Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park and Delray Beach’s Municipal Beach were awarded the Blue Flag designation, two of just three beaches in the nation to be recognized.
It’s a first for Boca Raton, and the city plans to add new information boards at the Spanish River Park central pavilion about “local conservation efforts, water quality, water safety, and eco-friendly practices,” followed by a flag raising. Two items of note that helped the city receive the designation were Gumbo Limbo’s free educational programs and the city’s dune ecosystem.
“This is not just an honor—it’s a reflection of the passion and hard work our team invests in maintaining our natural coastal resources,” said Boca Raton City Sustainability Manager Tina Batoh-Jennings.
For Delray Beach, this is its third year in a row receiving the designation. The city will host a Blue Flag raising ceremony on May 1 at 10 a.m. at the flagpole at Atlantic Avenue and A1A. The beach is also in the running to protect its title as Best Beach in Florida by the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards; you can vote here.
“This award shows the world the hard work and dedication we put into making our beach a wonderful destination for all to enjoy,” Delray Beach Public Works Assistant Director Cynthia Bussion said in an announcement.
The Blue Flag Beach Award is headquartered in Copenhagen and managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). Beaches must meet criteria in 33 areas, such as environmental education, water quality, environmental management and safety. The designation lasts one year and must be renewed. Only three cities in the United States have received a Blue Flag Award: Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Malibu, Calif.
