Local Guides World
Ariel W.
31 reviews on 1 places
Colonialtown Square Park is a small passive park in a part of a Colonialtown that has seen several new townhouse developments in recent years. In 2017 the park received three new city benches and two new paved walkways. Also in the park is a beautiful old oak tree providing shade along with lots of manicured plants which create a tranquil, garden like atmosphere.
In 2017 the park received a Pulse memorial. The Pulse was a nightclub frequented by the LGBT community. It opened in 2004 in Orlando Florida. On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 people were injured by a lone gunman. Most of the victims were Hispanic because the club was hosting a Latin night. At the time of the incident it was the deadliest mass shooting in the US only to be surpassed by Las Vegas a year later.
The Colonialtown Square Park Pulse memorial features a labyrinth. The Labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness combining the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have a long history as meditation and prayer tools in memorials. At the center of the labyrinth is a prismatic Orlando United heart and at the perimeter of the circle is the name of each of the victims. Aside from just being a park this land, is now a peaceful place that loved ones can come to honor the Pulse victims.
In 2017 the park received a Pulse memorial. The Pulse was a nightclub frequented by the LGBT community. It opened in 2004 in Orlando Florida. On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 people were injured by a lone gunman. Most of the victims were Hispanic because the club was hosting a Latin night. At the time of the incident it was the deadliest mass shooting in the US only to be surpassed by Las Vegas a year later.
The Colonialtown Square Park Pulse memorial features a labyrinth. The Labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness combining the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have a long history as meditation and prayer tools in memorials. At the center of the labyrinth is a prismatic Orlando United heart and at the perimeter of the circle is the name of each of the victims. Aside from just being a park this land, is now a peaceful place that loved ones can come to honor the Pulse victims.
I love a historic tree. They have silently witnessed so many formative events and will still be standing long after we are gone. I found just such a tree, a majestic southern live oak tree from the 1500's in Big Tree Park in Orlando. Live Oaks can live for centuries while growing 60-80 feet tall and 60-120 feet wide. Big Tree is so beloved by Orlando that it had its own park created around it in the 1950's.
Big Tree sprang to life from an acorn in the 1500's. That was before the Spanish arrived in Florida in 1513 and the Pilgrim's reached Plymouth Rock in 1620. Big Tree grew as our nation did in the 1700's when the Declaration of Independence was written and George Washington became the first President of the United States. In 1819 the United States took control of Florida from Spain and Florida became a state in 1845. In 1875, Big Tree's home city of Orlando was incorporated. In the 1920's the Park Lake Highland neighborhood grew up around it. Through all of these years Big Tree has been pulling significant amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Big Tree has continued to flourish surviving hurricanes, freezes, and city growth. In 1972 Big Tree was struck by lightening three times and experts hired by the city did critical work on the root structure. It stands here still today majestically with minimal upkeep through a combination of interaction with the soil, the surrounding environment, and luck. Earlier this year a group of arborists from Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a nonprofit based in Michigan came and took clippings from the canopy of Big Tree so they can clone it and make thousands of more trees to plant throughout the southeast.
Surrounding Big Tree are a few stone benches so you can sit and and enjoy the peacefulness of the park. Read a book, have a snack, contemplate our place in the universe, just refrain from climbing on Big Tree.
Big Tree sprang to life from an acorn in the 1500's. That was before the Spanish arrived in Florida in 1513 and the Pilgrim's reached Plymouth Rock in 1620. Big Tree grew as our nation did in the 1700's when the Declaration of Independence was written and George Washington became the first President of the United States. In 1819 the United States took control of Florida from Spain and Florida became a state in 1845. In 1875, Big Tree's home city of Orlando was incorporated. In the 1920's the Park Lake Highland neighborhood grew up around it. Through all of these years Big Tree has been pulling significant amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Big Tree has continued to flourish surviving hurricanes, freezes, and city growth. In 1972 Big Tree was struck by lightening three times and experts hired by the city did critical work on the root structure. It stands here still today majestically with minimal upkeep through a combination of interaction with the soil, the surrounding environment, and luck. Earlier this year a group of arborists from Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a nonprofit based in Michigan came and took clippings from the canopy of Big Tree so they can clone it and make thousands of more trees to plant throughout the southeast.
Surrounding Big Tree are a few stone benches so you can sit and and enjoy the peacefulness of the park. Read a book, have a snack, contemplate our place in the universe, just refrain from climbing on Big Tree.
