Tropical Park
Encyclopedia
Tropical Park is a 275 acres (1.1 km²) urban park
in metropolitan
Miami, Florida
. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) and Bird Road (South 40th Street), just east of South Miami
.
public park in 1979 on the grounds of the former Tropical Park Race Track
, which had used the lands since 1931. It has fields for softball
, soccer and football
as well as places to Run Or Jog, Ride Bike,play basketball
and volleyball
. For those who enjoy racquet sports, Tropical Park has a tennis center with 12 tennis courts which are wheelchair-accessible. Racquetball facilities are also available and a boxing center. There are four lakes within the park, a 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) dog park as well as paddleboating, and freshwater fishing. Joggers and cyclists use the miles of paved pathways circulating through park.
hosts over thirty horse shows a year, including international shows. The old racetrack's stables were used as part of the equestrian center. The Tropical Park Stadium
is home to the Miami-Dade Track and Field Team. The stadium has hosted prestigious national track and field meets such as the Junior Olympics
, USA National Track and Field Championships, and many local high school football games.
From early November through the beginning of January, Santa's Enchanted Forest takes over a large part of Tropical Park. The annual holiday event features six million lights, a giant Christmas tree
and carnival rides.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
in metropolitan
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) and Bird Road (South 40th Street), just east of South Miami
South Miami, Florida
South Miami is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,741 at the 2000 census and as of 2007, according to the U.S...
.
History
The land opened as a countyMiami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
public park in 1979 on the grounds of the former Tropical Park Race Track
Tropical Park Race Track
Tropical Park Race Track was a horse racing facility built on at the current intersection of Bird Road and the Palmetto Expressway in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in what is now the neighborhood of Olympia Heights. The race track was built by Bill Dwyer, a prohibition era bootlegger, and Frank...
, which had used the lands since 1931. It has fields for softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, soccer and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
as well as places to Run Or Jog, Ride Bike,play basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. For those who enjoy racquet sports, Tropical Park has a tennis center with 12 tennis courts which are wheelchair-accessible. Racquetball facilities are also available and a boxing center. There are four lakes within the park, a 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) dog park as well as paddleboating, and freshwater fishing. Joggers and cyclists use the miles of paved pathways circulating through park.
Facilities
Throughout the year, the park hosts horse shows, rodeos and other special events at the Tropical Park Equestrian Center. The equestrian centerEquestrian center
Equestrian facilties are created and maintained for the purpose of accommodating, training or competing equids, especially horses. Based on their use may be known as a barn or stables, with commercial operations described by terms such as a boarding stable, livery yard, or livery stable...
hosts over thirty horse shows a year, including international shows. The old racetrack's stables were used as part of the equestrian center. The Tropical Park Stadium
Tropical Park Stadium
Tropical Park Stadium is a 10,000-seat stadium located in Olympia Heights, Florida, a CDP near Miami, Florida. The stadium is located in Tropical Park and was the home field of Miami FC of the United Soccer Leagues...
is home to the Miami-Dade Track and Field Team. The stadium has hosted prestigious national track and field meets such as the Junior Olympics
Junior olympics
Junior Olympics and Jr. Olympics can refer to any one of many different sporting events and organizations around the world dedicated to youth sporting activities.*Junior Olympic Gold, American national youth singles bowling tournament...
, USA National Track and Field Championships, and many local high school football games.
From early November through the beginning of January, Santa's Enchanted Forest takes over a large part of Tropical Park. The annual holiday event features six million lights, a giant Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
and carnival rides.