SEBASTIAN — With its front-and-center location – nestled along the river between Indian River Drive and U.S. 1, at the eastern terminus of CR 512 – Riverview Park is the most well-known public greenspace in Sebastian, but it is only one of 20 parks in the City’s inventory, a fact many residents may not be aware of that was brought to light during a recent City Council meeting.
The City of Sebastian offers its citizens a wealth of green space, passive and active.
Even minus the 581-acre Airport and 18-hole golf course, there are more than 300 acres of developed park space, and 10 other undeveloped but dedicated park properties, for an additional 86 acres.
Mayor Richard Gillmor, who brought the topic to Council’s attention, admits, “I didn’t appreciate how many parks the City of Sebastian had until I started campaigning for City Council in 2008. In walking the neighborhoods and talking with residents, I would turn a corner and find a ‘new-to-me’ park maintained by the City. My wife and I enjoy walking around Hardee Park in the early morning. Of course my other favorite park is Riverview Park, where we have art displays and the Craft Club during the season.”
Gillmor is an artist and a member of the Sebastian Art Club.
City Council member Andrea Coy shares the Council’s park pride.
“We have a wide variety of activities available in our parks that make them unique and special. For example, the ducks and geese at Easy Street Park are interesting for young and old, and they get lots of extra attention. The large number of parks and their distribution throughout the City makes them easily available to all Sebastian residents, and our City staff takes pride in keeping up their appearance.”
Among them, the City’s parks provide opportunities for a wide range of recreational choices. Some are on main thoroughfares; others are tucked into quiet residential neighborhoods.
Riverview Park is the go-to location for numerous fairs, shows, fundraisers and concerts that are set up along its oak- and palm-shaded winding sidewalks throughout the year.
It is home to the Veterans Memorial, a splash pad, two piers, a playground, pavilions, restrooms, the Yacht Club and Indian River Drive walkway.
The Community Center, a beloved old building on N. Central Avenue, offers a playground, half-court basketball, gymnastics, group exercise, and Tai Chi, yoga, karate and dance classes.
Across Indian River Drive from the Chamber of Commerce, the Main Street Boat Ramp offers parking, a walkway and restrooms as well as a place to put boats into the lagoon.
Other parks scattered around the city: Bryant Court Park has a playground and benches; Filbert Street Park offers a walking trail, playground, pavilion and benches; George Street Park has a playground, swing set, picnic tables and benches; the 22-acre Barber Street Sports Complex has facilities for baseball, softball, soccer, football and basketball, along with a playground, restrooms, concession stands and a skateboard park.
Englar Stormwater Park provides 163 acres of passive green space, with lakes and trails; Schumann Tennis Park has tennis, pickleball, basketball, a playground, swing set and restrooms; Schumann Lake Island offers a small boat ramp and a pedestrian bridge to the island; Historical Park has a small pond with a fountain; Garden Club Park has a gazebo, memorial trees and pond with fountain; Periwinkle Park has a stormwater pond, picnic tables and benches.
Among the more well-known, well-utilized city parks is the 7.5-acre Keen Terrace Dog Park – AKA The Bark Park. It includes a walking trail, restroom and small pond.
North of CR 512, where Barber, Lake Drive and Main Street converge, is the popular, centrally located 13-acre Hardee Park with walking trail, fitness stations, warm-up area, playground, lake and restrooms.
Easy Street Park has a playground, walking trail and pond with fountain; near the City Hall complex, Friendship Park is home to the Boys and Girls Club, clay tennis courts, shuffleboard, bocce, horseshoes, picnic pavilions, playground, walking trail and a baseball field.
To the west, off Roseland Road, Blossom Park offers playground, swing set and fountain.
Further north, Wimbrow Park, along the St. Sebastian River, provides canoe, kayak and boat launch, playground, picnic and restroom facilities; Airport Park, 1 acre on E. Airport Drive, is a fenced area with picnic table and spring rockers.
A City-produced map, “Pelican Paths – The Greenways and Blueways of Sebastian, Florida” – is an excellent tool for taking advantage of the parks, providing locations and specific recreation opportunities at parks, waterways, launch sites and recreation areas.
These maps are available, free of charge, at the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and in kiosks throughout the area.