John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, State park in Dania Beach, Florida.
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is a Florida state park along the Atlantic coast in Dania Beach, Broward County. It covers a stretch of shoreline with sand dunes, mangrove forests, and the sheltered waters of Whiskey Creek, along with picnic areas, boat ramps, and kayak and canoe rentals.
The site opened in 1953 as the designated beach for African Americans in Broward County, at a time when segregation was still enforced by law in Florida. After desegregation in 1962, it became an open public park, and in 2016 it was renamed to honor the activists behind that change.
The park carries the official name Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, honoring two activists who fought for beach desegregation in South Florida. For many African American families in the region, this stretch of coastline holds a personal meaning that goes beyond a typical day at the beach.
Parking areas and restrooms are spread across the grounds, making it easy to find a starting point for your visit. Depending on what you plan to do, bring sun protection and wear shoes suited to sand, water, or the trails along the creek.
Just offshore, the Dania Beach Erojacks artificial reef was created using concrete structures placed on the seafloor to attract marine life. Divers who explore it find a living community that has grown around this man-made formation over the years.
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