I was visiting this church for a tag sale to benefit their school but I have always admired St. Gregory Catholic Church on University Drive in Plantation when passing by. The church stands out beacon of faith for the Catholic community of Broward County.
St. Gregory Catholic Church was established in 1959 under Father Michael Keller. In 1961 the parish was dedicated. In 1979 a fire destroyed the church but the congregation came together under the Reverend Martin Cassidy and rebuilt the church which opened in 1982. In 1988 the church opened a school. The present school was completed in 1995 and expanded in 2000. The school is open to students from PK to 8th grade and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an exemplary school.
The church has a number of charities that it supports and you can volunteer in many ways to help the community. The church holds mass in both English and Spanish. Mass is held every morning, and seven times on Sunday. A complete list of mass times can be found on the church website.
While visiting the church campus I enjoyed visiting the peaceful Prayer Garden that was completed in 2004. The Prayer Garden features a large fountain, statues, and benches for quiet reflection set amid trees and landscaping.
In 2021 Northwest 76th Avenue on the east side of St. Gregory Church was renamed Cassidy Boulevard in recognition of The Reverend Martin Cassidy's accomplishments at St. Gregory Catholic Church. Cassidy who is from Ireland served as pastor from 1974 to 1991. He was a driving force in laying the strong foundation that supports the church to this day.
St. Gregory Catholic Church was established in 1959 under Father Michael Keller. In 1961 the parish was dedicated. In 1979 a fire destroyed the church but the congregation came together under the Reverend Martin Cassidy and rebuilt the church which opened in 1982. In 1988 the church opened a school. The present school was completed in 1995 and expanded in 2000. The school is open to students from PK to 8th grade and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an exemplary school.
The church has a number of charities that it supports and you can volunteer in many ways to help the community. The church holds mass in both English and Spanish. Mass is held every morning, and seven times on Sunday. A complete list of mass times can be found on the church website.
While visiting the church campus I enjoyed visiting the peaceful Prayer Garden that was completed in 2004. The Prayer Garden features a large fountain, statues, and benches for quiet reflection set amid trees and landscaping.
In 2021 Northwest 76th Avenue on the east side of St. Gregory Church was renamed Cassidy Boulevard in recognition of The Reverend Martin Cassidy's accomplishments at St. Gregory Catholic Church. Cassidy who is from Ireland served as pastor from 1974 to 1991. He was a driving force in laying the strong foundation that supports the church to this day.
This is a small park is located on a canal in the Ramblewood neighborhood of Coral Springs in the southeast part of the city. Home were built in the 1970's, 80's, and 90's. The neighborhood is in close proximity to Coral Square Mall. Ramblewood has three community parks, Sherwood Forest Park, Ramblewood Park, and Countrywood Park.
This is a neat and well maintained neighborhood park with no parking or restrooms but It does have benches, an open play area. a picnic tables, shade trees, and a fenced in playground with shade cover. The surrounding neighborhood is quiet and peaceful. There is even a house for sale across the street. This is a convenient place for neighborhood kids to meet and play. For a park with more amenities visit nearby Sherwood Forest Park.
This is a neat and well maintained neighborhood park with no parking or restrooms but It does have benches, an open play area. a picnic tables, shade trees, and a fenced in playground with shade cover. The surrounding neighborhood is quiet and peaceful. There is even a house for sale across the street. This is a convenient place for neighborhood kids to meet and play. For a park with more amenities visit nearby Sherwood Forest Park.
Snapper Creek Park is named after the 4 mile long Snapper Creek that runs through the suburbs of Kendall and Coral Gables. It drains out of the Everglades into Biscayne Bay at Biscayne National Park. The park is across the street from a distributary channel off the creek.
Snapper Creek is a dog friendly park so feel free to bring your well behaved canine friends. There is a large open field for running and playing and paved walkways for strolling. The park is also kid friendly with an adequate shade covered playground with climbing structures and slides. The large trees provide shade and natural beauty in the park. While the park doesn't have a lot of amenities beyond the playground and benches it is still a welcome respite of nature and recreation in the neighborhood.
Snapper Creek is a dog friendly park so feel free to bring your well behaved canine friends. There is a large open field for running and playing and paved walkways for strolling. The park is also kid friendly with an adequate shade covered playground with climbing structures and slides. The large trees provide shade and natural beauty in the park. While the park doesn't have a lot of amenities beyond the playground and benches it is still a welcome respite of nature and recreation in the neighborhood.