Walking Trails and Greenways, Space Coast Central

Community Park of Rockledge
From SR 520, go 4 miles south on US Hwy 1, turn right on Gus Hipp Blvd and go 0.4 miles. The park entrance is on the right.
This 74-acre community park includes active and passive recreation areas. Visitors can walk or cycle from Murrell Road into the park through scrublands along a paved walkway that features a wetland overlook. Park amenities include a playground, pavilion, grills, a grassy activity area, soccer/multiuse fields, skateboard park, and a restroom/concession building. A 30-acre preserve is included in this park
GPS N 28 18.262 W 80 42.906
Google Satellite Image

Riverwalk-A Family Park
5355 US Highway 1, Rockledge
FROM SR-520, go south 7 miles on US Hwy 1, look for the park on the left. You will have to make a u-turn just to the south of the park onto the northbound lane. If coming from the south, it will be about 4.5 miles north of the Pineda Causeway.
Nature Center, and a nature boardwalk that begins near the pavilion with restrooms and winds through a natural Florida hammock to the river.
GPS N 28 16.089 W 80 41.407
Google Satellite Image

Wickham Park
2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne
321-255-4307
Wickam Park is a popular 391 acre park with semi-improved camping, about four miles of narrow trails that meander through oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods, and along marshy streams for both equestrian and hiking use, a paved walking trail, two unguarded swimming ponds, and several more small ponds, equestrian facilities, and a dog park. Some of the species sighted here include Brownheaded Nuthatch, Bobwhite, Painted Bunting, Chuck-will’s-widow, Raptor, Killdeer, Migratory Songbirds.
Campground Website
Site Map
GPS N 28 09.471 W 80 39.802
Google Satellite Image

Erna Nixon Park

1200 Evans Road, Melbourne

Location
FROM US-192 by the Melbourne Square Mall, go north on Evans Road 0.9 miles. The entrance is on the left just before Nasa Blvd.

Erna Nixon Park is a 53.93-acre natural Florida hammock and nature preserve located just south of Nasa Boulevard southwest of the Melbourne Airport. Although surrounded by a commercial district, it is home to many birds and small animals, including the protected gopher tortoise and Indigo snake. A popular site for nature walks and outdoor festivals including the annual Crackerfest, it features an elevated boardwalk winding through three different ecosystems where native plant species and small animals can be viewed.

Habitats Florida Hammock, Pine Flatwoods, Wetland
Watchable Wildlife Gopher Tortoise, Indigo Snake; Listed in State of Florida Great Florida Birding Trail—Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, and mixed Warbler flocks in migration
ADA Accessible Parking, Restrooms, Pavilion, Nature Boardwalk

GPS N 28 05.441 W 80 39.293

Google Satellite Image

Merritt Island

Intracoastal Waterway Park
Hwy 520 Causeway at the Hubert Humphrey Bridge, Merritt Island
FROM US Hwy 1 at SR-520, go east 0.7 miles just over the Humbert Humphrey Bridge. Turn back to the SR-520 westbound lane. The park entrance is on the westbound lane and the exit is on the eastbound lane.
This 8.5-acre community river park is a picturesque gateway to Merritt Island. Landscaped with native trees and plants, paved pathways and winding boardwalks along the Indian River and features small picnic shelters and a restroom on the south side. The concrete fishing pier features benches making it ideal for viewing evening sunsets.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark.
GPS N 28 21.394 W 80 42.786
Google Satellite Image

Rotary Park-Merritt Island
1899 S Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
Parks Referendum Project
FROM SR-520 go south 2.4 miles on S Courtenay Parkway. The park entrance is on the right.
FROM the Pineda Causeway (SR-404), go north on South Tropical Trail/Courtenay Parkway 8.9 miles. The park is on the left.
This 37.77-acre community park includes an interpretive nature boardwalk and a 1,500 sq. ft.Nature Center that resembles a Florida Cracker style schoolhouse and offers exhibits, tours and classes that focus on the Florida woods habitat. The Nature Center is the result of the volunteer efforts of the Merritt Island Rotary Club.To schedule a tour or arrange a visit to the Nature Center, call 321-455-1385.
Habitats found on the site include Florida Hammock, Xeric Scrub and some Wetlands which attract
hawk, osprey, migratory birds, songbirds, Yellow-Throated Warbler, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Gopher Tortoise, Snakes, Armadillo, Raccoon, Opossum, Squirrel
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Parking, Nature Center, Nature Boardwalk.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark, except for scheduled use.
GPS N 28 19.583 W 80 41.114
Google Satellite Image

Beachside

Lori Wilson Park;
1500 N Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach
FROM SR-520 go south 1.4 miles on SR-A1A
Open after sunrise until dusk, except for scheduled use.
This 32.43-acre regional beach park featuring a maritime hammock is a popular site for events and group gatherings. The dunes and maritime hammock allow visitors to experience Florida’s natural coastline. The 3,155’ interpretive boardwalk at the Maritime Hammock is accessed from the north parking lot, or by paved walkway from the south parking lot. Wildlife includes migratory birds, Shorebirds, Songbirds, Butterfly, Opossum, Raccoon, Snakes.
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Parking, Restrooms, Pavilions, Playground, Boardwalk, 4 Dune Crossovers, Nature Center, Nature Boardwalk, Paved Walkways
GPS N 28 20.227 W 80 36.470
Google Satellite Image

Hightower Beach Park;
815 Highway A1A, Satellite Beach, FL 32937, (321) 773-6458
Much to their credit, the coastal City of Satellite Beach has taken great pride in their natural resources, preserving 40 % of the beach front property within the city in its natural state and setting it aside for future generations to enjoy. The flagship property of this policy is Hightower Beach Park, roughly 18 acres of prisine beach and dune habitat protecting roughly 1/2 mile of coastline with an observation platform and about 560 feet of boardwalk so visitors can view the habitat and scan the native vegetation for migratory songbirds and other species that reside there. In addition are the chances to see examples of Sabellariid Worm Domes, which are colonies of Sabellariid Worms attached to the flatter coquina rock ridges. At low tide the domes closest to shore are exposed on the beach sometimes forming tidal pools and are valuable habitat for many species of marine fish, shrimps, crabs, and many other invertebrate species. Please do not touch these domes as they are fragile and essentially living ecosystems. Scan the rocks at low tide for shorebirds and wading birds hunting along the coquina ridges, while several species of gulls and terns can be seen scanning the water below for baitfish. Below is more information on Hightower Park and the recent improvements which include parking for 32 cars, restrooms, an outdoor shower, and a non reservable pavillion in addition to the boardwalk and observation platform.
Hightower Beach Park PDF
Report and Florida Today Articles
Here's a couple of articles on Sabellariid Worm Reefs from the Florida Oceanographic Society
Sabellariid Worm Reefs
Worm Reefs, Built to Last
GPS N 28 11.650 W 80 35.661
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