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Comprehensive Plan Recreation and Open Space Element Classifying each of those recreational facilities into park types is a difficult, yet necessary, process. While Table 10.1 identifies standards and characteristics by park type, most recreational facilities have characteristics representative of more than one type. While size and service area, as well as facilities, differentiate neighborhood from community parks, some parks may have facilities and service areas indicative of one type but a size characteristic of another park category. This makes classification somewhat judgmental. Currently, any parks that attract countywide residents are classified as regional parks/specialty parks (urban district, beach, lake, or river parks). Table 10.3 Unincorporated County Parks by Type Parks in the Unincorporated County Number Neighborhood Parks 7 Community Park 1 Regional or Specialty Parks 19 Total 27 Within the unincorporated areas of the county, Indian River County has 27 parks. Except for Blue Cypress Lake Park, which is located on the western shoreline of Blue Cypress Lake, all county parks are located in the eastern portion of the county. Of the county's 27 parks, nineteen are classified as regional or specialty parks. These are parks which are designed for a specific purpose such as swimming, boating or camping. Ambersand Beach Park, Blue Cypress Lake Park, and Donald McDonald Park are examples of specialty parks. While Ambersand Beach is used for activities such as swimming and sunbathing, Blue Cypress Lake Park is used by area fishermen and boaters to gain access to the large freshwater lake. Donald McDonald Park is used for camping activities. Other specialty parks owned by the county include Dale Wimbrow Park (picnic and outdoor activities), Round Island Park (swimming and inland water activities), Wabasso Beach Park (ocean swimming, surfing, and fishing), Tracking Station Park (ocean swimming and sunbathing), Joe S. Earman Park (an island park in the Indian River Lagoon), Golden Sands Park (ocean swimming), and Treasure Shores Park (ocean swimming). The second park classification is Community Park. These parks are designed to serve the needs of residents living in a particular community. Gifford Park is classified as community park. In this capacity, Gifford Park provides residents of Gifford access to recreational facilities. The third type of classification is neighborhood park. Although smaller than community parks, neighborhood parks provide many of the same facilities, but serve fewer people and have a more limited service area than community parks. Seven of the county's recreational facilities can be categorized as neighborhood parks. Community Development Department Indian River County 9