Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a vast inner city park, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Once the estate of a prestigious Illinois attorney, Hugh Taylor Birch, the park was a personal donation to the city to preserve his vision of his subtropical type paradise for every Fort Lauderdale resident and visitor.

The park still is home to Birch's 1940s, art deco house, which sits on its own island in a waterway between the Atlantic Ocean and the city. Covered in lush greenery and trees, the park is regularly compared to New York's Central Park, a peaceful haven and restful spot in the heart of a major city.

The park is only a walk away from residential neighborhoods and stores. A luxurious beach rests feet from a hammock selling gift shop and a lengthy lagoon. The seawall provides seating for visitors, a restful place for those needing a break from walking along the park's many trails. Even the roller bladers and cyclists enjoy the beauty of the scenery, gathering on the grassy verges for picnics with friends and family. Even campers are not left out; however, sites fill up very quickly in the summer.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park's central hub is its visitor center, where feature the park and area's local history, culture and natural ambience. Racks of brochures and maps introduce visitors and locals to wildlife experiences, tours, swimming spots, hiking areas, fishing and beaches. Even kayakers and canoeists enjoy this city center stretch of wilderness.