Hollywood waterfront park honored for turning problem area into public recreation asset
Broward County, Florida – Loggerhead Park and Mooring Field has quickly become more than a new stop along Hollywood’s waterfront. Less than a year after its grand opening, the Broward County Parks facility has earned national attention from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, known as NACPRO, for excellence in developed recreation.
The honor was awarded in NACPRO’s Developed Recreation Park and Facilities category, which recognizes strong design, thoughtful development, and successful operation of active recreation sites. For Broward County Parks and Recreation, the recognition marks another milestone in its effort to create parks that are useful, welcoming, safe, and connected to the natural beauty of South Florida.
“Congratulations to Broward County Parks’ Loggerhead Park and Mooring Field” was the message shared around the recognition, and the praise reflects a larger story. The park, located within the Hollywood North Beach Park complex on a barrier island along the Intracoastal Waterway, was not always the polished recreational space it is today.
Before the project took shape, the area had become a difficult spot for local officials. Derelict vessels were being left behind, creating environmental concerns and adding cleanup pressure. Broward County responded by reshaping the site into a managed mooring field and park, turning a problem area into a public asset.
Loggerhead Park opened on October 10, 2025. Its name honors the threatened loggerhead sea turtle, which nests each year on Broward’s beaches. That connection gives the park a local identity rooted in both recreation and conservation.
The project cost about $6.9 million, including design, permitting, and construction. More than $1.6 million to $1.7 million came from the Florida Inland Navigation District. Permits involved several agencies, including the Broward County Resilient Environment Department, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The mooring field is the first of its kind in the Broward County Parks and Recreation system. It includes 28 rental slips, with 22 in the North Cove and six in the South Cove, serving vessels up to 40 feet long. The site uses fore-and-aft anchoring systems designed to keep boats secure.
Boaters also have access to an aluminum floating dock with a sewage pump-out station, freshwater service, a fire hose cabinet, and dinghy access to shore. Overnight guests registered at the facility can use restricted-access amenities such as laundry facilities, showers, restrooms, and a community gathering shelter available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The park also includes an Aden Perry Hero Life Ring, adding another safety feature to the waterfront site as part of Broward County’s broader focus on water safety.
Daily fees and permits are required for use of the mooring field, with overnight stays listed at around $30. Rules include check-in after 1 p.m., checkout by 11 a.m., vessel movement hours from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a maximum stay of 90 days with re-entry conditions. Pets are allowed on shore but must be leashed.
Beyond the docks, Loggerhead Park connects visitors to the wider Hollywood North Beach Park area, nearby restaurants, entertainment, scenic views, and the barrier island environment. It is one of five pocket parks in the larger complex.
The NACPRO recognition places Loggerhead Park and Mooring Field among county park projects honored for strong public value and smart planning. It also highlights Broward County Parks’ larger system, which includes more than 50 regional parks, nature centers, neighborhood parks, and natural areas across about 6,500 acres.
More information about Broward County Parks is available at broward.org/Parks, and mooring details are available through West Lake Park at 954-357-5282.
