems: Six ‘Pocket Parks’ in North Palm Beach County
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