The Westchester area in Florida is made up of a culturally diverse community where you can find both recreation and rest without breaking the bank.
The census-designated place is part of Miami-Dade County in Florida.
From the 1930s to the 1940s, the area was mostly rural with the exception of only a few noteworthy developments.
It was only in the 1950s that Westchester started to boom and has become what it is today.
Between the 1950s and 1960s, the area attracted Jewish families, and different churches were eventually built.
As of the 2018 American Community Survey Data, 92.4 percent of Westchester’s population is Hispanic or Latino.
In total, it is home to about 54,500 people as of the 2020 census.
If you’re looking for the best spots to explore Latin American cuisine or open areas to hang around, you should give the area of Westchester a chance.
Aside from the food, the area also has plenty of activities and spots for recreation.
If you’re planning to visit the neighborhood, check out this list of free things to do in Westchester, Florida:
ACX / Shutterstock.com
Tropical Park is a popular area for recreation in the Westchester area.
Located at SW 40 Street, it stands on the site of a former horse track in 1979.
Today, it attracts an estimated 1.5 million visitors every year.
Here you may enjoy doing physical activities like bicycling, running, or walking on the park’s paved paths.
ACX / Shutterstock.com
Tropical Park also has a fitness and boxing center for those who want to take their fitness journey to another level.
Because the park is home to the Westchester Cultural Arts Center and the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center, you may also schedule a tour or other activities in these establishments to fully explore the area.
ACX / Shutterstock.com
Westchester Regional Library is one of the most popular libraries in the county, located on SW 24th Street.
The library, a part of the Miami-Dade Public Library System, is also one of the top early voting sites in the county.
Scan the shelves and look for your next favorite read among the vast collection of books!
Feel free to stay awhile and explore stories or even study while surrounded by thousands of books.
If you have the time and you’re looking for something to contribute to the community, you may also volunteer at the library.
Among the volunteer opportunities you may do at the Westchester Regional Library are organizing and shelving books and resources, assisting in the library office, and sorting donations, to name a few.
Blue Lakes Park is another park you may explore in Westchester.
You may find the park at SW 92nd Avenue.
You may bring your friends and play baseball or basketball at the fields.
If you like tennis, a court is also available inside the park.
Even if you don’t play sports, you may still do some physical activities and exercise in the fitness area.
Blue Lakes Park also features a shaded playground area for those who are visiting with kids.
Don’t miss out on this charming corner of Westchester!
If you’re looking for an outdoor area where your kids can play, head to Banyan Park and look for the playground.
The park is on SW 32nd Street.
Let your kids have fun, explore, and meet new friends in the play area.
Meanwhile, feel free to find your own spot and relax for a bit!
If you still want to do some physical activity, you may go around the walking path or exercise in the open field.
Banyan Park is another open space in the neighborhood that brings the community together.
If you’re looking for an outdoor space where you can stay for a while and hang around, visit Francisco Human Rights Park.
You’ll find this park at SW 24th Street.
The space features four shelters with nine tables where you can hang out and have a picnic with your friends or family.
Kids will also enjoy playing at the park’s playground.
After your picnic, feel free to explore Francisco Human Rights Park’s walking paths.
Consider stopping by this spot when you’re in the neighborhood.
Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum is located inside the campus of Florida International University.
You may find it on the Avenue of the Arts near the 107 Avenue entrance of the campus.
Opened in 2008, the museum features world-class artworks from different cultures and periods.
Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
With free admission, the museum serves as a hub for art enthusiasts and artists of nearby communities to gather and explore art.
You may even get the opportunity to meet fellow artists and curators when you visit this place.
Watch out for scheduled events like art workshops, teacher training, and talks with artists.
Foster your love for art and expand your knowledge when you tour the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum.
Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
Among Westchester’s several open spaces is Rockway Park at SW 27th Drive.
Here you may go swimming in the pool and even meet new people from the community.
The park also has a shelter where you can stay to rest, read a book, or hang out with friends!
If you’re bringing kids with you, you may take them to the playground where they can find young people from the neighborhood to play with.
Add Rockway Park to your list of spots to visit when you’re in the Westchester area!
Bring along your family and friends and spend a day trying different activities at Coral Estates Park.
The park is located at 1405 SW 97th Avenue.
