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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 City, another features a piece of historic railroad embedded in the grass, and a third features wheelchair-accessible play apparatus for young people with abilities.
One of them has an annual place for Santa Claus and another discovered an encouraged use for a small triangle of earth.
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.
Area: 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 covered picnic areas, playground equipment 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
Hours: Every day from sunrise to sunset.
Fun fact: This park caters to people with differing abilities, with wheelchair-accessible playground pieces and a poly-rubber surface that covers the ground so that those rolling on wheels have a softer landing.
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
Hours: Every day from sunrise to sunset.
Fun fact: A stretch of track from the Celestial Railroad, a 7. 5-mile railroad whose lines in the past ran from Juno Beach to Jupiter from 1887 to 1896, is on display in the park.
When did it open? December 2018
Features: A gazebo, motorcycle parking, benches, historical community signs, and a walkway with traditional bricks.
Size: About 7 acres
Location: 705 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach
Opening hours: Every day from sunset.
Fun fact: This park has a lawn network with flower beds that can be rented for the lawn season, which runs from September 1 to May 31. Fees are as low as $25 for a flower bed and can go as high as $50 for a full bed. resident. For non-residents, fees from $35 to $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 city unveiled new playground equipment at the triangle-shaped park on Nov. 7, more than $103,000 in grants to acquire the new materials.
All elements of the old playground, except for the swing, were removed in 2020 after deteriorating and breaking due to 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, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article appeared in the Palm Beach Post: Hidden gems: Six ‘pocket parks’ in northern Palm Beach County
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