A gorgeous 1.1 acre park on the south fork of the New River. It has lovely trees, benches, tables, and a stunning view of the river and the surrounding mansions that line it. There are a few parking spots lining the outside of the park.On my visit while walking around I discovered a plaque placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution commemorating this park as the sight of the Colee Hammock Massacre. I knew about the event and always thought the location was across the river from the Broward Performing Arts Center. I was floored to find the marker and have my years of misconception corrected. William Cooley was one of the first pioneers of the New River Settlement now known as Ft. Lauderale. He became wealthy with an arrowroot plantation and he traded with Seminole and Creek nations nearby. In 1835 the white settlers killed a Creek chief named Alibama and were acquitted. The Creek blamed Cooley for this injustice and when he was away for business in Key West the Creek entered the plantation on January 6, 1836 and killed Cooley's wife, infant son, son, daughter,and a tutor. The house was set on fire. This started the Second Seminole War because the settlers couldn't distinguish between the Seminoles and the Creeks. The eventual outcome was the Indian Removal Act were the native people were forced out west on the Trail of Tears. The remaining Seminoles fled to the inner swampland where they can still be found today. Cooley fled Ft. Lauderdale but lived in Florida until his death.Upon further research I found that the plaque marking the massacre may have been put in the wrong spot as the event actually took place further up the river closer to Sailboat Bend but residents don't want it moved to the correct spot. This is not the only muddling of history at this spot. Residents were confused at the time of the naming of this park in 1934. They originally wanted to honor the Cooley family but there was some confusion about the name. James Louis Colee was also a resident of the New River Settlement but decades after Cooley. He set up a work camp at the site of this park where he worked on the construction of the Intracoastal Waterway project. Through the years the names of Cooley and Colee have been mixed up. In 1982 the park was officially named Colee Hammock park to reflect James Lois Colee's work camp not the Cooley massacre.Today the park is used as a spot to take in the waterway, fish, and climb the trees. It is also an ideal place to view the Winterfest Boat Parade if you can navigate the lack of parking. I found it an ideal place to reflect on the history of Ft. Lauderdale which has grown from a small trading settlement on the river to a world class city. In the span of roughly 100 years from when it was incorporated into a city in 1911 Ft. Lauderdale has changed yet it was managed to hang onto it's charm in part because of places like this park.

We spent about 2 hours sitting here, while waiting to go to the Jungle Queen.This small little park doesn’t have any playground equipment, but it does have several benches, and a great view of the inter coastal. We enjoyed watching the various boats go by. You also get a nice view of the huge mansion across the water (the house with several buildings, including the fancy house for the dog.We managed to snag a free parking spot at the park, and only a few other people were there. Either watching the waterway, or reading.

We had some time to kill before heading to the airport for a late flight and stumbled across this gem of a park. It was so relaxing to sit on the bulkhead and watch boats go by. It's a small park so don't expect much in the way of amenities. The view, though, is definitely 5-star worthy.

Thought the park would be bigger, was disappointed. Spent only 10 minutes there, at least the parking was free.

My friends and I attended private parties and meetings at one of the mini-mansions adjacent to Colee Hammock Park and in the Park itself. Because the area has several churches and schools in this attractive area of Ft. Lauderdale, the Park and surroundings have a quiet and purposeful feel to it. The peace and serenity of the park is very close to the restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard and the gated homes adjacent to the Park and to The Boulevard.The Water Taxi might stop at Las Olas Boulevard, passing Colee Hammock Park if asked to go there, and the conditions along the INtercoastal Waterway is amenable for it.