AHF Office, 535 Hammock Road, Melbourne Village, Florida 32904, United States
AHF Parks and Paths
Did you know that eleven percent of the land in this community is parkland owned by the American Homesteading Foundation and dedicated to the residents of the Town of Melbourne Village?
Today we can appreciate the skill of Louise Odiorne, town planner for Melbourne Village. She platted the land to preserve the two hammock areas, designed streets around specimen trees and planned for buffer areas between many of the lots in the Village.
These natural areas add to the pleasure of living in Melbourne Village. While walking the paths you might see a pileated woodpecker, gopher tortoise, or native orchid in bloom. The town is a bird sanctuary by decree of the charter.
Please review the General Rules below on the right.
The path entrances are marked by white posts with red cardinals.
ERNA NIXON PARK is the gem of our parklands. It was first called the ‘Big Hammock’ It is now named for early resident Erna Nixon who led visitors along the trails, identified the plants and creatures great and small and educated visitors as to the nature and ecology of hardwood hammocks. You can learn more about Erna Nixon in the history section of this website. A larger portion of the hammock is outside of Melbourne Village and is managed as a Brevard County Park. Access is from Evans Road. The AHF Melbourne Village part is managed by the AHF Erna Nixon Hammock Committee. There are five access points in the village. This committee also manages a small undeveloped park known as Sable Park.
CONTACT THE AHF IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON THE ERNA NIXON HAMMOCK COMMITTEE.
AZALEA PARK is named for the spectacular spring display of azalea blossoms by the path entrance at the corner of S. Wildwood Lane and Crane Road. Other entrances to this meandering footpath are located on Acacia Avenue, Live Oak Avenue, and Platt Circle.
FICK FOREST is named for Captain and Kate Fick. These early residents of Melbourne Village had a home on Savannah Drive, just west of the park entrance. Captain Fick served the AHF as President of the Board of Trustees and was in charge of the bulletin board for many years. This pinewoods, which extends from Dayton Boulevard to Savannah Drive, is a good place to see nesting woodpeckers and a variety of native ferns.
LAKE ARTHUR TIPPIE PARK also honors an early President of the AHF Board. This large park features a man-made lake and stream known as Forrest Fuller Stream and Bridge honoring a long-time resident who lived adjacent to the Park and became its "resident supervisor". The lake was created to provide fill for the first roads in the village. A member of the Parks and Paths Committee is responsible for regulating and adjusting the water flow. Anglers must follow the fishing regulations of the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. Paths from Hammock Road, Norman Drive, West Pine Road and South Drive wind through pinewoods and open meadow to the lake shores. Look for orchids in the pinewoods. The east end of the park has been named Charles Griffth Park to honor member Chuck Griffth who spend endless hours working in the park.
MARTIN WOODS was a favorite spot for Gertrude Martin when she lived on Sheridan Road. She was the first woman to be President of the AHF Board of Trustees. This area of open hardwood forest and pinewoods is a good place for birding. Tarflowers bloom in the pinelands in summer. You may enter from Sheridan Road, Norman Drive or follow the path from the Deerhead Hammock.
NUTTING-WOOD GREEN, one of the largest parks, honors Elizabeth Nutting and Virginia Wood, two of the founders of Melbourne Village. Adjacent to the Village Hall on Hammock Road, this large meadow was once a shallow intermittent grassy pond. It is available for a number of recreational uses. A basketball court and ball field are located near the green. Spring wildflowers bloom in the meadow. The children’s playground is maintained by the Town.
CONTACT THE AHF IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON THE NUTTING-WOOD GREEN COMMITTEE.
DEERHEAD HAMMOCK MEMORIAL PARK is a place for quiet contemplation. Enter from Hammock Road and feel the coolness. On early maps it was called the ‘Little Hammock.’ You are invited to sit on the benches and think about the early settlers who gave the area its name. Look for the deer head tree. This park may be used for weddings, religious and memorial services. Arrangements should be made with the Deerhead Hammock Memorial Committee.
CONTACT THE AHF IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON THE DEERHEAD HAMMOCK COMMITTEE.
OLD HALL PARK was the site of the original Village Hall. The Community Swimming Pool is located in this park. A footpath leads from Hall Road to Savannah Drive and joins the path through Fick Forest.
WARD PARK is named for Phillip Ward who served as President of the AHF Board. Here on the corner of Ward Parkway and Blue Jay Lane you can watch the growth of a native pinewoods. Trees may be observed in all stages of growth from seedling to mature pine tree.
WILDFLOWER MEADOW was filled with Catesby's lily and other wildflowers when this park was named.
SABAL PARK is named for Florida's state tree, the sabal palm. It is also called cabbage palm because the bud of the tree was eaten by early settlers and called swamp cabbage. This park is one place the gopher tortoise makes his burrow. There are no trails in this park.
MEL MANTHEY PARK , named for village painter and author, ,adjoins the AHF Village Hall. In the early sprint the azaleas bloom profusely. The Buildings and Grounds Committee maintains this park area..
JEAN HENDERSON TWIN OAKS PARK is located near the Hammock Road entrance to Deerhead Hammock Park. It is named for village volunteer extraordinaire Jean Henderson.
MEMORIAL GARDEN is a more formal garden area located to the north of the AHF Hall parking lot. There is a special committee of the same name maintains the area. The committee accepts monetary donations and will select and look after plantings as memorials to former AHF members and others.
DAYTON-OAK PARK has a bench where you may rest in the shade of a majestic live oak tree at the corner of Dayton Boulevard and Ward Parkway. This park is owned and maintained by the Town.
Parks & Paths Committee
The AHF owns and maintains more than 50 acres of parkland with the help of a dedicated crew of 10-15 volunteers who clear paths and remove invasive plant species at a different park location each Friday morning from 8 - 10 AM from September through June.
If you would like to serve the community in this way please let us know! Call or email the AHF Office today to join the Parks & Paths Committee. (321) 723-6042 or info@ahfmv.com.
GENERAL RULES FOR PARKS & PATHS
The Parks and Paths Committee, responsible for the care and maintenance of certain parklands, asks your help in keeping them for the enjoyment of all Villagers by following these rules:
- Since these parks and paths are for the enjoyment of all Melbourne Village residents, all plants and animals within the parklands are protected and may not be removed.
- In order to keep the park areas clean and pleasant for walking, nothing should be dumped or stored on parklands. Clothes lines, trash containers, compost bins, and personal possessions must be kept within the resident’s lot boundaries. If you should find any litter, please carry it out. Leave nothing but footprints. Remember, parklands are for the enjoyment of all.
- Mowing, planting, or clearing may be done only by the consent of the AHF Board. Such requests should be submitted to the Parks and Paths Committee for evaluation and recommendation to the Board.
- Vehicles may park in areas adjacent to these community facilities: Village Hall, Community Pool, Hester Wagner Community House.
- Park paths are intended foot travel. No motorized vehicles or horses are permitted on any parkland. If you should see riders on the footpaths, kindly tell them that they are not allowed. Bicycles are permitted. Bicyclists using the paths are asked to ride with caution and to be courteous to pedestrians.
- Smoking and burning are not permitted in parklands. Fire is a hazard to our wildlife, trees and homes.
- Pets are allowed on the paths. Please observe the County leash laws and clean up after your pet.
- While enjoying the paths and parklands, be careful not to stray onto private property which, in some places, is very close to the paths.
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