Melbourne runs more than 232 acres of parks, with boat ramps at Ballard and Front Street parks, two fishing piers, a dog park and two city golf courses. 321-608-7400.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the City of Melbourne Parks, Recreation and Golf Department, its parks, pools and golf pages and city notices.

The City of Melbourne runs more than 232 acres of parks: neighborhood playgrounds, athletic fields, riverfront parks with boat ramps and fishing piers, two golf courses, three pools and seven community and civic centers. The city sits on the Indian River Lagoon, and several parks face the water.

Who to call

  • Parks, Recreation and Golf Department: 321-608-7400
  • Pools: pools@mlbfl.org; Sherwood Pool 321-608-7479
  • Golf: Crane Creek Reserve 321-608-7430; Harbor City 321-608-7480
  • Programs and registration: online registration, or in person at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Full list: the city’s parks directory

On the water

Boat launches (from the city’s parks page):

  • Ballard Park
  • Claude Edge Front Street Park
  • Horse Creek Park (non-motorized only)
  • Riverview Park (non-motorized only)

Fishing piers, open during park hours:

  • Claude Edge Front Street Park
  • Eau Gallie Pier

Pineapple Park River Front also has a playground. Riverview Park, just south of downtown, hosts the Saturday farmers market from October through May; see our farmers markets guide.

Playgrounds

The city lists playgrounds at 23 parks:
Ballard Park Fee Avenue Park Pineapple Park River Front
Bennie J. Hopkins Sr. Park Grandview Shores Park Riverview Park
Brothers Park Jimmy Moore Park Ruffner Park
Carol Williams Glanton Park Joe Mullins Park (Crown Heights Park) Sherwood Park
Carver Park Magnolia Manor Park Southwest Recreation Complex
Cleave S. Frink Park Masterson Park Sunset Park
Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Complex Oxford Ridge Park Tim Wakefield Sports Complex
Tradewinds Park Wells Park

Courts, fields and the dog park

  • Outdoor basketball: Ballard, Brothers, Carver, the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Complex and the Tim Wakefield Sports Complex (all lighted), plus Grandview Shores, Joe Mullins, Oxford Ridge, the Southwest Recreation Complex and Tradewinds.
  • Tennis and pickleball: the department runs both; schedules are on its tennis and pickleball pages.
  • Dog park: the Pieloch Dog Park at the Tim Wakefield Sports Complex (formerly Crane Field Park). It is closed every Wednesday, 7 a.m. to noon, for maintenance, the city said.

Pools

Pool Address Notes
Sherwood Pool 2479 Post Road, 321-608-7479 Open in the winter schedule: open swim noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, adult lap swim 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays
Fee Pool 114 E. Fee Ave. Seasonal; reopens on Memorial Day
Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Pool 3400 Monroe St. Seasonal; reopens on Memorial Day

Children under 12 must be with an adult. Open swim is cash only. Swim lessons are offered by session, with financial help available; details on the pools page.

Golf

The city owns two courses; book tee times through the city’s golf page:

  • Crane Creek Reserve Golf Course, 475 W. New Haven Ave., 321-608-7430
  • Harbor City Golf Course, 2750 Lake Washington Road, 321-608-7480

Both open at 6:30 a.m. daily. After Nov. 2 they close at 5 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. until early March, on last season’s schedule. Each has a grill open from 10 a.m.

Trails and sidewalks

The city’s Engineering Department built the Southwest Trails project: a half-mile, 10-foot-wide asphalt trail along a drainage canal from Florida Avenue to University Boulevard and 1.34 miles of wider sidewalks on Dairy Road, Florida Avenue and University Boulevard, with flashing crosswalk beacons on Florida Avenue near the Melbourne Sportsplex. Construction was set to start in summer 2025 and last about five months.

Many parks also have hike and bike paths, the city says. For state road bike lanes being added on U.S. 1 and Ellis Road, see road construction and closures.

Community centers

The city rents and programs the Melbourne Auditorium, the Front Street Civic Center, the Eau Gallie Civic Center, the Wickham Park Community Center, the Joseph N. Davis Community Center, the Crane Community Center and the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Center. Classes, camps and events are listed on the city’s special events page.

What this means for you

  • Paddlers: launch at Horse Creek or Riverview Park.
  • Anglers: Front Street and the Eau Gallie Pier.
  • Dog owners: skip Pieloch on Wednesday mornings.

Related: things to do this month, getting around Melbourne and history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I launch a boat in Melbourne?

The city lists boat launches at Ballard Park and Claude Edge Front Street Park, plus non-motorized launches for kayaks and paddleboards at Horse Creek Park and Riverview Park.

Where can I fish from a pier in Melbourne?

The city has fishing piers at Claude Edge Front Street Park and the Eau Gallie Pier, open during park hours.

Is there a dog park in Melbourne, Florida?

Yes. The Pieloch Dog Park is at the Tim Wakefield Sports Complex. The city closes it every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to noon for maintenance.

Does Melbourne have public golf courses?

Yes, two city-owned courses: Crane Creek Reserve Golf Course, 475 W. New Haven Ave., 321-608-7430, and Harbor City Golf Course, 2750 Lake Washington Road, 321-608-7480. Both open at 6:30 a.m. daily.

Are there public pools in Melbourne?

The city runs three: Sherwood Pool at 2479 Post Road, Fee Pool at 114 E. Fee Ave. and Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Pool at 3400 Monroe St. In its last winter schedule, only Sherwood stayed open, for weekend swims.