Miami runs 80 parks, 12 pools and the beach at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, open 7 a.m. daily. City parks office: 305-416-1300.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department and parks directory, the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, the Bayfront Park Management Trust and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s park listings.

The City of Miami’s Parks and Recreation Department runs 80 parks and facilities, according to its parks directory, plus 12 aquatic sites: six pools open all year and six seasonal. Two waterfront parks downtown, Bayfront Park and the Virginia Key beach, have their own trusts.

Who to call

  • City of Miami Parks and Recreation: 305-416-1300; parks@miamigov.com; 444 SW Second Ave., 8th floor
  • Bayfront Park Management Trust: 305-358-7550
  • Historic Virginia Key Beach Park: 305-960-4600
  • City services line: 311, or 305-468-5900
  • Book a pavilion or field: Reserve a Park Facility

Downtown on the bay

Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd. On Biscayne Bay, run by the Bayfront Park Management Trust, hosts the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations and the FPL Solar Amphitheater concerts. Its office is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Maurice A. Ferré Park, on Biscayne Boulevard. Formerly Museum Park, it has what the visitors bureau calls the longest waterfront baywalk in Miami, a promenade from Biscayne Boulevard to the bay near the Pérez Art Museum and Frost Science, and the Plaza of the Spanish Navy monument. The Metromover’s Museum Park station is next to it.

Nature in the city

Simpson Park, Brickell. A tropical hardwood hammock on the edge of the financial district, set aside in 1913 and named for the botanist Charles Torrey Simpson. Paths run under live oaks, strangler figs, silver palms and gumbo limbos, and the visitors bureau counts more than 160 plant species, some threatened or endangered.

Alice C. Wainwright Park, 2651 Brickell Ave., is an unstaffed citywide park, according to the city directory.

Virginia Key: beach and trails

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive. The county transferred the former “colored-only” beach to the City of Miami in 1982, the park’s trust says; today it is run by the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. From the trust’s park information page:
April to October 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
November to March 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Main gate closes 30 minutes before the park
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Entry, Monday to Thursday $5 per vehicle
Entry, Friday to Sunday $10 per vehicle
Entry, holidays $12 per vehicle

No pets are allowed. Pavilions can be rented through the trust.

The city’s parks page also lists mountain bike trails and walking trails on Virginia Key.

Neighborhood parks with recreation centers

The city directory lists staffed parks with recreation facilities across the city, including:

  • Antonio Maceo Park, 5135 NW Seventh St.
  • Athalie Range Park, 525 NW 62nd St.
  • African Square Park, 1466 NW 62nd St.
  • Belafonte Tacolcy Center, 6161 NW Ninth Ave., on a 3.5-acre park in Liberty City

Smaller unstaffed parks include Billy Rolle Mini Park (3400 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove), Belle Meade Mini Park (781 NE 77th St.) and Allapattah Mini Park (1935 NW 21st Ave.). Search the directory by feature for playgrounds, courts, dog areas and more.

Pools, marinas and rentals

  • Pools: six year-round and six seasonal, run by the city’s aquatics program; call 305-416-1300 for schedules.
  • Marinas: the city’s marinas page lists slips and services.
  • Equipment: tables, chairs and other gear through Rent Park Equipment.

What this means for you

  • For a beach in the city, it is Virginia Key; budget for the per-car fee and leave the dog home.
  • Downtown, Maurice A. Ferré Park has the longest baywalk in the city.
  • Simpson Park is an old-growth hammock walk in the middle of Brickell.

Related: things to do in Miami this month, farmers markets and getting around Miami.

Frequently asked questions

How many parks does the City of Miami have?

The city’s parks directory lists 80 parks and facilities, from small unstaffed mini parks to Bayfront Park and Virginia Key. Parks and Recreation also runs 12 aquatic sites: six year-round pools and six seasonal ones.

What are the hours at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park?

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March, with the main gate closing 30 minutes earlier. It is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

How much does it cost to get into Virginia Key Beach Park?

$5 per vehicle Monday to Thursday, $10 Friday to Sunday and $12 on holidays, according to the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. Pets are not allowed.

How do I reserve a park pavilion in Miami?

Use the city’s Reserve a Park Facility page, or call Parks and Recreation at 305-416-1300. Pavilions at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park are booked through the park’s trust at 305-960-4600.