Larry and Penny Thompson Park: A Local's Guide from Breezewood

Larry and Penny Thompson Park is a large county park at 12451 SW 184th Street in south Miami-Dade, right next door to Zoo Miami. It has about 270 acres of natural South Florida woodland, bike trails, hiking paths, a campground with 240 RV sites, and a lake with a beach that opens by season. If you are looking at townhomes at Breezewood, this is one of the big weekend parks north of you. Here is what is there, and how it fits into a normal week.

What Is Larry and Penny Thompson Park?

Miami-Dade County runs this park. The county lists it as a ""Metropolitan Park.""

The county's park page says the park covers 270 acres of natural South Florida woodland. Woodland just means land with lots of trees. So this is not a small lawn with a swing set. It is a big piece of open land with trails running through it.

The park also has a little history. The land was once part of the Richmond Naval Station. The county got it in December 1974, in a federal land transfer of 1,010 acres. That same transfer also included the land where Zoo Miami sits today. That is why the park and the zoo are neighbors.

Larry and Penny Thompson Park at a Glance

Fees and hours change, so we leave them out here. Check the county's page before you go.

What You Can Do There

Ride a bike or take a hike

The park has bike trails and hiking paths through the woods. A trail is a good way to get outside without a big plan. Bring water and sunscreen.

Go to the lake beach

The park has a freshwater lake with its own beach. Freshwater means it is not the ocean. The county says the beach operates seasonally. That means it is only open during part of the year.

The county also lists a seasonal waterslide. Always check the county park page to see if the beach and slide are open before you pack the car.

Have a picnic

The park has nine picnic shelters you can reserve. A picnic shelter is a covered spot with tables, so you get shade and a place to sit. They work well for a birthday, a family get-together, or a team party.

Camp without leaving the county

The campground has 240 RV sites with full hookups. A full hookup means your RV can connect to water, power, and sewer right at the site. There are also tent sites, four bathhouses, and a campground pool. That pool is for registered campers only.

This is handy when family visits from out of town in an RV. They can stay at the park, and you can meet them for a day on the trails.

How the Park Fits a Breezewood Weekend

Here is one easy way to use it:

1. Morning: Ride the bike trails before the day gets hot.

2. Midday: Eat lunch at a picnic shelter.

3. Afternoon: Head next door to Zoo Miami, or cool off at the lake beach when it is in season.

Living in south Miami-Dade means this is a ""let's go Saturday"" trip, not a once-a-year trip. You can go for two hours and come back next month to try a new trail.

Your Everyday Park: Debbie Curtin Park

A big park is great for weekends. But most days, you want something close. For Breezewood, that is Debbie Curtin Park at 22821 SW 112th Avenue. It sits on the same road as the community.

Here is what the county lists there:

• A half-mile walking path

• A 2,900 square foot children's playground

• Seating areas

• Basketball and pickleball courts (listed in the county's park data)

The park covers 9.78 acres. It used to be called Palm Glades Park. It was renamed and opened as Debbie Curtin Park in 2010. It is a Miami-Dade County park.

Other Parks Near Breezewood

South Miami-Dade has more parks worth knowing:

• JL & Enid W. Demps Park at 11350 SW 216th Street. Many people still search for it as ""Goulds Park."" The county renamed it in 2020. It has a year-round pool, a water splash pool, lighted fields, lighted tennis and basketball courts, and an indoor gym.

• Black Point Park and Marina at 24775 SW 87th Avenue. It has a jetty that runs 1.5 miles into Biscayne Bay for shore fishing. It also has a dockside restaurant, Black Point Ocean Grill. Restaurants change hours, so call ahead before you go.

Breezewood has its own planned amenities too. Lennar lists a swimming pool with a cabana and a park in the community. Lennar has not published opening dates for them. Call us for their current status.

Getting There from Breezewood

Breezewood sits near SW 232nd Street and SW 112th Avenue. Larry and Penny Thompson Park is north of it, on SW 184th Street.

SW 112th Avenue (also called Allapattah Road) runs north to US-1, also known as South Dixie Highway. US-1 is the main road through this part of the county. From there, put the park's address into your map app. It will pick the best way based on traffic that day.

We don't give drive times. Traffic changes by the hour, and a number that is right at 7 a.m. is wrong at 5 p.m. For more on roads and transit, read our guide to getting around from Breezewood.

Want to see how these parks line up with the homes? Call 561-704-0091 and we will walk you through the map on your visit.

What Breezewood Offers Near the Park

Breezewood is a Lennar community of new two-story townhomes. Every plan has 3 bedrooms. There are nine plans in two collections:

• Lennox Collection (4 plans): each has a two-car rear garage. That is a good place for bikes, coolers, and camping gear. See attached garage or no garage.

• Ashton Collection (5 plans): no garage, but they include the two largest plans.

Homes have recently started in the low $400,000s. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers. You can compare every plan side by side in our Breezewood floor plans guide.

If your budget is tighter, D.R. Horton's Palm Cay and Hadley Place in Florida City have recently started in the high $300,000s. They are farther south. We are happy to show you both and let you decide.

To learn more about the area, read our Princeton, FL living guide and our look at Southland Mall in Cutler Bay.

Common Questions

Call 561-704-0091 or Plan Your Breezewood Visit — Schedule a Tour.

Related reading: Zoo Miami: What to Know When You Live Nearby · Living in Princeton, FL · Southland Mall Cutler Bay and Daily Life · Getting Around from Breezewood · Breezewood Community Page