Virginia Key Beach Park

Virginia Key Beach Park is located on a barrier island in Biscayne Bay off the Rickenbacker Causeway. In addition to the popular beach, Virginia Key Beach Park has plenty of day use amenities that make it an excellent choice for an easy getaway close to the city. Visitors will find mountain biking trails, picnic areas and barbecues, and a playground for young children. The park is also the venue for a busy events series that includes art exhibits, concerts, and festivals. In August, 1945, partly as a response to black protests at white-only beaches in the area, Virgina Key Beach was designated for the exclusive use of black visitors. This policy of segregation ended in the 1960s, and the popularity of the beach waxed and waned until it was closed in 1982. After incredilbe habitat restoration efforts and cleanup, Virginia Key Beach was placed on the National Registar of Historic Places in 2002, and it was finally re-opened to the public in 2008. Virginia Key Beach Park is a wading beach only; there is no swimming or fishing allowed. The beach is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, and it is a great place to relax and get away from the larger crowds at bigger beaches. While parking can become congested during events, the beach remains relatively uncrowded.