Veterans Wayside Park

Veterans Wayside Park is a tiny area but one that surprisingly feels like an escape from the bustle of US1.
Copied from the Village (City) of Pinecrest web site, they describe it as:
A passive 4.5-acre park with a freshwater lake, picnic tables and open recreation areas.
The park name honors the service of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States. The roadway (79^th Avenue) adjacent to the park was co-​designated by the Village Council as Veterans Parkway on Veterans Day in 2007.
As a side note, previously named Kendall Veterans Wayside Park, this park used to belong to the county until a resolution was issued by Miami-​Dade, giving it to the Village of Pinecrest.
It’s easy to drive by this park and think there isn’t much to it, that is, until you take the time to stop and walk around. I finally did and was surprised to find an abundant bird population. There were a mix of ducks, egrets, white ibis and much more.
Something I learned from friends is that as a result of the man made lake which was dug out of the limestone, the water you see is the actual groundwater of the Biscayne Aquifer.
Unless there is a rare event, parking isn’t much of a problem. There is an unpaved, small parking lot. There are also a few parking spaces alongside the road.
My recommendation, don’t go out of your way, but if in the area, take a break. You just may enjoy a refreshing moment with nature.