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Historic Sites, Recreation a Walk in the Park Away

Posted on: Thursday, 28 October 2004, 03:00 CDT

If your closest encounters with nature consist of sipping pina coladas at the local tiki bar, you're missing out on dozens of Treasure Coast parks that offer everything from rustic hikes to roller-hockey rinks.

Indian RiverSide Park, which opened in 2001 in Jensen Beach, is one of Martin County's gems.

With its rolling hills - at least by Florida standards - quaint ponds and interactive fountain, the park is a draw for dog-walkers, picnickers and children trying to cool off.

Tucked along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon on the former Florida Institute of Technology campus, the park features an 80- foot pier, walking paths, picnic pavilions and a two-story dockside hall that's available for rent. On occasion, you might spot a wedding ceremony near the pier.

Adding historic flavor, the 1930s-era Leach Mansion is perched on a 4,000-year-old Native American burial mound just north of the park. Eventually, officials hope to build the Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast on the park grounds. For information on Indian RiverSide Park, call 692-7501.

Farther north, in St. Lucie County, the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is another recreation area steeped in history.

Used during World War II as a training ground for U.S. Navy amphibious teams practicing for the D-Day invasion of Europe, the park's half-mile stretch of beaches now lures locals and tourists. Though it suffered serious hurricane damage, it remains a popular destination, especially for surfers and picnickers.

The state park consists of two sections: the main park, which borders the north shore of the Fort Pierce Inlet and fronts on the Atlantic Ocean, and the Jack Island Preserve, 1 1/2 miles north on A1A.

With its series of undeveloped trails, Jack Island is the more rustic of the two. The 631-acre island is an isolated sanctuary for bird watchers and hikers who want to get away from it all. Mountain bikes are permitted on the island, but the trails are not wheelchair- accessible. Visitors can enjoy the views from an observation tower.

For information on the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and Jack Island, call 468-3985.

Another Treasure Coast state park, Jonathan Dickinson in Hobe Sound, took a hit during the hurricanes.

Though the storms thinned trees and wore away sand dunes, the park's wildlife fared well, park Manager Mark Nelson said. Many types of birds, including bald eagles, can be spotted at the 11,500- acre park.

Jonathan Dickinson offers several hiking trails and, for those who prefer to stay in the car, a 12-stop automobile tour narrated on CD, tape or in a guide book. The driving tour leads visitors on a 10 1/2-mile drive with stops including Hobe Mountain, part of a coastal ridge that sits 86 feet above sea level, and White Barrack of the U.S. Army's former Camp Murphy, used for top-secret training in the 1940s.

About 180,000 people a year visit Jonathan Dickinson State Park, an especially popular camping destination. For information, call 546- 2771.

If you'd rather pull together a pickup game of hoops than watch pelicans swoop along the water, then Sportsman's Park in Port St. Lucie might be up your alley.

On Prima Vista Boulevard in the heart of the growing city, the 16- acre park includes two basketball courts, tennis courts, and four ball fields.

For those who know what grind rails and hot boxes are, Skate City in Port St. Lucie is a top destination. The skate park is a 44,000- square-foot, lighted facility inside Whispering Pines Park. Martin County recently opened a $1 million expansion, including a skate park, at Jock Leighton Park in Palm City.

Off State Road 76 in Martin County, Halpatiokee Regional Park's variety of offerings will suit both those who prefer organized sports and people with a penchant for isolated hiking or paddling.

Halpatiokee is Seminole for "alligator water," but the park is nonetheless a popular spot for gliding along the South Fork of the St. Lucie River. Kayaks and canoes are available for rental.

The park includes more than 70 acres of soccer and baseball fields, 10 tennis courts, nine picnic shelters, a covered, in-line skating hockey rink and about two miles of trails through some of the 137 acres of preserves.

eve_modzelewski@pbpost.com

Source: Palm Beach Post

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