Matheson Hammock Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matheson Hammock Park |
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|---|---|
| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States |
| Area | 630 acres (2.5 km2) |
| Created | 1930 |
| Operated by | Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department |
| Website | Matheson Hammock Park Matheson Hammock Marina |
Matheson Hammock Park is a large park located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It covers about 630 acres (2.5 square kilometers) of land. You can find it just south of Coral Gables, right next to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It's a popular spot for families and people who love being outdoors.
Park History
Matheson Hammock Park first opened in 1930. It was the very first county park in what was then called Dade County. A man named William J. Matheson generously donated 80 acres of land to the county to start the park.
Mr. Matheson wanted the land to be used as a park. He hoped it would help "preserve the wild and natural beauty" of the area. The park grew over time with more gifts from the Matheson family. The county also bought more land, and other people donated land too. This is how the park grew to its current size of 630 acres.
In 1936, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began working at Matheson Hammock. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. They helped build many parts of the park, especially the area near the bay. They built strong buildings and picnic shelters using local coral stone.
The CCC's hard work was very important. Without their skilled labor, it would have been very difficult to build the many coral stone walls and buildings. The quality of their work was tested in 1945. A big hurricane hit the park, bringing huge 12-foot waves. Even though there was a lot of damage to equipment and mud everywhere, the main structures built by the CCC stayed strong. The park was able to recover thanks to their solid construction.
Park Facilities
Matheson Hammock Park is known for its beautiful features. One special part is a man-made pool shaped like an atoll. An atoll is a ring-shaped island or reef. This pool is naturally cleaned by the ocean tides from nearby Biscayne Bay. The beach area is very popular with families because of the cool ocean breezes.
The park also has a snack bar and a restaurant. These are located inside an old building made of coral stone. You can also find picnic areas and nature trails for exploring.
Right next to the park, there is a marina. This marina can hold boats up to 50 feet (15 meters) long. It offers many services for boaters. These include a fishing shop, ramps to launch boats, and places to get gas and diesel fuel. There are also "wetslips," which are places where boats can stay in the water.
