By Commissioner Hal Valeche

Whether you boat, fish, kayak, paddle, swim or float, summertime draws even more of us to the warm waters of northern Palm Beach County.  Your county government takes pride in the many recreation facilities we have that provide public access to our waterways.

The Parks & Recreation Department – a finalist for the 2017 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management – has been undertaking improvements to our existing boat ramp facilities and parks, along with the recent construction of a new park to give the public greater options for launching their boats.

On April 29, we celebrated the grand opening of Waterway Park at the southwest corner of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Indiantown Road bridge.  This park was constructed in partnership with the Florida Inland Navigational District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the community of Jonathan's Landing.  It includes three new boat ramps, four 40-foot floating staging docks, a fishing pier and restrooms, along with 52 boat trailer parking spaces and 20 standard parking spaces.

Operating hours for Waterway Park are sunrise to sunset, and a boat trailer parking permit is required, which you can obtain online at www.pbcparks.com.  Daily permits are also available using the on-site pay station.

Meanwhile, improvements have been made to Burt Reynolds Park West, which will be reopened later this summer.  That project includes the addition of 24 boat trailer parking spaces, bringing the total to 71, and a reconfiguration of the parking lot and drive isles to improve traffic flow.  A new ADA compliant restroom, site lighting, drainage and landscaping are also being installed.

This fall we expect to commence construction on Bert Winters Park, which is located along the ICW in Juno Beach.  Those improvements will include a renovation of the boat ramps, reconfiguration of boat trailer parking, and a new restroom.

Not only does our access to the water enhance our recreational fun, but it may interest you to know that the marine industry employs nearly 20,000 people in this county, which results in a direct economic impact of $1.35 billion annually.

While you enjoy all Palm Beach County has to offer on the waterfront, we also care very much about your safety.  The FWC is the state agency authorized to establish boating-restricted areas to protect the safety of the public.

Recently, in response to resident inquiries I received and safety concerns identified by the municipalities of Tequesta, Jupiter, and Jupiter Inlet Colony, the Board of County Commissioners requested that FWC conduct a review of the Intracoastal Waterway from the C.R. 707/Cato bridge north to Coral Cove Park to determine if a minimum speed/no wake zone is warranted.  This area is a popular location for paddle-boarding, snorkeling, swimming and boaters.  The wake generated by boats traveling up and down the waterway appears to be creating safety issues for other users.  This review will help the agency determine the best course of action in the interest of protecting the public.

So, enjoy the water this summer, and stay safe.  As always, if there is any way that I or my staff can assist you, please don't hesitate to contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.