Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay residents can now search for nearby parks, trails and programs through a newly relaunched online tool from Miami-Dade County, part of a broader push to connect families with outdoor recreation this summer.

The Park Finder tool, live at miamidade.gov/global/recreation/park-finder.page, lets users search the county's 309 parks by location, amenity or activity. It's mobile-friendly and pulls up everything from playgrounds and dog parks to boat ramps and pickleball courts.

Christina White, director of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, announced the relaunch in a July 20 press release and followed up with an op-ed published July 26 in Miami's Community Newspapers, including the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay editions.

"Parks have an incredible ability to bring people together and create lifelong memories," White wrote in the press release. "Whether you're looking for a playground, a golf course, a place to launch your boat, attend a summer program, or simply spend time outdoors, there's a place for you to explore."

The announcement coincides with Park and Recreation Month, an annual July campaign by the National Recreation and Park Association. This year's theme is "The Power of Parks."

Deering Estate hosts summer eco-tours through August

Deering Estate, one of seven county-designated Heritage Parks, sits at 16701 SW 72nd Ave. in Palmetto Bay and hosts Miami EcoAdventures programs through the summer. Upcoming events include a Herp Tour (a guided reptile and amphibian walk) on Friday, Aug. 8, a Lighthouse Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 22, and a Butterfly Walk the same day. The estate's summer camp runs weekdays through Thursday, Aug. 7.

Miami EcoAdventures, a county parks program, also offers sunset cruises on Biscayne Bay, kayaking excursions and archery programs at locations across the system. Pricing varies by program; check the county parks site for current fees.

The county maintains 12 dog-friendly park spaces, 20 public swimming pools, 197 miles of greenway trails and 142 playgrounds, according to the department's July 20 press release.

Palmetto Bay runs its own camps through early August

Palmetto Bay, which calls itself the "Village of Parks," runs its own summer camp at Coral Reef Park through Thursday, July 31, for ages 5 to 13 at $250 per week. A tennis camp at the same park continues through Friday, Aug. 7, for ages 5 to 14 at $180 per week.

Nearly a century-old system spans 13,600-plus acres

The county parks system, established in 1929, spans 13,629 acres across 309 parks, according to the department's press release. White's op-ed rounded those figures to "approximately 14,000 acres" and "more than 300 parks." The department has held national CAPRA accreditation for 31 consecutive years, a distinction fewer than 2% of the nation's 10,000-plus park agencies have earned.

Seven Heritage Parks anchor the system: Matheson Hammock, Greynolds Park, Fruit & Spice Park, Crandon Park, Haulover Park, Homestead Bayfront Park and Deering Estate.

White noted in her op-ed that a dedicated county team monitors and protects sea turtle nests along Miami-Dade's 17-mile coastline, which the department considers its largest park.

Where to find parks, events and ways to help

Residents can search for parks and programs at miamidade.gov/global/recreation/park-finder.page. A full events calendar is available at miamidade.gov/parks under "Things to Do." Those interested in supporting parks preservation can visit liveaparklife.org, the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade website.