Crandon Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crandon Park |
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View West from on the beach, showing many of the coconut palm trees
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | 6747 Crandon Boulevard Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, United States |
| Area | 808.8 acres (3.273 km2) |
| Created | 1947 |
| Operated by | Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department |
| Parking | Over 3000 spaces |
| Website | Crandon Park |
Crandon Park is a huge park in Miami, Florida. It covers more than 800 acres on the northern part of Key Biscayne. This park is a popular spot for families and nature lovers. It's connected to mainland Miami by the Rickenbacker Causeway.
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History of Crandon Park
The land where Crandon Park now stands used to be a giant coconut plantation. It was owned by the Matheson family. In 1940, the Matheson family gave this big piece of land to Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). They wanted it to become a public park for everyone to enjoy.
In return, a county leader named Charles H. Crandon promised that the county would build a road to Key Biscayne. This road, called the Rickenbacker Causeway, finally opened in 1947 after World War II.
Crandon Park Zoo
For a while, Crandon Park was also home to a zoo. It covered about 48 acres of the park. The first animals at the zoo were some lions, an elephant, and a rhinoceros. They were left behind when a circus closed down in Miami.
More animals were added over time, like Galapagos tortoises, monkeys, and colorful pheasants. There was even a rare white Bengal tiger! In 1981, the Crandon Park Zoo moved to a new, bigger location south of Miami. It was renamed the Miami MetroZoo, and later became Zoo Miami.
Fun Things to Do at Crandon Park
Crandon Park is over 800 acres big and has two miles of beautiful beach along the Atlantic Ocean. Crandon Boulevard runs through the park, leading to the Village of Key Biscayne and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
The park has many cool things to do. You can find a marina for boats, a golf course, and the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. There's also a family amusement center, perfect for a fun day out. You can have picnics at special shelters, and learn about nature at the nature center. The park has parking for more than 3,000 cars.
Bear Cut Preserve
A special part of Crandon Park is called the Bear Cut Preserve. This area is set aside to study nature. You can even take guided tours through the preserve to learn more about the plants and animals that live there.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center is located at the north end of Crandon Park. It's also known simply as the Biscayne Nature Center.
This center has exhibits about natural history. It also has classrooms for learning, a room for watching videos, and a gift shop. The center is a team effort between Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department, and a local support group.
Gallery
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View of Fisher Island and South Beach from Crandon
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View of the Atlantic Ocean from the beach
Images for kids
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Just south of Downtown Miami (visible in the background), Crandon Park was home to the Miami Open tennis tournament from 1987 to 2018.
