Head to the lush Village of Palmetto Bay in South Dade and you’ll find Bill Sadowski Park and Nature Center. Spread across 30 acres, this unique neighborhood park is home to three natural habitats: a pineland forest, a tropical hardwood hammock and a drained Everglades slough.

The park’s name honors the late Bill Sadowski, a politician who was head of Florida’s Department of Community Affairs and an advocate for making thriving natural landscapes accessible to all Floridians. Perfect for science and nature lovers, this park offers everything from canoeing, bird watching and live animal exhibits to hiking and guided stargazing.

Nature Center

The onsite nature center has a live animal exhibit that includes reptiles, amphibians, bugs and spiders, and even an 822-gallon freshwater aquarium with native South Florida fish. The nature center offers year-round nature study and environmental outreach programs for groups of all ages.

Park Activities

Bill Sadowski Park and Nature Center offers outdoor activities for all ages and interests. In addition to large grassy areas where visitors can relax and play, there is a nature trail with both self-guided and guided eco-adventure tours, a dedicated bird watching area, a native tree arboretum, a picnic shelter/pavilion with tables and nearby restrooms, and a bonfire pit. The park’s canal is popular for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Canoes and picnic shelters can be reserved on a first come, first served basis by calling (305) 255-4767(305).

Stargazing

Bill Sadowski Park and Nature Center is home to a series of impressive geological formations including Karst limestone rocks, pinnacle arches and solution holes. It is also an observatory site for the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, which offers star-gazing programs, lectures, telescopes and more to all park visitors, free of charge.

General Information

Contact the park ahead of your visit to confirm normal operating hours and amenity availability.