Explore the John D MacArthur State Park
The John D MacArthur State Park is the only state park located within Palm Beach County. The park was established in 1989 and the purpose of the park is to protect Florida’s southeast coast.
The state park is situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The park features 438 acres of natural environment, more than seven species of plants and more than twenty-two species of animals that inhabit the park. Many of the animals that inhabit the park are either endangered or threatened.
Located throughout the park are the Maritime Hammock, which is an Indian word for a “shady place”. The maritime hammock is a thin strip of vegetation behind the beach dune and a mature hammock covered with large tropical trees. The Estuary at the John MacArthur Beach State Park is a small cover off the northern portion, the beach and dunes of the barrier island protect the mainland, and there is also a Anastasia Limestone Rock Reef that was formed more than 125,000 years ago. The reef is mostly made from limestone and is found mostly on the southern end of the park.
The State Park also offers a gift shop, a Nature and Welcome Center, Nature Trails, kayak rentals, picnic pavilions, a playground and Munyon Island, one of the largest wading bird rookeries in South Florida.
John D. MacArthur State Park is located at 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive in North Palm Beach.
The Park’s Hours:
7 days a week from 8 am to Sunset
Nature Center: 9 am to 5 pm daily
Gift Shop: 9 am to 5 pm daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Kayak Rentals: 9 am to 3 pm daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
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