Sandsprit Park

Offering open water views, Sandsprit Park in Stuart, Florida, is at the entrance to Manatee Pocket. Manatee Pocket is less than a mile from the main Intracoastal Waterway channel, where cruisers often stop because of the marinas and related services, provisioning options, and restaurants.

Sandsprit Park is on the waterfront, home to one of the area’s busiest boat ramps, offering the closest St. Lucie Inlet access. Located on a peninsula, Sandsprit Park lets visitors boat-watch from all sides, and it’s a favorite among locals and tourists who want a place to sit and enjoy the scenery. Fishermen use the park to launch and retrieve boats, and it’s also common to see them cleaning their fresh catch of the day here.  

The park, at the crossroads of the inlet, the St. Lucie River, and the Indian River, has a boardwalk that goes around the perimeter. The boardwalk, along with water views, is used for walking, running, and biking, as well as fishing. The walkway also runs along the headquarters of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The park has a children’s playground and a pavilion that can be rented for events. There’s a small outdoor workout area within the park that can be used by the public as well.

While some land is for a marine station, the bulk of the open space is dedicated to the park itself.

There is free parking at Sandsprit Park and convenient nearby eateries. There are restrooms at the park as well, which visitors often say are clean and well-maintained.