John U. Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area

Description:

• John U. Lloyd Beach is 253 acres of barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, from Port Everglades on the north to Dania on the south. Its natural setting contrasts sharply with the urban development of Ft. Lauderdale.

  Inland are stands of subtropical coastal hammock that may be viewed along a leisurely 45-minute self-guided trail. Nonnative plants are regularly removed from this area. Removing these "exotics," such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine, is a long-term process throughout the park.

  On the west side of the park, along the Intracoastal Waterway, a man made wetland is bringing back red mangroves to the shore. The mangroves not only screen the view but also provide a rich nursery ground for fish and other sea life. The wetland is a mitigation site to replace wetlands destroyed by Port expansion in 1989.

  Shaded picnic areas are located along the beach. Limited picnic supplies, cold drinks, snacks, as well as bait and rental canoes are available at the concession stand.

  A tidal waterway, called New River Sound or Whiskey Creek, divides the park along its length. It is a protected zone for the endangered manatee and a great variety of other marine life. The mangrove-lined waterway is a scenic place to canoe, observe birdlife and take photographs.

  Visitors to John U. Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area will find day use recreation including surf fishing, boating, canoeing, sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. A ranger-led nature talks educates citizens about nesting sea turtles.

  John U. Lloyd State Park is located in Dania, off A1A. (Dania is just minutes south of Fort Lauderdale.)