Lift Off to Fun! At the launch view playground.
Embedded within one of Brevard County Florida’s most popular multi-use recreational parks is also one of the nation’s most modern, age-appropriate playgrounds. Although owned by the city, it’s managed and maintained by the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Division. The urban park is officially listed as a community-based riverside facility.
Sand Point Park, a 29.88-acre, million-dollar complex situated between busy U.S. Rte 1 on the west and the banks of the Indian River on the east is active 24/7/365 days a year. The modern playground with its interconnected dual play structure pods is highly popular with residents, visitors, children's parents, and caregivers every day of the week. The park and playground are as contemporary as today and as exciting as tomorrow.
The park and the playground provide an excellent view and filming location of both pads used by NASA for space launches. The rocket burn is visible through liftoff to the separation of the solid rocket boosters. Within seconds of ignition, the sound and vibration roll across the Indian River. Even today, it still frightens some small children. Only the deadening effect of the underground flame trench prevents window damage to buildings near the park and playground.
In addition, as a side benefit to both children and their parents, Sand Point is as “green” a recreational park as we could wish for the world’s environment. The park and its lake are also very popular wildlife-watching habitats for small mammals, large and small wading waterbirds, songbirds, and reptiles. It is most unusual, to the delight of all, to find the quantity and variety of wildlife in such a close-in urban area.
There are squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. There are dozens of wild White Ibis, Great Egret, and Great Blue and Great White Heron. As might be contemplated with alligators and snapping turtles present in the lake, no human swimming is permitted. Fishing, however, is a common activity for osprey and pelicans and for supervised young children.
Also embedded within Sand Point is the city-sponsored Astronaut Memorial Plaza, a commemorative dedicated to those American heroes who paid the ultimate price in giving their lives for the country and its quest for freedom. At present, the crews of Apollo 1, STS-51-L (Challenger), and STS-107 (Columbia) are so honored. The American flag flies here 24 hours a day.
Miracle Recreation Equipment Company from Grinnell, Iowa, is the play structure’s supplier of record. Their dealer, Ned Noland & Associates from Maitland, was the company that did the installation. The county was responsible for removing an existing playground and preparing to install the new one.
Facilities include picnic tables, 11 small to mid-sized pavilions, barbeque grills, a large playground, and clean, modern restrooms. Seating up to 250, a large pavilion with a kitchen is located near the shoreline.
The local Convention and Visitors Bureau lists Sand Point Park as one of the finest locations to view a rocket launch in the county. Therefore, during a countdown and launch of rockets, it is a very popular place, so much so that if you don’t get there early parking is almost non-existent. However, the wait for the children is nothing but enjoyable.
