1855 NE 135th Street
North Miami

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The beauty of Arch Creek and its natural limestone bridge drew the Tequesta to this site centuries ago. So much so they made it a meeting place. As did the Seminoles, who followed them and then the first European settlers, who established the first town in Dade County on the site. Fortunately, the beauty of Arch Creek is preserved in this tiny park just off busy Biscayne Boulevard.

The center piece of the park is the bridge shown in the photograph above. But there is also a small hardwood hammock full of live oak, figs, pigeon plum, gumbo limbo and cabbage palms. A short natural surface trail runs through it. An asphalt road runs parallel along what was known as Military Trail. There is a butterfly garden at the north end of the park and a museum at the entrance. We did spot a number of different butterflies, including monarch and zebra longwing, plus a couple we could not identify. Birds seen include cardinals and a black and white warbler.

Biscayne Boulevard is just beyond the eastern boundry of the park and a railroad runs along the western, so it can be noisy. Still, it provides some green space while preserving some history. Miami-Dade operates Arch Creek. Note: closing time for this park is 5 p.m. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park is next door.

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