You may bring your racket and play with friends at the tennis court.
If you like soccer better, you’ll be happy to know about the soccer fields in the park.
The place also has a playground where you can take your kids for a fun day outdoors.
Shelters are available here for hanging around and resting after an active day.
Coral Estates Park is a great venue for an outdoor family day!
Free your mind and find peace while walking around Concord Park.
Escape the rush of urban life when you visit the park and take a stroll on its illuminated walking path.
You may find it at SW 32 Street and SW 114 Avenue.
Aside from walking, you may also exercise by playing sports at the basketball courts or baseball fields.
A fitness area and an open field are also available for other types of activities.
Concord Park features a playground for when you visit the place with your kids.
Tamiami Park has everything you could need in a neighborhood park.
It is situated at SW 24 Street.
It has baseball and soccer fields as well as a tennis court for sports lovers.
Additionally, the park has a pool where you can take a dip, the perfect activity for a hot summer day!
Kids will also enjoy the play area at Tamiami Park.
After completing your list of places to visit for free in Westchester, you should explore more of Miami and nearby attractions.
dennizn / Shutterstock.com
Walk around the Wynwood neighborhood to see various attractions and establishments.
The neighborhood, located north of downtown Miami, boasts “non-stop” energy.
It is dubbed Miami’s creative and cultural hub as the place has been transformed into a hip spot.
Today, plenty of people gather here to try unique restaurants and shops and see contemporary art.
mariakray / Shutterstock.com
You will also find colorful murals as you walk around the neighborhood, which showcase the creativity of the community.
If you’re a lover of art, food, and culture, the Wynwood neighborhood may be the hidden gem you’ve been looking for.
Make sure to bring your camera and take lots of photos in the vibrant neighborhood of Wynwood!
Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com
Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
You can’t leave the area without dropping by the magnificent SoundScape Park in Miami Beach.
The Dutch architecture firm West 8 designed the 2.5-acre urban park.
SoundScape Park is said to be a public space that embodies Miami as it captures the city’s spirit and vitality.
Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
It is a multi-use area that’s also connected to the New World Center.
Because the park sometimes serves as the venue for cultural events, you may catch some shows when you visit.
Be sure to add SoundScape Park to your itinerary!
REDAV / Shutterstock.com
Explore the local art scene when you walk along the Bird Road Art District, officially designated by Miami-Dade County as an art district in the city of Miami.
The district, originally an industrial area near the railroad tracks, started attracting artists by the 1980s.
Eventually, the warehouses in the area were converted by artists into studios and galleries that were opened to the public for viewing.
In 2010, local artists organized the Bird Road Art Walk.
It eventually became one of the most important art events in the area and was even recognized by the Miami New Times as Miami’s Best Art Walk in 2011.
See the talent of local artists for yourself by visiting the Bird Road Art District!
Engel Ching / Shutterstock.com
Art enthusiasts will have a feast when they visit the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami.
Here you will find plenty of exhibits featuring modern art.
From galleries to sculptures, there is so much to discover in this museum, including up-and-coming artists.
If you’re looking for something specific, you may also check the schedule of upcoming exhibits before visiting.
Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com
While here, you may even meet fellow art enthusiasts and the artists themselves!
Special art events are held at the Institute of Contemporary Art from time to time which could also be up your alley.
You won’t just appreciate art but also learn about its intricacies when you visit this one-of-a-kind museum in Miami.
Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
Before leaving Miami, you may hang out near the beach and catch a sunset at South Pointe Park.
South Pointe Park in the southern part of Miami Beach is filled with greenery.
When you hang around the park, you will have a stunning and panoramic view of the beach’s shoreline as well as the cruise ships that sail the area.
starmaro / Shutterstock.com
Additionally, the skyline of Miami may be seen from the park, giving visitors a stunning view of the urban district.
If you want to enjoy more activities, South Pointe Park has access to the beach, picnic areas, walking trails, and other nearby restaurants.
starmaro / Shutterstock.com
The area of Westchester has the perfect small-town atmosphere and is easily accessible from Miami’s central district and beaches.
If you want to spend some quiet time before heading to the busier areas of the city, you should find a spot in Westchester where you can hang out for free.
Choose your next activity from this list of free things to do in Westchester, Florida!
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
