Our Favorite Places to Play
For a child with autism or sensory needs, finding a park that works is not as simple as finding a park.
Is it fenced? Is there shade in August? Can a child who uses a wheelchair get around it? Will it be too loud by ten in the morning? We are a BCBA-owned practice providing mobile ABA therapy across Miami-Dade, in the home, at school, and out in the community, and we take children to these parks every week, so here is our honest take on each one.
The parks
Tamiami Park
A sensory playground and garden designed specifically for children with autism, with a five-foot fence and privacy screen, an ADA accessible walkway, spinners, a crawl tube, a cozy cocoon berm, and sensory play panels.
Read our full notes →
South Pointe Park
Beautiful, breezy, and right on the sand, with a splash zone and smooth rubber surfacing. Also the park we would most encourage you to think carefully about if your child elopes.
Read our full notes →More parks on our list
Kendall & Southwest
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park
A nature-based inclusive playground with a sensory climbing dome, musical instruments, swings, and an ADA accessible play cottage with a double slide, inside a 175-acre park with walking trails.
A.D. (Doug) Barnes Park
Has built disability programming into the park since 1977, including camps for children with disabilities run by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Also a splash playground, a year-round pool, and a 15-acre nature sanctuary with trails.
Westwind Lakes Park
An accessible playground under shade sails, next to a community center and a walking path.
Coral Gables & South Dade
Salvadore Park
Rebuilt as a fully inclusive, sensory-friendly playground under banyan trees, with separate areas for toddlers and older kids.
Palmetto Bay Park
A fully accessible Boundless Playground with separate play areas for younger and older children.
Central Miami
Morningside Park
A bayfront park with an accessible playground, listed by the City of Miami.
Jose Marti Park
A riverfront park near downtown with an accessible playground, listed by the City of Miami.
Antonio Maceo Park
A small waterfront park with an accessible playground for ages 5 to 12, restrooms, and plenty of benches.
North Dade
Rolling Oaks Park
A large, oak-shaded park with a walking trail and a children's play area that has hosted Autism Awareness events.
Miami-Dade Parks is a Certified Autism Center
County parks staff are trained in autism and sensory support, with designated quiet spaces at select parks and events and inclusive camps. To arrange accommodations for a program or camp, call Therapeutic Recreation & Inclusion at (305) 755-7848 at least a week ahead.
Common questions from Miami parents
Which Miami-Dade playgrounds are fenced?
Fencing matters most for children who elope, and it varies widely across the county. We note it first on every park page. Tamiami Park's sensory playground is fully fenced. South Pointe Park is not, and it sits beside open water, so we would not recommend it as a first choice for a child who bolts.
What makes a playground autism friendly or sensory friendly?
Usually a combination of things: secure fencing, quiet or low-stimulation areas to retreat to, shade, predictable layouts, and equipment that offers the kind of sensory input a child seeks, like swinging or spinning. Miami-Dade County Parks has also earned a Certified Autism Center designation, with staff trained in autism and sensory support and designated quiet spaces at select parks.
Are there accessible playgrounds in Miami for children who use wheelchairs?
Yes. The surface matters as much as the equipment. Poured-in-place rubber surfacing, like the kind at South Pointe Park, is far easier to move across than wood chips or sand. We list the surfacing type on every park page.
Does ABA therapy happen at parks?
It can. Our ABA therapy is mobile, so sessions happen wherever your child needs the skill, in the home, at school, or out in the community, including parks. Practicing at a real playground is often far more useful than practicing at a table. If you have questions about how that works for your child, we are glad to talk it through.
Questions about your child's needs at the park, or anywhere else?
Metamorphosis ABA Therapy provides bilingual, mobile ABA therapy for children with autism across Miami-Dade County, in the home, at school, and in the community, with no waitlist. We are always glad to talk through what would help your family.