North Parm Beach – John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has become very quiet and people forget how close it is to the city.
The hideaway between the Atlantic Ocean and the lake lagoon features 438 acres of natural trails, trees and even islands. It is eight miles north of Busy West Palm Beach, a city with over 100,000 residents. MacArthur is the only state park in Palm Beach County.
Visitors can sunbathe on the pristine beach, ride the tramway along the boardwalk over the mangrove-plated estuary, or rent a kayak for a 20-minute paddle-out on Munyoung Island Masu. They can also snorkeeper into bedrock reefs of Anastasia limestone, filled with colorful fish.
“It’s all balanced here,” said Veronica Frehm, CEO of MacArthur Beach State Park Friends, a nonprofit that oversees the site. “We do nothing Mother Nature doesn’t want us to. We remove exotic plants and exotic animals, but everything else is nature doing what she wants to do. .”
Founded in 1989, the park got its name from billionaire developer John D. MacArthur, who owned the land with his wife. MacArthur donated it as a park after discovering its lush habitat.
Why is John D. MacArthur Beach State Park special?
Extended over 1.6 miles along the Atlantic Ocean, MacArthur’s beach is one of the cleanest in South Florida. The garbage pickers and buckets are stored on wooden stairs leading to sand, encouraging beach fans to pick up any trash they see. That’s most of it.
Rangers teach school field trip groups about the park’s ecosystem almost every day. The park also hosts Moonlight concerts, bird watching tours and turtle walks on June and July evenings.
On average, over 3,000 sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach each year. A lively, four-month loggerhead sea turtle named Olive lives temporarily at the park’s nature center as part of a research program at Florida Atlantic University.
The park also has exhibits for children and playgrounds. Jill Colebecker first visited 10 years ago when his son was a toddler. She continued to bring him back.
“There’s a lot to do here for families,” said Cole Becker, communications director for Friends at MacArthur Beach State Park. “You can just learn about nature, get away from the screen and connect as a family and spend the day.”
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is also working on accessibility.
There are four special wheelchairs that easily slide on the sand – some can be walked underwater – and there is a tram with rooms where you can bring a wheelchair.
“We want everyone to explore in a comfortable way,” Frehm said. “It’s everyone’s park.”
Please know before you go
Cost: $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. One vehicle costs $4. $5 for a vehicle with 2-8 people.
Address: 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Parm Beach.
Time: The park is 8am until sunset every day.
Food, Shopping nearby: Sarah’s Kitchen, Stage Kitchen and Bar, River House, Season 52, Tara & Caper Seafood, Zailinedian Cuisine, Storm House Brewing, Lotus of Thailand, Paris and many other restaurants nearby. Gardens Mall is a short drive away.
Details: (561) 624-6950; macarthurbeach.org
Maya Washburn covers Northern Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Post, which is part of the USA Today Florida Network. Contact her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
